show your short drop storage solutions

[jwmorris]

I have built a swing out rack for material from 16" to 8' or so that makes it quick to find a section that I need but am looking for something for the buckets of drop that I have that are shorter. Rotating bins would be nice but they are quite expensive if they can hold the weight. What have you come up with?

 

[PossumHound]

I like it:thumbsup:

PH

 

[jwmorris]

For full length I put together a rack inside a 40' container, up high enough I can still get in with other equipment.

 

[PossumHound]

Did you just get through putting it together? That place is neat as a pin!

PH

 

[smiley]

For full length I put together a rack inside a 40' container, up high enough I can still get in with other equipment.

I also have a container set up in a similar fashion with shelves on both sides and the end. I had a bunch of 3x12 planks and just set them on concrete blocks. I like your steel storage racks but have absolutely no wall space in the garage as it also has plank wall shelves and workbenches on the other side. So, I built very low narrow pallets with various size/length boxes and milk crates for small stuff, just wide enough to go under the bench lengthways. I use a pallet jack to move it out whenever needed. I used to use short pieces of pipe as rollers before getting the jack, but that was sort of a pain.

Can't post photo as it's in NY and I'm in Fla.

 

[SPIKER]

I have built a swing out rack for material from 16" to 8' or so that makes it quick to find a section that I need but am looking for something for the buckets of drop that I have that are shorter. Rotating bins would be nice but they are quite expensive if they can hold the weight. What have you come up with?

JW that stuff is of no use to ya , maybe I can stop by and get it out of your way =(too bad U R in Texas... )

Short storage was always an issue and usually we end up getting a pile then tossing most of it in the bin for scrap and getting more out...
We has some 30" gallon Steel Drums that we used for holding a good bit of them usually stuff that was 24"+/- ad for the 12" or less stuff we had a big bent channel of 14awg 10' long and 6" deep x 20" wide on the bottom rack that they were tossed in...

Mark

 

[jwmorris]

Most of it could be scrapped but I really hate to throw away stuff. The short stock 4130 seamless tubing is kind of like gold when you are making things, just a cut will do the same thing as machining a part on the lathe. Only off you can put your hands on it quickly...

 

[duroc]

Most of it could be scrapped but I really hate to throw away stuff. The short stock 4130 seamless tubing is kind of like gold when you are making things, just a cut will do the same thing as machining a part on the lathe. Only off you can put your hands on it quickly...

I have the same problem with the smaller pieces! I have 3 full milk crates fastened together and even though they are on casters, it seems like they are always in my way. I can't see scrapping the pieces either, because I always find a need for what's in there. I think I just need more storage space. :laughing:

 

[mjncad]

I swear stock storage is one of the more challenging things out there. I had that problem when I was model-making as a teenager, and I have that problem now. As a temporary solution I've thrown short drops and scrap in 5-gallon buckets; one for flats, another for square/rectangular tubing, one for round tubing, and so on. It's not a great solution; but it beats the one I used to do, which was just throw everything in a pile on the floor. I just hate how heavy the buckets get and having to dump the contents out to find something.

 

[jwmorris]

A friend had one of these at his shop that would work for what I need and I have been looking for a used one, just can't see spending $1000 on something to save drop material.

5 (15" deep) compartments per shelve with 8 shelves and each one can hold 500#.


34" Rotary Shelving - Rotabins - Lazy Susan rotating steel bins

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have built a swing out rack for material from 16" to 8' or so that makes it quick to find a section that I need but am looking for something for the buckets of drop that I have that are shorter. Rotating bins would be nice but they are quite expensive if they can hold the weight. What have you come up with?

I like the long stock solutions but the bins and cans would be a nightmare to find anything in. I wish I had just 10% of your stock though, I would always be building something if I had lots of stock. Here its 70 miles minimum to a new steel supplier and 120 or so to a guy that sells drops @ 50 cents per pound. Unless one has the rights to a pick and choose scrap pile for free, it is cheaper to buy it fabricated than build it yourself. Most of my scrap is used for minor repairs.

 

[boggen]

use "stalls" piece of plywood on each side, that goes from bottom up about 4 feet, for "short stuff" to lean against, then run some 2x4's high up, across sides , for longer stuff. normally put a bottom in, to raise everything up off the floor. to make it easier to clean things up (sweep / mop) and help deal with rodents, and the ever eluding object that falls onto ground and ends up rolling under something. normally just let everything lean up against sides, or back of the stall. (back of stall = side of building) some times putting a piece of lumber (plywood or other) if i need to deal with not damaging wall of building.

the scrap lumber from various projects, ends up getting saved up. and then slapped together to form, shelves in some stalls for various items. call it a "pack rat setup" but over years, that chunk of metal, or lumber, or pipe, or what not has found its use.

try my best to stay away from any sort of drawers, and keep shelving down to min. and try best to hang tools from nails / screws, to leaning stuff up. so i am not having to move a bunch of stuff, to find what ever i am looking for.

 

[Xfaxman]

I saw this idea in a magazine about thirty years ago and have used it ever since then.

Put five gallon buckets on there sides on metal shelving, to make "Pigeon-holes" like these, but round.
I even use the big plastic barrels laying down on my pallet rack.

 

[mjncad]

They can put a man on the moon; but they (manufacturers) can't perfect stock storage.

 

[jwmorris]

Well, looking on craigslist I came across a nut and bolt bin and put all of the short drop in it. Not exactly what I was looking for but worked out better than expected. Can't believe it holds all the weight really, think I will add some extra gussets at the bottom just to sleep better.

Lag bolted it to the wall next to the saw I use most and if I roll the saw out of the way it doesn't take up any more shop space than my nut/bolt bins. For $65 good solution. I did mount it upside down so the front lip wouldn't make it a pain to see or remove the stock.