Mobile Timber Rack

**alexg** · 6th June 2005, 10:24 PM

Just completed this mobile timber rack which is a slight variation on a design by Rocker:

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ead.php?t=6605

In my version the two freestanding units have been combined to create a single mobile rack. The mobile base is supported by 6 HD castor wheels of which the outside four are lockable. In additon to mobility the mobile base also allows for the storage of shorts/offcuts across its width. The rack is essentially the same dimensions as Rockers except it is "set" at 2.4m long to allow for the storage of full 8'X4' sheets down the middle. The only job left to do now is to find enough timber to fill it!

Cheers
Alex.</pre>

**MajorPanic** · 6th June 2005, 10:56 PM

Hey Alexg,

The rack looks great! I like the fact you can store full sheets down the centre!
I'm a bit worried about the arms though. What dimensions are they?
I would of doubled up on the arms (one on either side of the upright) & added a piece to fill the void between the arms.
The piece wouldn't have to be attached to the upright but glued & screwed (& butted hard up against the upright) to make the arms one unit. This would have the effect of taking some of the load off the screws.

**NewLou** · 6th June 2005, 11:11 PM

Gidday AlexG,

M8 I love this ......but have to agree with Major. However I would have used a lapped joint for the arms then glued and screwed just like you have..........Keep us posted on how she fares up!

Regardless Well Done!!!..................I want one

REGards Lou

**zenwood** · 6th June 2005, 11:58 PM

Wish I'd seen this before I made mine. I was afraid of the load capacity of free arms (that's an incredible torque being applied at the joint between the arms and the uprights). The symmetric design is a good way of stabilising the whole structure, but with the drawback of requiring more floorspace for access on both sides. This drawback is excellently addressed by putting the whole thing on wheels. It is really still mobile, once it's loaded up? The sheet storage in the middle in an excellent feature.

**Harry72** · 7th June 2005, 08:33 AM

I like the centre sheet storage, well done.

**RufflyRustic** · 7th June 2005, 09:24 AM

Nice work, Alex. Great variation on the plan to put the centre section in. Bet you are going to have fun filling it now.

cheers
RufflyRustic

**alexg** · 8th June 2005, 11:36 AM

Thanks for the compliments and suggestions everyone.

Re the strength of the arms I did give this some thought and did a trial prior to assembly. The arms are 18mm ply 100x400mm (310mm projection). The arms are bonded to the uprights with a combination of polyurethane glue and 4x57mm screws over a surafce area of approx 90x100mm. In my test set-up I was able to support my full body weight (95kg) on the end of the arm. In fact I could not cause joint failure regardless of the direction of force. The weakest point is the arm itself which can be caused to snap when substantial sideways pressure is applied. It was actually quite an interesting exercise and has given me much more confidence in the strength of modern adhesives.

All that said I can't comment on how the arms will stand up to the stress of being fully loaded for an extended duration (I did notice your bulging rack in the "unrolled shed" thread MajorPanic!). But I'll let you know as soon as I have enough wood to fill it!

Cheers
Alex

**TassieKiwi** · 8th June 2005, 07:09 PM

Nice job Alexg. I want one too, as it will be perfect for my shed. On the load test - be aware that shock loads may be 2.5 times static loads - e.g.dropping a big piece of Jarrah on the arms. Still, you'd have to smash all of 'em....... Half joints would greatly increase the strength. But hey, they glued the space shuttle together:eek:

**Woodlice** · 8th June 2005, 07:56 PM

Nice layout alex! Did you work from plan or off the top of your head?

**Rusty** · 8th June 2005, 08:05 PM

Any load will be distributed across five arms per rack, so it's probably safe as.
If things look perilous, Major's double arm method is a good fix. Looks snazzy.

Regards,
Rusty.

P.S. As for filling it, have you seen the "Putting my money where my mouth is" thread by E. Maculata? Tempting, so very tempting...

**Trav** · 9th June 2005, 10:43 AM

Great work ALex G

is there a reason why you store the wood horizontally? Does storing vertically lead to bends in the wood?

Trav

**alexg** · 9th June 2005, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by Woodlice

Nice layout alex! Did you work from plan or off the top of your head?

Bit of both Woodlice, the main design elements came from a sketch posted by Rocker in this thread:
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ead.php?t=6605

The rest was off the top of my head as you put it.

Originally Posted by Trav

is there a reason why you store the wood horizontally? Does storing vertically lead to bends in the wood?

Yes and yes:
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ead.php?t=5216

Cheers,
Alex

**Trav** · 9th June 2005, 05:39 PM

thanks

**Woodlice** · 10th June 2005, 04:22 AM

Another thing to put on my to do list.

**Johncs** · 12th December 2010, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by alexg

All that said I can't comment on how the arms will stand up to the stress of being fully loaded for an extended duration (I did notice your bulging rack in the "unrolled shed" thread MajorPanic!). But I'll let you know as soon as I have enough wood to fill it!

Cheers
Alex

Over five years have passed... how's the test of time treated it?

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