The most crucial requirement for woodworking is wood. Although tools and supplies may come to mind, the absence of wood renders woodworking difficult. It is essential to have an accessible stock of lumber with standard sizes for any woodworking shop. The quantity of lumber required varies depending on the specific woodworking tasks, while the amount stored depends on available space in the shop and efficient storage methods.
1. Rack them Up
Lumber can be stored in any available space, but it’s important to keep it out of the way while working and easily accessible when needed. Lumber racks are ideal for this purpose. The value of a lumber rack is manifold. Firstly, racks allow lumber to be stored horizontally, keeping it flat until ready for use. Lumber that is leaned against a wall or in a corner will eventually warp due to gravity, even if it is initially straight. Secondly, racks with multiple tiers provide the flexibility to separate and organize wood according to personal preference – by species, thickness, length, or any other criteria. Another advantage is that racks keep lumber elevated off the floor. While this benefit may not be immediately obvious, it is crucial. In the event of a shop flood, expensive wood supplies can be ruined. Even minor spills can cause damage to lumber. Moreover, if the shop floor is made of concrete, which tends to be damp in basement or garage environments, wood can absorb moisture. Additionally, keeping wood off the floor eliminates the need to constantly bend over to retrieve it. Storing wood on a rack makes it easier to handle, especially long and heavy boards, and simplifies the process of searching for specific pieces.
2. Shop-Made Racks
If you want to address your specific space and requirements, you should also contemplate constructing your own lumber rack. By doing so, you can customize the rack in order to optimize the available space or accommodate significantly larger quantities of wood, including heavier ones.
Based on a frame made of four uprights, the rack displayed here consists of horizontal 2x4s at the top and bottom to finish the frame. To create the horizontal lumber supports, a short length of 2×4 is positioned between a pair of plywood side pieces that are 1/2″ thick.
The supports are slipped onto the upright 2×4 frame members after they are glued together and shaped according to the drawings. In order to keep the supports firmly in place, only a single 5/16″ bolt in the upper rear corner is required. Although the rack depicted in this illustration consists of three tiers with significant gaps in between, it could have easily been designed with four, five, or six tiers. One advantageous aspect of this design is that additional horizontal supports can be added at any time or the existing ones can be conveniently relocated by rearranging the positions of the supports and drilling new holes for the bolts.
3. Sheet Goods
When purchasing plywood or other panels from a local home center, they are typically stored in large horizontal racks. However, most home shops do not have enough space for these racks, so a vertical approach is more suitable. Unlike boards, wider sheet goods can be stacked neatly against a wall, reducing the chances of warping. However, wider and taller sheet goods are also larger and heavier, which makes it challenging to see what is behind them once they are stacked. Additionally, it becomes even more difficult to access and remove the desired item from the stack. Fortunately, there is a rack specifically designed to address this issue.
Designed to keep panels upright and out of the way against a wall, this sheet-goods holder can be pivoted out into the shop for easier access. When pivoted at a right angle to the wall, the panels remain upright, allowing access to the sheets from both sides of the rack.
The front side of the rack is partially enclosed, creating an open box that permits the insertion of smaller panels in any preferred order or arrangement.
However, the back of the rack is designed to be open in order to facilitate the placement of larger sheets in an upright position. These sheets are secured vertically within the rack using removable pegs on each side. Additionally, the rack is equipped with casters on its bottom, which not only provide support but also enable it to smoothly roll out onto the shop floor when it is pivoted.
4. Keep it Flat
To ensure that wood remains straight and flat, the most effective method is to store it in a straight and flat position. Additionally, it is crucial to stack lumber in piles rather than as separate boards. Since wood is sensitive to its surroundings, maintaining an equal level of temperature, humidity, and airflow on both sides of a board is essential. If you desire further knowledge on the movement of wood, we recommend exploring our blog series titled “Wood and Water Relationships.”
When a board is leaned against a wall, it is subjected to various temperatures, humidity levels, and air flows on each side. It is probable that one side of the board will experience more shrinking and/or swelling compared to the other side. As a result, the board will become twisted, bowed, or cupped. Similarly, if a single board is laid flat on a table or the floor, the same issue arises as one side of the board will not be exposed to the same conditions as the other side.
5. Keep it Dry
Wood and water do not have a strong affinity. To clarify, they are more like rivals. As a result, it is necessary to dry timber before it can be transformed into a final product, therefore it is important to avoid exposing dry lumber to water.
To maintain the quality of your dry lumber, it is vital to ensure that it is stored in a dry area. Avoid placing it on the floor by using skids or store it on shelves that are free from any roof leaks. Following these steps will greatly assist in preserving the high quality of your lumber.
It is crucial to avoid storing dry lumber outdoors due to the presence of external factors such as water and significant temperature fluctuations.
Storing green lumber outside does not pose any problems. To facilitate drying, place stickers between each course of lumber. Some woodworkers opt to construct a lean-to for outdoor lumber storage. Employing a lean-to will shield the lumber from rain and/or snow, thus expediting the drying process.
6. Keep it in Your Shop
To ensure top quality, it is advised to store your lumber in your shop. Before machining it, it is crucial to allow the lumber to acclimate to the shop conditions for a week, in order to prevent any movement after cutting.
If your lumber is kept in your shop, it is unnecessary to let it rest and adjust. This implies that when you are prepared to begin a project, there is no need to delay. Moreover, the quality is not compromised!
Due to limited space, woodworkers often have to store their lumber outside their workshop. Despite not being ideal, this can still be a feasible solution. Numerous individuals opt for storing their lumber in their basement.
If you only have the option of a basement, most of them provide a relatively dry environment throughout the year, which can help prevent excessive shrinking and swelling of lumber during the season changes. Although not the ideal choice, it can still be effective.
7. Keep it Organized
By incorporating organization into your lumber storage strategy, you can save yourself a lot of time and hassle down the road. It’s best to organize your lumber based on specie, thickness, and possibly even length as it helps you to find your lumber when you need it.
To ensure your top-quality lumber retains its highest quality, follow these lumber storing tips. They will assist you in maintaining the quality of your lumber.
