Metal storage options

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

Hi everyone ,

I have been pondering what to do with my stockpile of materials that I have collected over a couple of years , mostly barstock and plate in aluminium , brass /bronze , steel / cast iron and some plastics .

The lengths are mosty under 400 mm llong x 400 wide for the plate and 400 long in the barstock , diameters of the barstock is up to 300mm in alloy ( length is short and under 200mm for these diameters )

I don't have a lot of room to work with as i have stuffed more machines into my shed than it was ever meant to take so 2m wide x 1m deep x 2m high max would do .

If you have some nifty ideas or even better a few photos of what you have done that i can pick up some ideas from i would appreciate it .

At the moment i'm using an old 3 drawer filing cabinet that is beginning to protest !

i can pick up a 2, 3 or 4 level locker for a $100 au and modify it and maybe mount some storage tubes on each side for threaded rod and thin round bar / threaded rod .

All ideas are welcome !

P.S : i put this under hint and tips – if the moderators feel it should be somewhere else please move as you se fit .

Regards …

Ian

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

I need to sort out my stockpile of materials and need some ideas ! !

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

I've used offcuts of plastic drainpipe under my bench.They are just over 24" inches long and 3" inch diameter and stack nicely.

Brian

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Offcuts of plastic rainwater downpipe can compartmentalise a wooden frame. If you come across a wine rack it can hold longer bits that bridge the gaps but bits of gutter can be fitted fill those gaps. Gutter can be adjusted to fit if you heat it with a paint stripper.

You must have a metal gold mine if you have so much in 2 years and a big enough shed to spare 2mx1m.

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

Never thought of a wine rack sort of thing !

Maybe some pvc tubes with blank ends laying in a wine rack sort of thing but removable if needed !

Not a metal goldmine just stuff i picked up of ebay for the right price , i used to target shoot so now the gun safe is gone i have a little precious room that i want to do something useful with !

I have a low height bench for my drill press that has a pile of offcuts under it , i need the sort that too but the wine rack idea has me thinking !

Thanks Bazyle !

Brian, i can see something being done using rectangular pvc downpipe incorporated in what bazyle said but for square stock .

Thnks for the prompt reply !

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

I’m in the same boat planning my new shop. At one end of the bench I lille have 5 tote boxes on runners for steel, brass. Alloy, nylon etc but the other end I want to use plastic drainpipe in square section to save space. Only problem I can find is 63mm square when 80 or 100 would be much better

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

I shove it anywhere it will fit. The bigger stuff, 4-5 foot lengths of 100×30 and 50×50 MS and the like lean upright(ish) in corners. Sash weights and some ally live in the void under the floor of the summerhouse. Three large plastic dustbins with clipped lids store SS, ally and large lumps of a black nylatron (I think that is what it is but it may be nylon).

>>>>

These type of metal office drawers are strong and are handy for short lengths of small stuff:

>>>>

More lengths are held to bench legs with loops of metal pallet strapping (thanks to Mr WARCO – waste not want not!)

>>>>

The ceiling comes in handy.

>>>>

Longer lengths of up 100mm dia ally I’ve rolled on the floor behind the shaper where they are out of the way. Much of what is left – gauge plate, non-ferrous etc. is on shelves in the 6ft Bisely cupboards. Quantities of sundry steel in metal foot pans IN the summerhouse. No complaints so far – fingers crossed!>>

The mattress on the bed in the spare bedroom lifts on risers revealing a perfect space for my store of sheet ally brass and copper. Not too much though – that would never do would it? Have to leave some room for her bedding.>>

Rik>

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Some more tips from Rik:

• Store thick plate in the back of your Capri to improve roadholding.
• You can fit a surprising amount of stainless steel offcuts in the kettle.
• Keep short pieces of rod in your socks. Remove before washing them.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Short lengths of square rainwater downpipe make good storage places, allowing a place for each different size / shape / material. (Can be vertical or horizontal, as best suits your conditions) As long as the roof trusses are not overstressed, long lengths can be stored as already illustrated.

Some of my shorter lengths of bar (approx 1 metre) are straddled by the car when in the garage, but beware of rust, if you do!

Storing Plate vertically is the most economical use of floor space, but larger pieces can obstruct the walkways.

HTH

Howard

[RICHARD GREEN 2Participant @richardgreen2]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 28/07/2017 11:32:24:

Some more tips from Rik:

• Store thick plate in the back of your Capri to improve roadholding.
• You can fit a surprising amount of stainless steel offcuts in the kettle.
• Keep short pieces of rod in your socks. Remove before washing them.

