Last Updated on 2022-03-02 by Harry Masterton
A storage rack is ideal for organizing lumber and keeping it out of your way until it is time to use it. How do you make a wood storage rack? I found a simple diy lumber rack wall design using 2×4 support arms and built brackets attached to the wall and is a great storage solution.
How Do You Make a Wood Storage Rack?
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- Layout: Arms spaced four feet apart will support most of your boards. Leave space beneath or lumber will get in your way;
- Cut blocks: Cut 12 four-inch blocks out of 2x4s, six for each bracket. Make the cuts with five-degree angles to force support arms upwards as wood weighs them down;
- Cut strips: Cut four plywood strips four-inches wide. These will go on the sides of the blocks and create sockets for the support arms;
- Assemble brackets: Place blocks with angles facing the same direction between two plywood strips. Use additional blocks as spacers between the blocks you will screw into one of the strips. Screw angled blocks into a strip, remove the spacers, and screw the sockets into the other strip;
- Level and attach: Position a bracket over a wall stud, level it, and then mark its position. Pre-drill holes through each block and the stud behind them to accept six-inch lag bolts. Once attached, insert support arms and place straight lumber across the rack to help level the other bracket before attaching it;
That is a fast and sturdy build for those asking, “How do you make a wood storage rack?”
Wood Storage Racks for Workshop
Before asking, “How do you make a wood storage rack,” you probably want to know why. It was not a project on my list when I started the woodworking hobby. Trust me, though, wood storage racks for workshop spaces provide you with:
- Space: Keeping your lumber organized on racks will clear up space on the floor, bench, or other areas;
- Organization: You can sort materials by type, dimensions, or planned use. It speeds up things in your workshop noticeably;
- Protection: Racks offer a better storage option than bins where wood rests on the end of the wood grain. Storage racks also keep wood from flames, water, and falls from benchtops or other precarious places;
- Wood can become buried: The only real downside I have experienced with a diy wood rack is that pieces at the bottom may require unloading several boards to reach. That usually isn't a problem unless you have lots of lumber in the woodshop.
Some form of wood storage racks for workshop space saving is a must if you use your garage or shared hobby room. You will have to keep your building materials out of the way, just like your power tools.
How do you make a wood storage rack that meets your needs? Your shop layout and size will determine a lot about the design. I have limited walkways in my shop, so my wood storage racks mount to the shop wall.
How to Build a Free-Standing Lumber Rack
Image curtesy of Woodsmithplans Checkout Woodsmith plans full range of lumber storage plans and plans for the roll around lumber cart as pictured above
You might wonder, how do you make a wood storage rack that doesn't connect to the wall? Woodshop lumber storage can stand off the wall as a separate storage system. Those wanting to learn how to build a free-standing lumber rack should consider:
What Can Free-Standing Lumber Racks for Woodshop Offer?
- Centralized location: Wall-mounted lumber storage rack systems sit along the periphery of your shop. How do you make a wood storage rack that you can easily reach from anywhere in the shop? Build a free-standing design;
- Increased storage: You will get increased woodshop lumber storage using a free-standing design that provides rack space on two or more sides instead of one;
- Mobility: Lumber racks for woodshop storage can incorporate wheels for movement. That might be advantageous if you work with sheet goods, making them easier to move this way.
Things to Consider When Learning How to Build a Free-Standing Lumber Rack
- Stability: How do you make a wood storage rack that is free-standing but will not tip over? Make it with a wider base, and load heavier woods along the bottom;
- Room: If you need free-standing lumber racks for woodshop storage, keep in mind the lumber takes up extra space.
If you wonder how do you make a wood storage rack not connected to the wall, this woodshop lumber storage might be for you.
Woodshop Wood Storage Ideas
The plans for this amazing multipurpose lumber center are available over at Woodsmithplans
Over the years, I have read about and watched videos of several woodshop wood storage ideas. You can look across the internet and find how hobbyists have answered “how do you make a wood storage rack” in creative ways. Some of my favorites include:
- Build a rotating storage rack: If your woodworking consists of small project boards and short lumber, rotating storage is all the organization you might need. You can safely store lumber on its end, with each compartment organized by species or dimensions. I would not recommend this design if you use anything longer than four feet, though;
- Install vertical wall storage: A cheap and fun project that offers easy access to lumber by storing vertically instead of horizontally. Use dowels protruding from a 2×4 attached to the wall, with chains or rope strung between the dowels to secure lumber. The only thing I do not like about this design is limited timber length due to ceiling height (potential issues in a shed or basement shop);
- Other woodshop wood storage ideas: Rolling wood carts can provide storage on two faces and shelves in-between but need room to be effective. Hanger designs hold lumber off the floor and walls but can be hard to sort through on a ladder or above your head. Hinged swinging plywood storage keeps sheet goods against the wall, but small shops lack the room to pull them away from the wall.
How to Build a Wood Storage Shed
How do you make a wood storage rack for greenwood or firewood? I would suggest learning how to build a wood shed out of pallets. Why?
- Learning how to build a wood storage shed with pallets is a cheap project that lets you store wood outdoors. Benefits include providing plenty of gaps for air circulation that is critical for drying out freshly cut firewood or green timber you plan to use later;
- Learning how to build a wood shed out of pallets provides you with ready-made framing. All you need to do is connect the pallets;
- The appearance is the only potential downside I can see with this project, as palleted walls are not as aesthetic as paneled sheds.
How to Build a Wood Shed Out of Pallets
- Determine size: A standard pallet measures 48×40 inches, so the only variable to learning how to build a wood storage shed with this framing material is determining the number of pallets needed;
- Level the ground: You need a flat surface for pallets to sit across;
- Place 2×4 edging: To add durability, place 2×4 planks on the ground to stack your pallet edges on. Make sure they are treated for ground contact;
- Create walls: Several methods are adequate for connecting one or more pallets on edge to create the desired height. Attach sections as well as the planks (start at a corner for better support);
- Doorway and roof: You can leave the doorway open and use a secured tarp for the roof. Build it big enough so that you have room for a lumber cart to move your wood to the woodworking shop!
Looking for more great woodworking content? Checkout our complete rundown of woodworking power tools with links to detailed reviews in every category and our essential woodworking power tools list
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