Organizing stock

[itsme_Bernie]

Hello Hobby Machinist Folks,

Can you guys show pictures of the way you organize your stock?

I often have trouble choosing between organizing by type of metal, or shape of stock.

I try to keep the lake metals together of course, but organizing by shape and size is more efficient for space in a home shop.

Thanks for your input!

Bernie






Bernie

 

[Tom Griffin]

Hey Bernie,

The stock that I use most often is stored in an 18" x 36" shelf unit. The heavy stuff like steel and brass are on the bottom, aluminum chunks in the middle (because it gets used the most), plastic on a shelf of its own and sheet and plate stock of all kinds on the top. There is also a Unistrut shelf unit that holds a the larger plate stock. Bar stock gets stored on end just leaning against the wall, and I have a drawer unit with a couple of drawers dedicated to short lengths of various bar stock. There is also some large PVC tubing on top of the Unistrut shelving where I keep drill rod, threaded rod, welding rod, etc., Storing in tubing like that works well and keeps it accessible. Most of my stock is stored openly for ease of access.

I would love to get all of the stock out of the shop and into an area by itself because it takes up so much room and am considering and addition across the back of the shop to house it. It would be great to be able to use the room for additional machinery.

Tom

 

[RandyM]

I like to store mine vertical. It seems to take up less space. I have two racks on wheels, one aluminum and one steel. Here are a couple of pics when I was just expanding to two racks. I make bases and bolt some very heavy duty casters to it. I'll have to get a pic of my current set-up.

 

[Snugrat]

Hey RandyM, nice clean shop. Looks like you have room to work.
My place is a little tight but I get stuff done.
Noticed the gas pump. Do you restore
them? Snugrat

 

[RandyM]

Hey RandyM, nice clean shop. Looks like you have room to work.
My place is a little tight but I get stuff done.
Noticed the gas pump. Do you restore
them? Snugrat

Thanks Snuggy, I do like it tidy. I may be a little luckier than most and have 50 x 100 fully heated work space (shop). So yes, I do have plenty of room to move.

Yup, restore the gas pumps. I have 30 projects just waiting to happen. Here are a couple of pics of my latest.

NOW, back to stock storage!

 

[Snugrat]

WOW!! Randy those pumps are a thing of beauty. Nice work.:man:
I don't remember the $.14 a gallon for gas but I remember
$.25/ gal. Seems a life time ago.
Be safe, Snugrat

 

[RandyM]

Well Guys, Here are some updated pics of my stock storage. I have one vertical rack for steel and one for aluminum. Then a smalls rack under the bench and some tubes for some longer smaller sizes.

 

[ddushane]

You make me Sick!!!!! well not really, I'm always tripping over stuff, or moving it to another place only to know it's going to have to be moved to another place eventually. I've got to break down & do something like this. Thanks for the pictures Randy,

Dwayne

 

[harrytbagger]

Very nice and neat guys, puts me to shame.

 

[FrankW]

I plan on doing better with my stock storage as I am moving from a 30 x 50 shop to 40 x 110. These ideas shown here are a great beginning. Thanks,

Frank