Need some lumber storage for your workshop? Perhaps consider metal shelves similar to ones I landed beside a dumpster! The wood can be stored both horizontal and vertical for super easy access! What a find! Here’s how I use it.
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Landing metal shelves for epic workshop wood storage!
Figuring out good storage solutions for reclaimed wood can be challenging! With so many different wood cuts, how do you store all sizes? And do you have enough available space for your needs?
Lots to consider! For the most part, I’ve always worked out storing wood with finds I landed on the curb.
Other unique ways to store wood:
DIY storage cart for lumber storage under a table
However when I landed these metal shelves beside a dumpster, boy was that my luckiest day of all!
Finding the metal shelves
Part 1 – Landing a red metal storage rack beside a dumpster is HERE
So welcome to Part 2: now the metal rack is filled up with lumber, and it works amazing!
Storing wood horizontally
I have no idea what these metal shelves use to store, however I just made all the separate sections work for lumber needs.
The shelving size is perfect for garage shelving that stores different sized cuts of lumber.
Let’s face it. Lumber is heavy, so this shelving unit offers a heavy-duty weight capacity with all the stability you’d ever need. What a find!
The wire shelves are spaced just so, allowing you to lay down long horizontal lumber, as well as stack shorter lumber cuts vertical.
I’m positively giddy over how organized and easy it is to find each piece and size too!
Room on top for long planks
The good news is, these storage shelves didn’t require any added lumber to create shelves. The spacing of the bars work so well, even along the very top.
Broom storage
Needing a broom hanger, a broken crate was dismantled, utilizing the two end pieces as mounts for added hooks, so I can hang whatever I wish, rustic crate-style. Fun!
Storing lumber vertically
The height of this shelving system couldn’t have been more perfect. With no shelves, it allows all the wood to stand upright, no matter what size.
I worked in the ‘workshop’ today (can you legally call a garage a workshop if only 25% has been changed over? I say yes…) and pulled out my little portable workbench for extra work space. It fit awesome! But one day I’d love something a little sturdier and on wheels. This was a bit of a pain to reach over for more wood.
Baby steps…
Learn more about this collapsable workshop table (and how to make it) HERE
So nice! At this point, this industrial steel shelving allows for all the wood to be in reach. It’s really perfect for a smaller scaled workplace.
View more workshop shelving on Amazon HERE
Workshop table outdoors
Outside the garage door (I always have wide open) is my sanding area. I prefer to sand outside for the added ventilation. And the view and sunshine don’t hurt either.
Once I clean up the rest of the garage, I love working in the back yard too. Here’s a previous post on my ‘outdoor workshop’.
There’s a nice sized overhang along the front that provides the perfect protection from sun and rain. I really couldn’t ask for more.
The sawhorses were found at a thrift store (Ikea brand) and the heavy planks of wood are from Granny and Grumpa’s awhile back. It sure makes for a spacious workspace… that I think is rather pretty in pictures too. 🙂
Check out some other workshop table options HERE
Messy workshop before
Haha.. dieing from this mess only 2 short days ago… I slept really good after cleaning this up.
Clean up improvements
The two workshop tables aren’t pretty yet, but it is functional for now, until I can build my dream workbench, do something cool to the wall and put up rustic shelves… Hey, at least I could actually work on a project today.
Update: Here’s how this workshop table and wall drastically improved HERE
Wood storage before
This little workshop has come a long way since the before…
Wood storage after
And now the after! Not bad for two days worth of work, huh? Especially after landing this wire shelving for free!
Purchasing metal shelving or shelf material is well worthwhile. Especially if something is on casters like THIS metal TV stand I also used to store wood.
However if you have some flexibility on what you find, you just may land some metal shelving units that could work for you too!
Or at the very least, hopefully this workshop setup will inspire you to design something to store your wood that works similar!
View the rest of the 2014 Dream Workshop series HERE
Visit my current workshop setup series HERE (I can now park in here AND work!)
Visit many other workshop organizing ideas HERE
Check out loads of other unique DIY shelves you can make for free HERE
That looks so great Donna! What a perfect fit.
Donna ~ What a fantastic job you have done in two days! I am proud of you and inspired by you. Thank you for posting this project.
FlowerLady
You go girl! Not get to sanding and sawing, your workshop is all ready!
Looking good, looking really good.
This is looking fabulous! I wish I could get my husband to organize the garage to make it more “user friendly”.
I’m Jealous! Only two days…???!!! I have been working for over a week and to the untrained eye…looks no better. Sigh. I do have tons of smalls, tinys and super tinys to organize though. I am very impressed with all you did…The rack is PERFECT. Enjoy!
You go girl! Doesn’t it feel so good. Congrats on everything looking so nice.
Holy smokes that thing worked out perfectly! What are the odds?! I bet you are just loving having all the wood so organized, I can only dream of such! 🙂 Great find Donna. The workshop is really looking good!
What a great use of this rack!! My husband keeps trying to build something similar for all the reclaimed wood we have lying around. He needs to see this!
Be still my wood lovin’ heart. I can see a bazillion well decorated living rooms and not have it wow me as much as seeing your fab lumber rack and newly organized workshop! Love it. My hubby took over most of mine with machinery he needed to store, just for now, I understand totally but I sure do miss my space. I have a little saw area left with my sliding chop saw(must have for my business) but that is it. Thankfully it is summer and I can set up outside to sand and use my jigsaw. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Ohhhh I want a sliding chop saw too! BAD.
Your comment on the living room vs workshop made me smile… BIG! Thanks!!
Looks great! What a transformation. You’ve been working hard.
