From: john@cirrus.com (John Wishneusky)
Subject: Re: Lumber storage rack
Organization: Cirrus Logic Inc.  Fremont, California
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 02:10:28 GMT

In article <Bxq9vA.MvI@world.std.com> rdc@world.std.com (Ralph D Clifford) writes:
>
>     I have decided that the time has come to build something to store lumber
>on.  Since I don't currently store my lumber flat, too many pieces end up
>warped.  I would be interested in any solutions to this problem you'all have
>used.
>
>     I have approx. a 4' by 12' spot in my basement to store the wood.  The
>basement is dry for a basement -- I've never had any water problems, even in
>wood in contact with the basement floor.
>
>     My initial idea is to build platforms out of 2x4 covered with 3/4" ply.
>I would want the front edge of the platform open, however, so I'm not sure
>2x4s would be sufficient.  What size lumber should be used to span a distance
>of approximately 12 feet?  Additionally, are 2x4 legs sufficient, or should I
>use larger wood?
>
>     If you don't have ideas directly related to my project, does anybody have
>a table indicating how much weight various sizes of lumber can support?
>
>     Thanks in advance.
>
>
>-- 
>Ralph Clifford

The following ascii graphic depicts one of 4 "bents" I used to create a
lumber rack occupying a 4' x 8' area.  This is an end view of my rack.
The bent consists of 2 x 4's and 2 x 2 uprights joined by 1 x 4's and
shear panels made of scrap plywood.  The panels double as sides to 6
front loading bins for storage of cut-offs up to 3 or 4 feet long.  
These 1 x 4's and panels are all bolted together with
1/4-20 carriage bolts.  The 1 x 4's are doubled, one on each side of
the 2-by uprights.

These bents were joined in a row front to back by 8' plywood shelves
which were screwed into each 1 x 4.  In addition, I screwed 2 diagonal
braces into dado's in the backs of the 2nd row of 2 x 4's.

I wanted to use space efficiently and provide storage for long lumber,
cutoffs, sheets of plywood, angle iron, conduit, pvc pipe etc.  Long
pieces must be loaded from the end so there must be an aisle or space
at one end of the rack.

I've had this rack nearly full of hardwood lumber and cutoffs.
For the amount of material it'll store, I think the material cost is
fairly modest.

John

   7 foot tall by 4 foot wide "bent" for lumber rack
   X's indicate locations of 1/4-20 carriage bolts.
 __                                        __           _
|  |                                      |  |         | |
|  |                                      |  |         | |
|  |                                      |  |         | |
|  |        for long lumber               |  | moldings| |
|  |                                      |  |         | |
+--+--------------------------------------+--+---------+-+
|X |                                      | X|         |X| <- 1x4
+--+--------------------------------------+--+---------+-+
|  |                                      |  |         | |
|  |      side of front-loading bin       |  |         | |
+--+--------------------------------------+--+         | |
|X/|   /    /    /    /    /    /    /    / X| "sticks"| |
|/ |  /    /    /    /    /    /    /    /|  |  pipe   | |
|  | /    / bin side & shear panel /    / |  |  tubing | |
|X |/    /    /    /    /    /    /    /  | X|         | |
+--+--------------------------------------+--+         | |
+--+======================================+--+---------+-+ <- plywood shelf
|X |                                      | X|         |X|    screwed to
+--+--------------------------------------+--+---------+-+    1 x 4's
|  |                                      |  |         | |
|  |      side of front-loading bin       |  |         | |
++++--------------------------------------+--+         | |
|X/|   /    /    /    /    /    /    /    / X|         | |
|/ |  /    /    /    /    /    /    /    /|  |         | |
|  | /    / bin side & shear panel /    / |  |         | |
|X |/    /    /    /    /    /    /    /  | X|         | |
+--+--------------------------------------+--+         | |
+--+======================================+--+         | | <- plywood shelf
|X/|   1 x 4 on each side of upright      | X|         | | <- 1x4
+--+--------------------------------------+--+         | |
|  |                                      |  |         | |
|  |                                      |  |         | |
|  |                                      |  |         | |
|  |       end loading area               |  |         | |
|  |        for long lumber               |  |         | |
|  |                                      |  |  4 x 8  | |
|  |                                      |  |  sheet  | |
|  |                                      |  |  good   | |
+--+--------------------------------------+--+ storage | |
|X/|                                      |X |         | | <- 1x4
+--+--------------------------------------+--+         | |
|  |                                      |  |         | |
|  |                                      |  |         | |
|  |                                      |  |         | |
|  |       end loading area               |  |         | |
|  |        for long lumber               |  |         | |
|  |                                      |  |         | |
|  |                                      |  |         | |
|  |                                      |  |         | |
|  |                                      |  |         | |
+--+--------------------------------------+--+---------+-+
|X |                                      | X|         |X| <- 1x4
+--+--------------------------------------+--+---------+-+
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