MisterDrow Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 So I'm finally taking a big step in cleaning up and organizing my shop and want to put up some lumber racks. Is there a recommended standard for how far apart the supports should be (horizontally)? I was thinking about 3' but didn't know if I should put them closer together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 If you're planning on heavy loads, every stud. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfitz Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 I went every 16". I dropped 2x4's off the ceiling joists (basement shop) and decided to go every 16" for the support, and flexibility of supporting oddball lengths. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post MisterDrow Posted July 20, 2017 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 Every stud... well of course I'd anchor them to the studs. Now I just feel silly, LOL. I don't know why I didn't think of that... Apparently I'm brain-dead this week. I've been a fountain of stupid/obvious questions in many areas. I think I may need to get more than 5 hours of sleep at night. Thanks for the very obvious answer that I should have thought of on my own, @Eric.. Very much appreciated, and I mean that. I know it's one of those things that when it came time to do it I'd automatically go for anchoring them to the studs but I hadn't even thought that far ahead. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfitz Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 I must have missed something. Eric's answer was an answer to your question, although maybe not explicit. You asked how far apart to space the supports (horizontally). He answered every stud - meaning every 16". 3' is not bad. 2' is also good. 16" (every wall stud) is a convenient spacing if there are existing wall studs you will be using to attach your supports. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterDrow Posted July 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 4 minutes ago, Jfitz said: I must have missed something. Eric's answer was an answer to your question, although maybe not explicit. You asked how far apart to space the supports (horizontally). He answered every stud - meaning every 16". 3' is not bad. 2' is also good. 16" (every wall stud) is a convenient spacing if there are existing wall studs you will be using to attach your supports. I typed the answer to his post before your post loaded on the screen. Yes, I will be attaching my supports to the wall via studs. I may end up going every two studs (32") but we'll see what I have lumber for in that regard. I won't have SUPER heavy loads on them but I want it to be sturdy and not allow the boards to bow while sitting on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 I would not be comfortable with either of these loads with less than every stud. Personally. Even like this they still make me nervous, even though I'm sure they're fine. It's a lot of weight. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 Also make sure you're using lag screws (mine are 1/4" I believe, maybe even 5/16")...do NOT use drywall screws. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterDrow Posted July 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 4 minutes ago, Eric. said: Also make sure you're using lag screws (mine are 1/4" I believe, maybe even 5/16")...do NOT use drywall screws. I wouldn't even dream of using drywall screws for something like this. I've got a package of 1/4" lag bolts in the garage just waiting for this install. Side note... I met a guy once who had a lumber rack on his wall installed with drywall anchors and one or two screws in studs where it was 'convenient'. Judging by the amount of lumber on the wall, I'm surprised it was holding... but he'd only had them up for a few weeks so who knows what happened after that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfitz Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 8 minutes ago, Eric. said: do NOT use drywall screws aw, dang it.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterDrow Posted July 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 As for mine, I plan on anchoring some 2x4s vertically on studs and then 1" dowels sticking out at a slight upward angle to hold the lumber. I won't have as much as you've got on there at a given time, @Eric., so hopefully that will be adequate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 Just now, MisterDrow said: 1" dowels sticking out at a slight upward angle I would reconsider doing that. Build it right. Marc has a video somewhere deep in the archives. It's an easy project and you'll be able to fill the rack as much as you want. I wouldn't trust those dowels to hold more than a couple boards. Remember...your lumber collection will grow...so you might as well prepare for the future. Even if you move you can take it down and put it in the new shop. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfitz Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 I also would caution against dowels. The idea is sound though. For mine, I used metal conduit - I think it was 3/4" EMT conduit. My rack also won't see the amount of use as Eric's, but at 16" spacing I'm confident it'll hold a lot of weight. Many wood species are in the range of 40-50 lbs/cubic foot .... I don't know what the right numbers are for different support types, but keep it in mind for how much wood you're planning on possibly putting on each support. Here's mine. Note - the 2x4's extend all the way to the floor...it's not a 'free hanging' system. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterDrow Posted July 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 Maybe I will reconsider the design... for now, due to budget constraints, I will have to make due with the materials I have on hand. If that means I make storage for the smaller, lighter pieces (like the pile of reclaimed cedar I have) to get them off of the floor and out of the way and tackle the heavier-duty stuff later so be it. I think I can still make it more sturdy like you suggest with what I've got, though. If I don't start organizing things now I'll end up with an even bigger mess than I've already got in no time as I work on this new desk. I've put this off for way too long and just have to take some action. Not an ideal situation but it is what it is. If that means that six months down the line I'm ripping it out to put something better in, I'm okay with that. @Jfitz I like the idea of using conduit instead of dowels... I'll have to look into the costs of that and if I can make that happen, I will. Otherwise, I'll work on a more sturdy solution than the dowels with what I have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfitz Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 3/4" EMT is less than $5 for a 10' length. Let us know how it goes. Getting organized is always a good thing, but do it safely. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterDrow Posted July 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 I don't mean to sound dismissive of the advice given here, either. I hope my responses didn't come across that way. I'll definitely make things as sturdy as I can with what I have and if I can't make something sufficiently sturdy to hold the wood I want it to, I'll figure something else out in the interim until I can go spend a little bit of money at the borg for the proper setup. I don't want to half-ass this if I am going to do it... I just really need to get SOMETHING in place right away. Thanks for the advice, guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfitz Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 Good plan. Get some organization in place and then get building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 A few 2x4s and the cheapest sheet of 3/4" ply you can find won't cost much at all...less than a hundred bucks for sure...and that's all the materials you need for a very robust rack. Oh...and like half a gallon of glue. LOL (not really that much, but probably more than one of those little bottles) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfitz Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 Just now, Eric. said: Oh...and like half a gallon of glue. And ball bearings. It's all ball bearings nowadays. Now you prepare that Fetzer valve with some 3-in-1 oil and some gauze pads. And 'bout ten quarts of anti-freeze, preferably Prestone. No, no make that Quaker State 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 @Eric. every single time I look at your avatar I see this: Sorry for the interruption, couldn't help it LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Eric. Posted July 20, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 Just now, Immortan D said: @Eric. every single time I look at your avatar I see this: Bad woodworking mojo to blasphemy The Master like that. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 2 hours ago, Eric. said: Even like this they still make me nervous, even though I'm sure they're fine. It's a lot of weight. When I first looked at the picture, I thinking yea, thats a good sturdy rack. Then I see you beautiful hand tool rack and the tools under it and now I am nervous for you. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 1 hour ago, Chet said: When I first looked at the picture, I thinking yea, thats a good sturdy rack. Then I see you beautiful hand tool rack and the tools under it and now I am nervous for you. Well it's been loaded like that for something like six years or so now...so I figure if I was gonna have a problem, it would have happened by now. But if you wanna keep praying for my tool cabinet, I won't stop you. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 Yup. I can provide a safer place for that cabinet, just in case Eric. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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