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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    135

    Default storage of shorts/ offcuts for the lathe/ mill

    G'Day,

    So here I am starting to move the distributed stashes of "stuff" into the shed, and I'm struck with how much "shorts" I've accumulated/ stored because it was "a useful piece of material"... I'm talking several hundred kilos of steel, aluminium, brass/bronze ranging from pieces 10mm in length to over 500mm long - in diameters from 4mm up to 180mm.

    I'm hoping I'm not alone in this predicament, and I'm really hoping that someone has a proven storage method/ system which caters for the storage of short pieces of metal so it's accessible, and contained.
    I know one option is to give it to the scrappy and then buy new material once I need it, but I also know this option will cost me money, and is quite inconvenient.
    So.. how do you store your short (less than 1000mm) lengths of material in your shed?
    what systems work? what would you do better based on your experience?

    Currently it's under cover in a series of plastic buckets, and millk crates. I cannot leave it like this because the buckets will collapse under the weight, and the crates are difficult to move, and small pieces fall through the holes. Once summer is over, the weather will blow in under that roof, and the steel will start rusting and be a lot less useful.

    Thanks,
    Des

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,943

    Default

    Hi Des, I've the same problem. Haven't done it yet, but I'm looking at getting a couple of pieces of hefty weldmesh about 125 square, so that a section of guttering will fit in the spaces. Welding it into a cube shape with some heavy duty castors under it, and sliding the guttering into it. A frame around the outer edge would help support everything. You could make a few of them to suit different lengths and heights.
    Seen it somewhere but can't remember where!!!
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Townsville, Tropical Nth Qld.
    Posts
    225

    Default

    Des, for all my short pieces for the lathe, I made a heavy duty shallow box, about 75mm deep, added 5 casters and it lives on the floor under my bench drill. Just pull it out when I need something. As for the longer stuff, I saw a guy bought heavy duty plastic conduit from the dump recyclers, cut it all same length and mounted it horizontally and just slides all the stock into each tube.
    Rgds,
    Crocy.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Greenmount, W.A.
    Age
    70
    Posts
    272

    Default

    Bunnings sell chain. It comes in plastic tubs about 300 x 300 300 high with a 200 or so screw lid. They discard them when empty. I check if there are any empty, or near empty ones when I go in. Sometimes you can move the last bit of chain from the old tub into the new one - so that the shelf area looks tidy. I do not charge Bunnings for this service! Sometimes you can find them behind the "Trade Counter." I put similar stock together - brass, aluminium, flat round, bigger than or smaller than a size. They don't like too much sunlight. Half full with steel offcuts I can lift them on or off of a shelf. Long bits I use 50 litre and 200 litre open top drums. You can also hang bits of capped 50mm sullage pipe on the outside for thin stock, welding wire and brass rod etc.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Ipswich QLD
    Age
    68
    Posts
    1,996

    Default

    I use iff cuts of 100mm drain pipe or 20lt plastic buckets atm a shelf under the lathe for block of handy size bits. Larger stuff goes in black tubs on floor or on the other shelf these tubs are old recycle type hard plastic. One on floor is on a board which has wheels for easy moving .

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Deception Bay Qld
    Posts
    111

    Default

    Like some others I have used 150mm Comms conduit in a cheap steel knock together rack,or if you have access the offcuts of C Perlin they stack together with a few tek screws to hold them together.
    Short lengths go into ply stackable trays I have made but they get messy quickly.

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