Shop clean up -Metal stock and Hand tool storage

I'm trying real hard to get organized and put stuff
away. I had lots of short 3-4' steel tubing and pipe,
plus newer long lengths 12-20' laying around
stacked on a couple of 4x4s.
The area around the band saw was full of short stuff
which is going to scrap.

I've got a good wall to build a rack for the long stuff.
Not sure about what to do with the 3-4' stuff which is
too good yet for scrap.

Also hand tools like shovels, rakes, forks and
chains. How do you store / hang them?
My place isn't too bad .... I've only had 15 years to
accumulate but dads can be a disaster with both of
us dropping stuff and moving on to the next issue.

Post pictures of what you do to keep organized.

Thanks Grant

For scraps 3' to 4' long, I've used a square framed bin to stand the pieces on end (stored vertically). For under 3' that I wanted to keep, there were open horizontal bins above the 3' to 4' pieces (stored horizontally). Anything longer than 4' but shorter than 8' would also stand on end (vertically), but no storage above as ceiling height is 8'.

This was at a former place, so do not have photos. Also, this was a wood shop, so wasn't working with metal then.

as far as shovels, rakes, etc. I stand a pallet up and nail it to the wall, stuff the handles into the "fork space", might work for your shorts also.

I use a plastic 55 gallon barrel for my rakes and shovels and things.
Might work as well for your short stock.

For shovels, rakes etc I use the harbor freight hangers (picture) screwed into the wall girts. They'll put them on sale every now and then for 0.99, usually $1.99. Gotta bend them a little to narrow up the gap. They're handy.

I use the lean-it-against-the-wall method for metal storage, probably not helpful for you. Does make it entertaining when the piece I want is in the back.

Fred

How tall of walls you have? we put peg board up along an entire section of wall over the bolt bins for long tool storage. for short stock we have a shelf in the corner, longer stock goes on either a pallet rack out side or on the floor in one of the trailers. For small parts and some tools this isle made with cubby hole cabinets. For Cords and air hoses the simple "J" utility hooks work. For chains we took a piece of channel drilled it out and welded railroad spikes to it, then lag screwed it to the posts.

I do a lot of metal fabrication and have a rack for new steel, 20-24. ft stock on the north wall of my shop. Made the rack from used angle iron and rebar. Bolted the angles to the wall studs.
Years back, I bought a 36" round piece of 1/2" plate at a salvage yard. I built a bracket on the steel column that supports the transition beam for the trusses in my shop and welded two 3" pipe legs to the front of it lagged to the floor, for a welding and fabrication table. My wood boiler is between the overhead doors of my shop and the support column. There is a gap between the boiler and the column that I closed in with sheet metal. I built shelves under the fab table that go all the way back to the boiler. (about 4') My drops go there and they serve as a heatilator in the shop. I have a small cage fan that is mounted on the jacket of the boiler that blows hot air through the shelves.
I built steel framed benches on the south side of my shop, from Kubota shipping crates, 2x stock, and plywood for drawers and cabinets for my tools and stash of parts and pieces.
Loren

I like my short stuff on end,it is easier see what I need the next time.

This is what I did with my saw shorts a while back. They were in a big pile on the floor. I have a free standing rack for longer stuff and a rack with 4" wide upright slots for sheet steel.

Sorry about the sideways picture.

This my "remnant" rack.



Sheet of plywood with vertical dividers and a board across the bottom to hold the bottoms in. Leans in toward the wall ~7 degrees so everything stays put.

Thanks for the great ideas guys!
I think I will try to use a couple of them. I actually found some tool hangers for the light stuff like shovels and brooms.
I wish I had some rail way spikes for the heavy chains and cables?... but I can use some rebar. I'll weld up some angle and rebar too for the long and medium lengths. And maybe even the pallet idea with a little modification for the shorts will work good against the wall.

Cory, I thought I had a lot of stuff to hang up, but I think you win!

If I get this done I will take some pictures and post them. Grant

shovels, rakes , and other implements of destruction go out in a different shed.
Bolt bins, small parts, workbench along walls. Small pieces of metals stored in upright storage area.
Don't keep much long stuff around, buy in as needed.

The barrel deal would work for lighter short iron like rods,smaller bars and tubes. As for scrap. dad keeps all of it. If it has a hole in it he welds them on for bolt holes. Unless it is shorter than about 2 inches it is still good. I have hauled on or 2 loads of scrap and it is mostly old tin cans crushed flat. They sell for steel as tin. Better than paying to get rid of it.

I read or saw where a guy used two old steel wheels, welded upright, onto a steel plate (on the floor), He used the space between the spokes to hold and sort the various types of materials.

These work well for shovels,rakes, forks ect.
Long handle storage

For shovels and such a barrel works pretty good.I tried using half barrels for short steel,my problem was if I put too small of a piece in it would tip over and I would never see it again.Right now I'm using an old free standing store shelving unit.Because I can walk all around it small pieces won't get pushed to the back like they would against a wall.For chains and binders I lag old garage door tracks to the wall,with the curved edge at the bottom.You can hook 3/8 chain hooks in it and you can hang a lot of chain in a short space.You do need to lag into the studs though.

yeah that building was put up in 97 or 98. We moved some stuff out of other buildings. then stuff seem to just appear that needs a home(we never turn down free tools, or other things of possible use). As you can see in that one pic that whole section(center) is mainly assorted belt pulleys then just to the side (left in picture) of that is belts, most salvaged when machinery got scrapped.

Chains! 5 gallon buckets. Long handled tools, either a caddy or drill the handle and hang them.

I can't turn stuff done either. The problem is there is. O where for the good stuff and the treasures end up in a pile which need to be moved out of the way to do something.

And then when I want to bring a tractor in to service, the 16' wide bay is down to 9'.

Anyway it's getting better. I have all the plumbing and irrigation fittings fairly well organized on the far end of the barn.... stuff we always use etc.
But this is sorta the main shop area. The 12 steel work /welding table apparently has a top and is a nice area to work ... but I haven't seen it for 5 years, it's completely covered in odds and ends of metal, parts, belts motors. Better than on the floor I guess.... oh it's covered too.

I have no problem sending stuff to the scrap yard... but I want to make sure it's really junk. Every now and then dad gets in a crazy clean up mood. Last year I went out to the area where equipment goes to die and noticed the old Louisville flat deck was gone... I know it didn't drive away. I went in for coffee and asked what happened, he said he saw a sign for scrap removal and wanted to clear the area for more stuff.... anyway long story short I could have used at least 4 of the tires, the deck, wet kit and probably some of the other odds and ends.

So basically I'm just trying to go through everything before another purge takes place.
Thanks for the ideas. Grant

Wow super great ideas. Thanks guys.
I like the bucket idea for some of the chains... but I'm drilling holes in the bottom to let the water out. Half the time they would be out in the rain anyway.

I'm getting inspired to get this done.
Grant