There’s a woodworking maxim that goes “you can never have too many tools.” No one ever mentions the accompanying maxim though: “…there’s never enough room.” This holds true for wood too.
In this article I scoured the web for lumber storage plans AND lumber storage advice. You’ll find the plans first, followed by the tips. On the plans I identify for each if it holds sheet goods, full boards and/or cut offs. Here’s the organization in case you want to skip ahead to a particular spot:
1) 3 Overachiever Lumber Storage Awards
2) 5 Rolling Lumber Carts
3) 6 Wall Storage Solutions
4) 7 Lumber Storage Tips
5) Resources and Citations
6) Other Free Woodworking Plan Collections
1) Overachiever Lumber Storage Awards
Some lumber storage solutions go above and beyond. I selected these either because of high-efficiency or high wow-factor. Yes, I am easily impressed – that’s what makes my job so much fun.
Overhead Lumber Storage Rack Plans in PDF Format
Ideal for that wasted space above garage doors… This is the garage woodworker’s dream come true.
Storage for:
Full Size Boards
Panel-Cutting Sheet Goods Cart
Get out of TOWN. Not only is this sheet good storage unit on rollers for added convenience, but there’s a dang panel-cutting jig on the front of it. This one’s a big time overachiever.
Storage for:
Sheet Goods
Workbench with Lumber Storage
Yup. This one’s an overachiever. You’ll be restricted on how much lumber you can put in there and actually get work done. Be careful with this one – you may end up turning your workbench into a storage unit ;)
Storage for:
Full Size Boards
Cut Offs
2) Rolling Lumber Carts
Roll-Around Store-All
“It’s like having a lumber yard in your shop. Storage for long boards, short cutoffs, and sheet material.”
Storage for:
Sheet Goods
Full Size Boards
Cut Offs
HOW I DESIGNED AND BUILT MY ROLLING LUMBER CART
Storage for:
Sheet Goods
Full Size Boards
Cut Offs
Lumber Rack Made of One-Inch Pipe
(casters or permanent mount)
Storage for:
Full Size Boards
Sheet Goods
Sheet Goods Cart
Storage for:
Sheet goods
Roll-around plywood cart
Storage for:
Sheet goods
3) Wall Mounted Lumber Storage Solutions
Lumber Rack by Grant Smith
“a lumber rack capable of storing over 1000 bd ft of lumber for around $200” For straight-ahead lumber storage you won’t beat this one for efficiency. Why reinvent the wheel.
Storage for:
Sheet Goods
Full Size Boards
Shop-Built Lumber Storage & Plywood Rack
Storage for:
Sheet Goods
Full Size Boards
The Ultimate Workshop — Lumber Storage Options
Storage for:
Sheet Goods
Full Size Boards
Cut Offs
Sheet Goods Rack
Storage for:
Sheet goods
Cutoff Catchall
Storage for:
Cutoffs
Bob’s Free Standing Wood Storage Rack
It’s not wall mounted… but it is SWEET.
Storage for:
Full Size Boards
4) Quick Lumber Storage Best Practices
from Proven Woodworking:
Keep lumber off the floor. Especially concrete floors – concrete is porous and will “feed” water into your lumber.
Allow wood to stabilize in your shop – it will need to sit for several weeks to acclimate.
Mark your wood with its size for easy reference.
from the Woodwhisperer:
“The bottom line with wood storage is that you should store it in conditions that closely match the final destination whenever possible.”
“Stack it FLAT off the floor in a neat manner so it won’t twist.”
From WoodWeb Knowledge Base on Lumber Storage:
Treat the ground under storage sheds for termites.
“It takes 4 gallons of water per 1000 bf to change the moisture by 1% MC”
“Wood Storage: Vertical or horizontal? Truly dry wood stored under the proper conditions will not warp, no matter how you position it”
5) Resources and Citations
Free Woodworking Plans – Lumber Storage Racks
Mobile Lumber Storage Rack – Lumber Support
Is this a sound lumber storage idea?
New wall lumber rack (pic)
Lumber Storage in Small Shop
Proper Lumber Storage (construction oriented)
Lumber Storage WoodWeb Knowledge Base
Lumber storage for a garage shop
Best place to store lumber? – Question of the Week
6) Other Free Woodworking Plan Collections
32 Free Picnic Table Plans + Top 3 Most Awesome Picnic Table Plan Awards
15 Free Toolbox Plans for Woodworkers
24 Free Sawhorse Plans in the Hunt for the Ultimate Sawhorse
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to Free Woodworking Workbench Plans
9 Sandpaper Storage Ideas (+ free plans)
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to Free Router Table Plans
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to the Crosscut Sled
i saw your site while looking for ply storage your rolling cart looks good
i haVE A TIP FOR LUMBER STORAGE
TAKE A 4X4 FLOOR TO LID CUT A 1/2 INCH CURF IN IT AND PUT A HOWEVER LONG PIECE OF 3X3 1/2 INCH ANGLE IRON SCREWED TO THE 4X4 NO ANGLE SUPORTS NEEDED WORKS GREAT
TRY IT
DANIEL