Lumber Rack Ideas/Plans

[Randy Gillard]

I need a lumber rack for a small quantity of 8-10 ft long lumber - dozen boards or so. I would like something that can be attached to the wall studs. Lee Valley sells a metal bracket setup, but seems expensive. I've seen something done using 3/4" pipe and 2x4's, but can't remember where I saw it or the fine details.

Any lumber rack ideas out there?

Thanks

Randy

[Gary in Niagara]

In Wood's "Best Ever Workshops" (currently on magazine stands) there is a lumber rack and the upper portion uses brackets that are made from 2x4's. The bracket is 12" long with a 1" radius 1-1/2" from the top on the front then a taper to the full 3-1/2" at the back. This bracket has a piece on 1/2" plywood on either side 3-1/2 x 15" cut to the same profile. The bracket is bloted to the stud with a 1/2" carrage bolt 3/4" from the top.

[Barry in London]

Hi Randy. In the recent Wood Magazine "Best-Ever Workshops" there is a combination lumber rack and sheet good storage unit. Basically the lumber rack is pieces of 2x4 glued and screwed to upright 2x4's. If your wall studs are exposed you can fasten them directly to them or build a new wall. I don't think I'm explaining this very well. The rack seems very simple to build so you might want to check out the magazine. It's $6.99 and available until December 17. Other then that, in an earlier post, David from London, posted a message with a long list of links including free plans. You might find something there. There are also hooks you can buy at HD that fasten to the ceiling. They look like two "L's" back to back. I have a couple and they hold a lot of lumber using two 3" lag screws in each bracket. I think they're around $15.00 each. Hope this helps.

Barry

[Wally]

Here's a plan for some quick brackets.

Wally/Calgary

http://wsphotofews.excite.com/016/sh/IH/oB/3l82147.jpg

[Gerry Wittenberg, Agassiz]

Hi Randy --- I've made lots of brackets like those pictured in Wallys post. I make mine with a bridle joint where the upright meets the horizontal bit and then drill and dowel the joint. It's amazing how much weight those little brackets will support. Get your saw set up and you can crank out a whole bunch of 'em is a short time.

Gerry

[(Bill in Petrolia)]

Randy; I actually had a customer / friend weld some brackets together. He used 0.250" x 2" wide plate and made an "L", then solidified with a 0.500" rod. Three of these mounted onto the wall studs are holding close to 20 pieces of 8'-10' long lumber. I had him make about 10 of these and I finally ran out of wall space. I mounted them near the top of the walls, so I could store other stuff or have benches underneath. The store bought brackets kept breaking with the load I had on them. If you don't know a welder, a local shop should be able to make for next to nothing.
Bill

[Ron Evers, Beeton, ON]

Randy, I use a series of "ladders" for storing wood. One leg of each ladder is a wall stud with holes drilled at 12" centers to receive ¾" steel conduit (the rungs). The other leg is a matching 2x4 set floor to joists with through holes so you can add or remove rungs. My "ladders" are about 3' wide but you can make them to suit your conditions. The nice thing is that you can store different species on separate rungs for easy access.

Hope this helps, Ron.

[Scott Naulls, Bancroft On]

I used 3 full 2"x4" on edge drilled holes at a slight angle and put 3/4" pipe approx 24" long I have 4 layers in 10 foot ceiling..

I was told it wouldnt work but I am stubborn and knew it wood :) It has been up for about 5 years and no problem On one layer I have almost full depth and length (12') of pine..

A lot cheaper than the brackets at lee valley and more room than homemade brackets..

Scott

[Mike King, Sherwood Park,]

That's your material list, Ron! Add four lag bolts to that and you're in biz. I drilled my holes for the pipe at a slight 2-3 deg. up-angle on the flat face of the 2x material.. The wood mag articl and Scott's method are the same. 8' to 10' of material can be hung on two of these, or three if you want to pile it high.. I spaced my holes vertically about 16" apart.

[Pete]

Shop Notes has a nice rack that I built works great Email me and I will send you plans.