Shop storage and organization ideas...

thrashingcows

thrashingcows

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Since finishing the shop I'm now starting to moving into it slowly but would like some ideas and pictures of what you have done or found useful around the bench and wall, or just shelving, racking and storage ideas in general.

I have a 12' long bench that's about 28" deep that I got free from a co-worker, he built it 20 years ago and couldn't take it with him on his most recent move. It had 2x6's on the top that would allow crud to fall through into the drawers so I put some 3/4" plywood on the top and mounted my old "Made in England" vice. ;)

bUCDwf9h.jpg
 
Looks like you have a nice shop started and your bench appears to be a great one for projects. Cutting the legs on each end of the bench by the height of locking casters and installing them so that it sits flush with the inner four legs will make your bench convenient to move around by picking up one end or the other when moving it - especially for cleaning underneath.

Good luck with the shelving.
 
A friend has a shelf that goes all the way around the inside of his shop. It's about 7 feet high and maybe a 1 1/2 feet deep. It's up and out of the way, but you can still get most things fairly easy without getting something to stand on. I put one of these up that's only about 8 feet long and it has tons of stuff on it. I actually need to do more of these shelves.

I also have 3 of these Harbor Freight cabinets. They are only about 8" deep so they don't protrude into the shop much. The shelf I mention above is over the top of 2 of them. Hanging Tool Cabinet These are great for oil filters, spray cans etc. Mine filled up real fast LOL.

I don't have these in my garage, but I have some in my basement for storage. https://www.costco.com/trinity-6-tier-wire-shelving-rack,-48"x18"x72".product.100412448.html They are great because you can wheel them out of the way.
 
That looks to be a well built bench. I'm guessing that the drawers are wood on wood. I would suggest pulling the drawers out and waxing the daylights out of the area of the drawer and the slide where they mesh. That way when those big drawers are loaded they should still pull out easily.

I don't know how high your ceilings are but I like to put some shelves up close to the ceiling for the stuff I don't want to get rid of but that I have no idea when I'll use it next. It can even stick out more than lower shelves since there won't be a hazard of hitting your head on it.

I like having peg board on the wall behind my work bench so that I can hang hand tools there. The stuff you're always grabbing for; screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches...
 
If you are looking for an excuse to buy a forklift, Redi Rack and pallets make a pretty economical storage solution, forklift notwithstanding. The forklift will have other uses you just haven't thought of yet. lol

Kevin
 
live4theking said:
That looks to be a well built bench. I'm guessing that the drawers are wood on wood. I would suggest pulling the drawers out and waxing the daylights out of the area of the drawer and the slide where they mesh. That way when those big drawers are loaded they should still pull out easily.

I don't know how high your ceilings are but I like to put some shelves up close to the ceiling for the stuff I don't want to get rid of but that I have no idea when I'll use it next. It can even stick out more than lower shelves since there won't be a hazard of hitting your head on it.

I like having peg board on the wall behind my work bench so that I can hang hand tools there. The stuff you're always grabbing for; screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches...
Click to expand...

Yes the drawers are hand made wood on wood, great idea on the waxing...what product do I use?

My ceiling is 14' so tough to put things up high...;)
 
Big_John said:
A friend has a shelf that goes all the way around the inside of his shop. It's about 7 feet high and maybe a 1 1/2 feet deep. It's up and out of the way, but you can still get most things fairly easy without getting something to stand on. I put one of these up that's only about 8 feet long and it has tons of stuff on it. I actually need to do more of these shelves.
Click to expand...

I had thought of something along those lines....shelve about 24" deep or so and various lengths along the inside walls here and there. Something like this...

Shelf-1b.jpg
 
Looking at those shelves I posted made me wonder if a local lumber mill could make me up a bunch of rough cut lumber in 18-24" width x 2" thick x 8' or so? Will have to make a call.
 
keep an eye out for used lyon shelving. it is industrial and heavy duty with pins and brackets so you can adjust the shelf heights.
the ones i have look similar to this:
f5b0ace17c0c003febea36903e2796b9.jpg
th?id=OIP.jpg

th?id=OIP.jpg

there are dozens of different configurations if you search the web.
 
Go to estate sales/craigslist and purchase old file cabinets. ($20 at most used) Especially stuff from the era before they were made from 25 gauge steel. Great and cheap way to organize spray cans, or virtually anything that fits within. Don't miss the horizontal style either (wide, shallow drawers). If you want to be fancy, paint it all to match. I've also purchased steel desks from the 30s-50s for around the same money which are very durable/solid. There will be times you'll want to sit down and work on something like a carb rebuild.

Lots of LED overhead and task lighting.

When I store parts in cardboard boxes, I'll usually hit one side with a coat of paint and write whatever is contained within, neatly with a Sharpie marker.

Label drawers, not so much for yourself, but if you're under a car and would like a "helper" to hand you a 1/2 ratchet or a pair of Vice Grips. Also works well if a helper is willing to help you clean up.
 
thrashingcows said:
I had thought of something along those lines....shelve about 24" deep or so and various lengths along the inside walls here and there. Something like this...

View attachment 369300
Click to expand...

Wall shelves make sense especially when you need the floor space underneath. I just moved back into my garage that I built 15 years ago, and I'm building shelves as we speak. After thinking about it for a while I came up with a design that will work well. 24" deep x 10' long, 3 high. The goal is to keep it as light and efficient as possible. I'll post photos when done....
 
thrashingcows said:
....snip....
I have a 12' long bench that's about 28" deep that I got free from a co-worker....snip....
Click to expand...

If it were mine, I'd have a 16 or 18 ga. stainless top made to slip right over that. With stainless, you can bang on it, spill paint, spray solvents, clean parts, etc and it always cleans up.
 
Here are the starting of my shelving the bench is 4'x 12' 3' high. The shelves in the back are 2' X 12' three foot and six foot high. I made a trade for some warehouse racks 4' X 8' by 40'

GRRN3278.JPG


IMG_3760.JPG
 
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