Lumber Rack - How Much Weight

[crokett]

does it have to carry? Or is that like asking how deep a hole is?. I did some searching and found Loring's design.

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=36800

I will do something similar with 2x4s counterbored and lag screwed to one of the walls. I am surprised he used PVC for the arms. I understand the dowels reinforcing them but didn't think PVC was strong enough for that.

[cabinetman]

You'll know how much weight the rack will not hold when it fails. Since you're fastening it to a wall will help. As for Lorings design, I would worry about it being tipsy even with sheet stock on the back side.

In one of my shops I used 2x4's vertically on the wall, and used 2x4's for the supports. I dadoed them into the sides of the 2x4's (glue and lags). They projected about 16" and could hold some decent weight. I would guess 200-300 pounds each level.
.

[headhunter636]

I made a rack very similar to the one by Loring but I rested the bottoms of the 2x4 on the cement ledge of my garage and lag bolted the support 2x4 directly into the studs. At one time, I had it filled up pretty high and never had an issue with strength. I like the mobile idea but I am with Cabinetman on the stability of it all.

[poolhound]

David,

This thread about shelving loads a "how much wood weighs" may also help, or NOT

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=40907

[LCHIEN]

i didnt use PVC, I used EMT conduit. The PVC was just a sleeve so the conduit didn't leave stains from the galvanizing (needless worry?) See post 24 in that thread and also Read the details http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=36523. I think I also estimated the weights.

I gave a lot of design details and how I arrived at them. Read carefully, follow all the links.

[crokett]

Thanks Loring. I missed the part about the EMT and was thinking you hammered dowels into PVC conduit. I will look into using the EMT. I might already have some laying around. I might also price out black pipe. That would be plenty strong and I know I already have some laying around. My lumber rack also isn't going to be nearly as big as yours.

[LCHIEN]

Thanks Loring. I missed the part about the EMT and was thinking you hammered dowels into PVC conduit. I will look into using the EMT. I might already have some laying around. I might also price out black pipe. That would be plenty strong and I know I already have some laying around. My lumber rack also isn't going to be nearly as big as yours.

EMT was by far the cheapest metal tubulars i could find, including black pipe.

[Photojosh]

I gotta tell you, I thought about doing the pipe thing. But for the cost and trouble, I just went with rack system from Grizzly. Same as the ones offered at the other woodworking places, just cheaper:

http://www.grizzly.com/products/48-Wood-Rack-Bars-Pair-/H2534

Went together in an afternoon.

[crokett]

I had some 1 1/4" wood dowel fall into my lap for free so I will use that for the lumber rack. I will drill the holes then put the dowel in then pin it with a screw.

[footprintsinconc]

if you read this thread, you will see what i did. primarily i did what loring did, except that i put it on the wall. i placed the stud at every stud location and drilled multiple holes so that i can have different combinations of shelving available and control the load coming to the wall studs.

in fact i did some calcs, with the roof load on, i can load it to approx 500lb each wall stud to max the moment capacity of a douglas fir spruce stud in the strong direction.

[billwmeyer]

I built my lumber rack basically the same way. My 2X4's rest on the floor and used metal conduit. I added angeled 2 X 4 supports under a 3/4" piece of plywood to make a bench for some storage with pegboard above it. So I have lumber stored under and over the bench. I have never had a problem with the strength of it. The Bench is rock solid.

Bill