What!? Oh come on, you can fit some more wood on that rack…..lol! This looks amazing! I think you could help me tackle my mess of wood! That is a pretty transformation and I am loving the outdoor sanding table… it could almost move right into the house as is, love those chunky planks! Great job Donna!
I have a secret to tell you… there’s more wood in the garage. It wouldn’t all fit! 😀 Guess I’d better get building!
Thank-you, I’m loving it!
Oh, PERFECT! I only wish I could scam such a great thing!
Donna:
How fun and there are just some things in life that you happen to come across. That one had your name on it and you made it happen.
Keep up the good work.
I LOVE IT!!! You did such a good job!!! :+)
looks great donna,you really busted butt on this one and what a find wow that red shelf is fantastic xx
Love, love, love!!! What a great space you have to create in now! You did a great job – lots of ideas to think about too! Enjoy the fruits of your labor!
It looks fab. It’s changed from an episode of Hoarders to a really inspiring space. Now I must get in to our garage and do something to it …
Hoarders… cracked me up!
Wow! It looks great! Doesn’t it feel good inside when something gets organized?
Small thing…I saw a toolbox yesterday at Goodwill and your voice was in my head saying $3? Buy that thang! You didn’t know you were in Vancouver (the other one) yesterday, did you?
Beautiful job on the garage.
Kathy
Hahaha LOVE that! So… didja get it? 😀
Of course, you know how persuasive you are!
WOW, Donna!!! What a transformation!!!!
I am right now BATTLING my office (desk was so full of paper…) trying to put everything in place… But had to stop to read your post, HAHA!!!!
Good for you, I imagine you will take way less time to do your projects, with the place all organized!
XOXO
CLaudine
That looks awesome! I love it all. Thanks for sharing. Have a great week.
This is a thing of beauty that was meant to be! Serendipity I’d say.
Fabulous! What a difference. You can be very, very proud of your “workshop”.
I’m so envious! I have a huge old house/shed which I use as my workshop but I have to compete with dog grooming, laundry, storage, horse feed and tack. My workshop area is tiny compared to the size of the shed – and cramped full of stuff! Guess I should consider myself lucky to have any space at all huh?
I love that rack and you were so lucky you didn’t have to paint it to make it cheerful!
I look at every detail of your pictures so in the one with the saw horses, what is out by the street?
Thanks for all the info you provide every week.
Haha good eye Norma! Every so often I put things on my own curb if I don’t need them. I love giving to the neighbours because they give back in so many other ways. That’s a tool I had that never used in the 8 years I’ve had it. I forgot what it even did. LOL
I think it looks wonderful. It is so much easier when you are organized. We are hoping to sell our house and move south sooner than later and my one must have next time is a garage or an out building that I can use as a work space. Since I retired I have organized my house and it is amazing how much time I save now. Keep up the good work.
Awesomeness! 🙂 I bet you woke up the next morning and went straight to the garage to admire the transformation again and let that fabulous organization sink in. I know that’s what I would have done. I’m about to tackle a similar garage cluttered nightmare and can’t wait to feel the liberating joy of having an uncluttered garage once again. I’m sure I’ll be spinning around with my arms outstretched like Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music once I get my open garage space back. And I see what you did there with the trash bags. Great job!
I love this, I need something like this at my house. I love all of the things you do. Thanks for sharing.
It is definitely well organized now! Looks so much better! Wanna come do my garage>
Wow Donna! You have been busy busy! It all looks great!
~Tami
WOW!!!! You did such an awesome job with the repurposed red metal rack!! The work area looks GREAT!!!
You must be So happy with your new find! All that organization will certainly spur new creativity….as if you need more.
Wow, I love the new space. Looks wonderful. I wish I had it. And I am still trying to get my laundry room just clear enough to walk in it. The walls are not even finished, has always been very ugly with just the rafters. I keep trying, but losing ground I believe. I have no way to get some plywood home to even do one wall. I have plans though.
Donna – I love the red color of the rack so bright and fun! Your workshop is so organized now. It motivates me to work on ours this weekend!
Wow Donna!! What a blessing. I know that was hard work. I am so happy for you. You will have that dream workshop in no time.
Fantastic transformation!!! I can imagine your mind is going a zillion miles per hour thinking of things to make with all of the supplies you can see. It is such a boon to have things organized. I have not been able to get near my table saw for 3 years now due to SOMEONE having a bunch of crap…I mean good stuff stacked in front of it. This year is the year of edit, so I WILL have my saw out from under all of that diving equipment by fall.
How do you keep the sawdust out of your coffee mug?
The Ikea sawhorses are pretty dang cool.
Great job!!!
I dare not show this to my husband. He “wood” love to have all that wood and a bigger place to do his woodworking! I would love for him to have it! It looks fabulous!
Something about the red and the wood combined strikes a pretty picture for sure. That red rack shined up real nice, kinda like an old Chevy, and what progress you’ve made and in only 2 days! Looking fantastic and so glad that you are enjoying your new organization.
Hello…it is me again….the more I look at the rack I think I would have put the long boards on the middle “shelf” to the back…making the under wood pieces easier to get to.??? It looks like work to get to …… and retrieve them…Yes????
But… I love that it is all contained in one spot…and visual with no hunting around .
What a difference! Lovin’ it! 😀
I looked up your thriftstore sawhorses online (At IKEA. I’ve been looking for a good set of sawhorses but haven’t found any products I liked). They’re called “FINNVARD Trestle with shelf”, in beechwood… currently going for $35Cdn new…just in case anybody else was wondering like me. 🙂