Custom mobile lumber rack

[Tom Miller]

When we had our basement finished, I had a second furnace room door installed to access a small (roughly 3' x 5') area behind the furnace. I figured I could use it for lumber storage.

It wasn't very useful as is, because there wasn't enough room for much lumber AND someone looking for lumber. So I came up with this:







I had storage of baltic birch in mind (5' x 5'), though the height isn't limited 'til about 6'. Anything larger stays in the garage until it's cut down.

Halfway through the project I realized I had a fair amount of sheetgoods that was less than 3' x 3', so I added a second level on one side using 1/2" pipe. Pipe caps hold the outer board in place.




I added safety chains before anyone got hurt. (I'm still thinking of improvements for this.)



Regards,
Tom

[BobSch]

Great design. I hope you don't mind if I "borrow" it

[maxparot]

Looks Sweeeet! It may fit my needs rather well.

[DonHo]

Good thinking and wood work!!
DonHo

[mater]

That is one good looking lumber storage rack. Great work.

[monte]

Great idea and nice work Tom.

[scottjbs]

Well, I have one very similar, only it comes out of the Complete Table Saw book. Sure yours isn't just a modified version? mine is....

[Ken Weaver]

Nice work Tom - especially like the safety chain, may add that to mine.

[jwaterdawg]

Not use to saying this to a guy, but "Nice Rack!"

[jhart]

Nice job Tom. Looks pretty flexible depending on one's needs. I have something like that but stationary. Works well.

[Tom Miller]

quote:Originally posted by scottjbs

Well, I have one very similar, only it comes out of the Complete Table Saw book. Sure yours isn't just a modified version? mine is....

And here I thought I invented the mobile lumber rack. I'm pretty sure anything I do is at best a modified version of something that's been done, if not an outright rip-off. (I think another is in order.)

For anyone considering making one, I chose an angle of 3.6 degrees so that the horizontal board thickness changes by 1.5" for every 12" rise. I cut dados in the uprights at this angle. (Had planned to cut the dados before I cut the uprights into strips, but promptly forgot again until after the strips were all cut. )

This angle is nearly a minimum tilt angle for keeping boards in place -- I've found the safety chains to be a must. [:0] but no [B)], so far.

Also, the angle is small enough that you can assume the height of the uprights is the same whether vertical or tilted by that angle (i.e. long leg of triangle = hypotenuse). Makes the math a little easier.

To jwaterdawg: [:I]......

Regards,
Tom

[Wood_workur]

Looks great. I might just have to attach saftey chains to my wall, and use it to store plywood.

To improve on your safety chains, I would shorten them, and add a latch, so they hold the wood tighter to the rack, but are remoable for remmoving a sheet of ply. I wouls keep them as is for the side with shelves, though, to allow you to remove a sheet from the back.

[bigstick509]

[Tom Miller]

quote:Originally posted by Wood_workur

To improve on your safety chains, I would shorten them, and add a latch, so they hold the wood tighter to the rack, but are remoable for remmoving a sheet of ply.

Yep, good call. In fact, I just shortened them today. Well, actually what I did was to use S-hooks so I can hook whichever chain link I need to keep things snug, but still unhook it to add/remove stock. The way I have to kind of bounce this thing over a bump made that pretty clear! [:0]

I'm a lot more careful about stock stacked against a wall (or lumber rack) after hearing a friend's story about almost being crushed by a stack of drywall. Especially with kids around.

Regards,
Tom