Free standing LumberRack

[tiralie]

I have to clean up my work area to make some space so that means I gotta move some lumber out and store it somewhere.  I built a temporary stand for some material and drying racks etc. but I always meant to make a larger rack that could accommodate my 10 ft. long stock.
As this rack will sit outside, with a cover, and may be moved at sometime I really wanted to make it free standing and not attach it to a wall.
After looking at a number of lumber racks online, I designed this one.

[attachimg=#]

Here is an exploded view of the uprights and the components.

[attachimg=#]

 

[Sparktrician]

Nice idea, Tim, but why did you choose to invert the top bracket? 

 

[wow]

I have been looking for the steel equivalent, a one-sided cantilever rack, for my shop. I like your design, but wonder if it could hold the weight of a full stack of MDF?

 

[rst]

A frame racks are the industry standards for mobile racks.  You have two sides and it is easy to attach wheels and not worry about tipping.

 

[gkaiseril]

I would consider putting longer foot behind the racks for dimensional lumber for sheet goods.
Wood Storage 101, Lumber Storage and 7 storage tips

 

[tiralie]

I have been looking for the steel equivalent, a one-sided cantilever rack, for my shop. I like your design, but wonder if it could hold the weight of a full stack of MDF?

No, I don't think so.
A sheet of MDF weighs about 95 lbs. give or take a couple pounds.
A lift of MDF is 44 sheets. That's about 4,1800 lbs or slightly over 2 tons.

Have a look at these cantilever racks.

I really only designed this rack for left over solid stock from other projects. My sheet goods will stay in the car port. If this rack fails, I will be buying one of the medium duty I linked to above.

Tim

 

[tiralie]

Nice idea, Tim, but why did you choose to invert the top bracket? 

Thanks. The top bracket will serve as support for the roof. When I move this indoors I will invert the top bracket and use it to store stuff.

 

[tiralie]

I would consider putting longer foot behind the racks for dimensional lumber for sheet goods.
Wood Storage 101, Lumber Storage and 7 storage tips

I don't plan to store sheet goods on this rack...but I won't say I'll never store sheet goods on it [big grin].
I have reached the maximum width for the space I plan to put this rack. You really can't swing a dead cat in the space but it's a good place to store extra/unused lumber.
Tim

 

[wow]

If you go the steel route, check out these guys:

http://www.sjf.com/cantilever_rack.html

They are in my back yard and I have bought numerous items from them. No affiliation, blah blah blah...

 

[JSlovic]

If your interested in a steel rack check out used material handling suppliers
I've picked up several nice racks at a fraction of the new price

 

[tjbnwi]

Tim, can't the uprights back about 5º, lookouts about 2.5º up from leve it will change the load path. This should reduce the risk of tipping forward.

Tom

 

[Sparktrician]

Nice idea, Tim, but why did you choose to invert the top bracket? 

Thanks. The top bracket will serve as support for the roof. When I move this indoors I will invert the top bracket and use it to store stuff.

Got it.  Thanks for the clarity. 

 

[mattfc]

I would seriously look at Unistrut

Their cantilever arms are very strong as are their rails

http://www.thesitebox.com/electrical-and-cable-management/unistrut-cable-management/unistrut-cantilever-arms.aspx