If you are a fast runner, you could always ask "her indoors" if you could keep a few lengths of steel and brass in her wardrobe……………………………………………

[Anonymous]

I've got various storage areas:

Steel rounds and sections up to about 1" diameter (bought in 3m lengths) are stored on brackets screwed into the steel beam over the garage door

Aluminium extrusions (up to 4m length) are stored on hooks screwed to the rafters, a la Rik Shaw

Steel tube is stacked in a corner

Heavy sections (over 2" diameter) and hot rolled steel (bought as 6m lengths) are stored as 1m lengths on the floor under the bench

Specialist materials (silver steel, gauge plate, bronze, shim) are stored in a home made drawer in the bench

Full sheets (1m x 2m) of materials that don't rust are outside under a plastic sheet

Part sheets are stacked against a workshop wall and held by angle iron screwed to the wall

Scrap/offcuts of plastic, steel, aluminium and brass/copper are in bins

Packs of specific materials for a particular job are stored in the kitchen or hall along with the job

Andrew

[Bruce EdneyParticipant @bruceedney59949]

I have a surplus Server cabinet in the corner of my workshop. You can just see it in the back of this photo. I have just added a large drawer on heavy-duty slides for all the small bits and pieces

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

Wow!

Lots of good ideas there !

I am slowly building a mental picture of what i want , the filing drawer i have broke because i stuffed to much in it but it is repairable it needs the slides replacing with heavy duty units but i wish i had one like Riks !

I was looking at a server cabinet a few weeks back at job site i visit , i was pondering what use one could be in my workshop and i was considering one for tool storage but didn't like all the ventilation holes as it would allow moisture and dust in – never thought of materials storage though and they areheavy duty cabinets !

I currently have my alloy angle , flat bar , tubing etc standing up between the wall studs which is ok for longer lengths (300mm+ ) but need a place for offcuts , my workshop is just an old fibro garage of 60s vintage with no ceiling , Ricks ceiling hooks has me thinking of making a hanging tray or shelf that hooks up over and spans between two rafters that i can keep my intermediate llengths of angle , flat amd tubing , this will free up some space !

I would like to thank all of you for your replies and for taking the time to do so and to any future replies also .

Neil now we know the truth as to how your car broke down , you were carting all of your heavy plate over to Ricks house so he can improve the handling of his capri 😄

Off to the shed now armed with a cuppa for a long hard think about about this !

Ian

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by XD 351 on 28/07/2017 09:18:05:

Never thought of a wine rack sort of thing !

I use exactly that: an actual wine rack bought at the local dump recycle shop. It's made out of 20mm MDF or similar with white laminate and is plenty strong enough to hold all my short lengths of bar stock. Has about 8 or so compartments stacked vertically and is is just the right height to fit under the lathe bench and is only one bottle wide so takes up little room. Flat plate is stood vertically against the side of it. Longer bar stock, – I usually buy 1.5m lenghts that fit in the car easily – is stood vertically in a rack on the other end of the lathe bench. Just a couple bits of 20 x 40mm wood stood a few inches out from the end of the bench at the top level and at the middle and bottom to hold the bar stock in place.

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Cannot claim originality.

Used square guttering.

Why has this photo uploaded into Albums 90° off?

Geoff – Laid up after being grabbed by vice handle and landing flat on my arse, and swollen left foot!

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Can find 4″square downpipe. But not 6″

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

A bit of 2"x4" bolted horizontally 5' up the wall. 9" lengths of 3/4" round bar hammered into holes drilled in the wood. sensible length bars (5-10 foot) stood upright on the floor, retained sideways by the 3/4" bars and sorted roughly by shape and size.

Short lengths go on three 5' long 9" deep wooden shelves attached to a double sided freestanding steel louvre rack, on the other side from the plastic bins full of nuts and bolts.

Tiny lengths (12" or less) go in a number of steel totes stacked on top of each other.

Edited By Mark Rand on 29/07/2017 19:45:27

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

Plans are underway ,

New drill press bench , reorganization of workbench , welding trolleys and more – nothing special but maybe useful to others .

Will post photos as a i go .

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

So some progress today :

Steel puchased after i made a simple sketch of what i wanted and then some work for the bandsaw .

The general idea is the large heavy ingots or barstock will be stored in a drawer on rollers under the bench , offcuts of tube, angle and flatbar will be stored on the larger shelf .

The top narrow shelf is where 6 drawers will hold my various small offcuts of round, hex square etc ,i picked up some long plastic parts drawers off ebay they are 600 long x200 wide x 100 high and have 5 removable dividers .

On top will be the drill press , bench grinder and this one will have a back board and some shelves for my drill bits , clamps and spare wheels for the grinder .

More to come .

Ian .

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

Ok the pile of steel in my last post has now been transformed into a new drill press / storage bench.

Top slide out drawers are for short offcuts , middle tier is three compartments for square ,rectangular ,round tube and angle iron up to 500mm long.

A three compartment slide out drawer will fill rhe gap under the bench and this will have the larger heavy ingots of steel, alloy and brass .

I added a back board and simple shelf for my drill bits etc and the blank section behind the drill is where my drill press clamps will reside .

Ian.

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