storing plate and sheet metal

Date 04-11-2011 01:03

How do you guys store your plate and sheet metal? Got a new shop and would like to store all the smaller metal inside to prevent it from rusting. Not talking nothing real major and heavy, 4' x 8' x 5/8" plate being the heaviest and down from there in size to 22 gauge sheet. Dont really have the room for shelving racks. Was thinking about making a cart on casters, then having a few different slots on it for the different thickness of plate and sheets that would lay on the cart on thier sides, so i could wheel it out to the work area and unload it with an A-frame hoist onto a welding table. Just wanting some thoughts and ideas. Appreciate it, thanks

By DaveBoyer (*****)

Date 04-11-2011 01:58

At the auto frame plant We stored sheet metal indoors on edge in a rack. This was material light enough & small enough pieces to move by hand and not rigid enough to sling with the crane lying flat.

The plate yard had plate from 1/2"-12" thick stored flat with 4x4s between the plates so the chain slings could be put through to lift the plates above the one needed out of the way. Unfortunately this was outdoor storage, stacks of 10'x20' plate serviced by a bridge crane, and a PITA when covered with snow & ice in winter.