03-19-2015, 11:42 PM
It occurred to me to ask you all what you use for storing the metal stock you have in your shop. I know everyone has different needs, amounts of stock and space to work with, so I thought I'd share with you what my situation is for now.
In my shop I had very little stock for years, buying just what I needed for jobs as the need arose. Over the years, I found some longer lengths and was gifted a fair amount. Standing longer bars around the saw wasn't working well because one would fall and take out the rest. A flimsy wooden shelf I was using was no longer able hold growing pile of shorter pieces. So I had in mind a rack I'd seen somewhere that organized both types. I'd hit the local Craigslist and just typed "stock rack" into the search function. To my joy there was one hit, and it was EXACTLY what I had in mind. It became mine for $125.
When Darren was visiting most recently (last fall), he asked about it, and just recently reminded me that I was to measure it up and make a drawing so he could fabricate one like it.
Here it is, before the large donation from Wrustle's cleanout:
![[Image: IMG_20130921_183013607_zps0a75d43a.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/kenm10759/Dads%20shop/IMG_20130921_183013607_zps0a75d43a.jpg)
It's now so full that I really can't put anymore in it, and some of my stock is now stored in the garage that's a long walk from the shop. It's about 7 feet tall and 3 feet wide, and with the 1-1/2 x 1-1/2" x 1/8" angle iron for the frame and probably 14 or 16 gauge for the shelves, really quite sturdy. This one was made by Hodge Manufacturing of Springfield MA, and I can't seem to find much on the web about them though they do seem to be still in business. I find other similar racks offered by others, and the main difference seems to be that they all got a dose of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration here in the US) and now have a chain across the long standing stock.
I've attached the simple sketch I made of this rack, so excuse my weak excuse for a technical drawing. I don't have the time nor inclination to sit in front of the PC and render it with a CAD system. Would any of you weld one up, besides Darren? Apologies that I scanned it upside down and simply can't seem to save it right side up after I rotate the view.
This appears to be what the Hodge Manufacturing Company is now, Durham Mfg Co., and the exact same rack.
http://www.hodgemfg.com/item.html?id=575
And Grainger sells them:
http://www.grainger.com/product/DURHAM-S...thumb$
In my shop I had very little stock for years, buying just what I needed for jobs as the need arose. Over the years, I found some longer lengths and was gifted a fair amount. Standing longer bars around the saw wasn't working well because one would fall and take out the rest. A flimsy wooden shelf I was using was no longer able hold growing pile of shorter pieces. So I had in mind a rack I'd seen somewhere that organized both types. I'd hit the local Craigslist and just typed "stock rack" into the search function. To my joy there was one hit, and it was EXACTLY what I had in mind. It became mine for $125.
When Darren was visiting most recently (last fall), he asked about it, and just recently reminded me that I was to measure it up and make a drawing so he could fabricate one like it.
Here it is, before the large donation from Wrustle's cleanout:
It's now so full that I really can't put anymore in it, and some of my stock is now stored in the garage that's a long walk from the shop. It's about 7 feet tall and 3 feet wide, and with the 1-1/2 x 1-1/2" x 1/8" angle iron for the frame and probably 14 or 16 gauge for the shelves, really quite sturdy. This one was made by Hodge Manufacturing of Springfield MA, and I can't seem to find much on the web about them though they do seem to be still in business. I find other similar racks offered by others, and the main difference seems to be that they all got a dose of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration here in the US) and now have a chain across the long standing stock.
I've attached the simple sketch I made of this rack, so excuse my weak excuse for a technical drawing. I don't have the time nor inclination to sit in front of the PC and render it with a CAD system. Would any of you weld one up, besides Darren? Apologies that I scanned it upside down and simply can't seem to save it right side up after I rotate the view.
This appears to be what the Hodge Manufacturing Company is now, Durham Mfg Co., and the exact same rack.
http://www.hodgemfg.com/item.html?id=575
And Grainger sells them:
http://www.grainger.com/product/DURHAM-S...thumb$