Wood storage

rdewinter · Post by **rdewinter** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:35 am

I have a lot of wood pieces left over from several projects. The type varies from plywood (good 2 sides of oak & birch), hardwood pieces (oak, mahogany, popular, walnut) and softwood pieces (pine, doug fir) in various lengths up to 8'. I currently store it in flat piles but it's hard to find anything. All this wood is "dry". Would it be wise to sort and store this wood "vertical" or would it wrap and twist so it would not be usable? Wood storage suggestions welcome. Space is limited to overhead garage attic space and some room for larger plywood pieces in an outside metal storage shed.

Bob

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:53 am

Hi Bob! Yeah, storage is a big problem. (and it gets bigger every month or so - at least in my shop)

There was a lumber dealer in MT. years ago that had good supplies of lumber of many species at all times. They stored their wood vertically in wood bins. The Rockler store in Pasadena stores their supply vertically. I believe it is safe to do so, as long as the bottom of the wood is kept off of floors that can transmit moisture. Concrete and dirt are examples. Of course you will want to avoid excessive angles. As close to vertical as you can get will work.

Also there is the ideas for building hanging racks, suspended from ceiling joists. I don't have any of these, but they would seem to work.

I use a couple of those 14" tubes of cardboard pole/post concrete forms to hold narrow pieces. The tubes are suspended horizontally from rafters. I divided these tubes into 4 sections using old scrap plywood.

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:59 am

rdewinter wrote:I have a lot of wood pieces left over from several projects. The type varies from plywood (good 2 sides of oak & birch), hardwood pieces (oak, mahogany, popular, walnut) and softwood pieces (pine, doug fir) in various lengths up to 8'. I currently store it in flat piles but it's hard to find anything. All this wood is "dry". Would it be wise to sort and store this wood "vertical" or would it wrap and twist so it would not be usable? Wood storage suggestions welcome. Space is limited to overhead garage attic space and some room for larger plywood pieces in an outside metal storage shed.

Bob

I store my plywood standing up but not directly on concrete, my long pieces of hardwood are stored horizontally on a wood rack I purchased from Woodcraft. I put some leftover shelves on the bottom and stack the long pieces on top, I don't know if it is necessary but it can't hurt.

There are some great plans for bins that hold both plywood and hardwood vertical but I don't have the room. My plywood stack takes less than 6"" between the end of my workbench and the wall. The shelving sits 4' off the floor and goes to the ceiling, and it is behind my tool storage unit so it takes shop space.

I have yet to figure out a place for my small (pen, bowl...) turning pieces which are stored all over the shop.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:59 am

I've never had any trouble with vertically stored wood, but I have not dried any that way. I wood (sp) not dry any that way.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 12:27 pm

I think many wood workers including myself have a sickness where we simply can't bear to throw out a piece of wood no matter how small, especially if it is a hardwood. I don't know how many 5 gallon buckets I have out in the garage filled with scraps that I know I will probably never use but that I will hang on to for at least the next five years until I'm forced (do to space constraints) to throw it out.

Overhead storage of larger pieces is a good idea but be aware most new construction used truss construction. The ceiling joist were not engineered to support much weight, their purpose is to keep the outside walls from bowing out or in. Hanging much weight from them can cause them to fail and results aren't pretty. My son in law (general contractor) makes fantastic money fixing those ooops and it happens far more than I ever suspected.

If your going to store overhead either beef up the ceiling joist or used vertical support from the floor (ideal).

My storage consists of three methods horizontal overhead, frame supported from floor, used for long term storage of hardwood. Usually stickered. Vertical on a 2 inch high platform to insure the wood is not on the concrete floor, usually wood being used in a current project. And in numerous plastic containers, 5 gal buckets and plastic containers, some for pieces and others for assorted lengths stored vertically. I try to keep my hardwood sorted by type and separate from softwoods. Sheet storage is on blocks of wood (again to keep it off the floor) behind my Shopsmith, with pieces either stored in a plastic container if small enough or if too large behind my Shopsmith.

All said I do believe I end up storing more wood than I should especially cutoffs and "one of pieces" usually under 4 foot long or less than 3 inches wide. Right now I have 10 8 foot long 3/4 inch by 3/4 inch pieces of maple that I will probably never use. If you see the market flooded with maple pens you know I decided to turn them.

Ed

stryker1313 · Post by **stryker1313** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:23 pm

I got some simple racks from Home Depot that screw into the studs, they hold like 50 pounds each, and I put them up the wall, about 4 in each row above one of my benches. I store all my crown, baseboard, and framing wood up on the top ones and project wood closer to my bench. I spaced the racks a little closer so that I could place more racks with less wood resulting, but I can sort it better and then access it more easily.

I also had a bunch of flooring left over from a hardwood floor project and I bought a similar style that hangs from my loft joists, out of the way behind the drop down ladder to the loft.

I store ply upright behind a storage rack(costco) that is on wheels that lock. I just slide it out when I need it, and if I need more leverage or space I just move the rack out a little. Scraps go in buckets for now, until I figure out a better idea!!

If you google lumber storage, you'll find plenty of ideas, lol, sometimes too many.

Greenvilleguy · Post by **Greenvilleguy** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:58 pm

I guess I know better, but I store sheet goods vertically on a concrete floor and I've never had any real problems (except bowing).

I would never store hardwood that way, but sheet goods seem to be OK. I've always thought that some day I'd build a cart to hold them off the floor and at an angle. The idea of the cart is so I could rotate to have twice as much access, but to be honest; I have too many sheets of this and that lended against the walls in the basement, but outside of my shop.

Now that you know the truth about me, I hope I'm not going to be kicked off the forum!