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  1. #1
    Join Date
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    Default Small metal offcuts

    How do you store your small metal offcuts.
    Shane

    Got the square peg in the round hole, now can't get it out !!

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    sydney ( st marys )
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    Default

    In small containers.

  3. #3
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by pipeclay View Post
    In small containers.
    Only problem with that is you have to tip the container out to see what's in the bottom.
    Shane

    Got the square peg in the round hole, now can't get it out !!

  4. #4
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    Default

    I use clear jars or Chinese food containers.

    How big an off cut are you talking about?

    Sme I store in the fridge door pockets others on the shelves, some pieces I stand vertically If over 60mm long.

    A lot of my small lengths are over 50 mm dia.

  5. #5
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    Default

    Just an assortment from around an 25mm to 200mm long, round and square bar, plate etc, have them stored in a metal cabinet at the moment but need that space, just looking for other options.
    Shane

    Got the square peg in the round hole, now can't get it out !!

  6. #6
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    Default

    I used to use chinese food containers but they don't seem to last that long, my offcuts are broken up into material type and size.

    under 50 mm long
    Non ferrous are stored in small shallow plastic drawers laid out in one of the drawers in my map cabinet.
    In the pic below you can see some small drawers have brass, others have ally, theres also various plastics etc.
    There's quite a few more drawers added since this photo was taken.
    Tool steels strips and bibs and bobs are in the cutlery tray
    IMG_2018.jpg
    <50 mm non tool steel ferrous are stored in 2 sturdy cardboard boxes under a bench.

    25 to about ~300 mm in length
    I use wooden boxes divided into partitions, on wheels, that roll under benches.
    The boxes have separate partitions for, Al, SS, ferrous sheet, ferrous rod, Cu/brass and plastics.
    The partially tucked in one has the Al and Cu/brass partitions.
    Another 2 boxes on the other underside of the bench have the rest except for sheet metal which has its own box
    UnderDrawers.jpg

    Remembering where stuff is, is a not easy.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    SA
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    1,649

    Default

    I thought everyone just stored it in a big pile under the bench. Within throwing range.

    That way you get to crawl around on your hands and knees sorting through the stuff. A torch can also be handy.

    Well, that's what I do anyway.
    The worst that can happen is you will fail.
    But at least you tried.



  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Aldinga Beach.
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    148

    Default Storage

    I only have a small shed so storage and machine siting is a problem, I'm always changing things around. At the moment I have a rack in front of the window for 2 metre lengths, under one metre lengths go on the side rack next to the bandsaw and very small bits go on the formply shelf above the bandsaw. Everything is sorted correctly: round stock, flat stock, RHS, round tube, aluminium and so on. Sometimes it stays neat like that for days on end?

    I notice some got confused and pictured where they store screws and stuff. I'm old and hate to be outdone so I included some pictures of my little yellow drawer system. I have three small drawer units on my electrics bench for resistors, motors, circuit boards and so on. On the side wall I have four larger drawer units for screws, nuts, bolts, tape, lenses and so on. One day I'll get around to labelling the bigger drawers. the wife labeled the smaller ones last night.

    You can just make out the continuty checker and voltmeter I finished piecing together yesterday. The voltmeter is a $1 item from China I mounted in a PVC Bracket. The continuity checker is a simple Jaycar buzzer connected to a 5 volt adapter, I also wired in, via a resistor, a 10 mm LED. saves me pulling the place apart and teaching the kids next door new 'words', when trying to find my multimeters.

    For anyone looking for small storage ideas these yellow, plastic drawers are excellent. The drawers are soft, maleable, clear plastic so they don't crack or break and are reasonably large. $25 each from Cheap as Chips.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
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    Aldinga Beach.
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    Default

    I'm considering an arc mesh floor overhead for steel storage. Allows you to see what you're looking for and gets it out of the way. Not much good for smaller stuff, but that will always be a problem.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
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    6,446

    Default

    Lathe stock was a problem.

    I had some leftover concrete mesh and used it to tack up a frame which fits under the lathe between the sheet metal cupboards.

    I cut 90mm PVC tube to lay horizontal inside every square and zip-tied the tubes to the mesh squares.
    There is a lipped plywood shelf on top of the frame which stored the too short offcuts.

    In my steel shed, I used lengths of old square line rain gutter supported on shelf brackets to store flat and round bars for fabrication.


    Grahame

    as requested

    Lathe stock storage.jpg

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Aldinga Beach.
    Age
    73
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by pipeclay View Post
    I use clear jars or Chinese food containers.

    How big an off cut are you talking about?

    Sme I store in the fridge door pockets others on the shelves, some pieces I stand vertically If over 60mm long.

    A lot of my small lengths are over 50 mm dia.
    My wife won't let me store steel in the fridge! I don'y know why...

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
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    Aldinga Beach.
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    Default Auskart

    A tip for Auskart: I use a really big hammer, that usually gets any shape peg in or out of any shape hole. If it still resists, a 9" grinder followed by a really big sledge. I use this approach for most things. If it's worth doing, it's worth going over the top first go!

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