I gotta go that high due to space restrictions. Can't dry it in time if I stack it all tight (been down that road) and if I'm gonna get 12 cord in that amount of space, it's gotta be stacked high. That's why I built the racks, they work well, every other row is standing straight still. I would never be able to get 6 ft stacks with freestanders.
I probably could have built a shed with the materials in these racks. But you need a permit for anything over 10x14 and it adds to the tax bill every year. Doesn't help that I'm outta level ground for a woodshed either.
Do you have some more pics of the racks? They look pretty darn sturdy Id like to see a wider shot of that area if you can.
MM, my setup is simular to yours, 12' long but I went with 5' high vs the 6 just for the reason you shared with us. I tried 6' high with a few of my original designs and when the wood was drying and shrinking there was just too much movement at the top. My stacks would end up touching at the top after 3-4 months after they were stacked. Looks like bogydaves idea might help you out.
Maybe some of those really big lightly built pallets stood vertical between the racks with ratchet straps around the whole thing at 3 and 6 foot?
I thought about the straps Solar. My pride says I don't need 'em. The above photo says otherwise. I am trying to no let the cost of these things run out of control. They already are about $200 a unit without adding additional 2x's or the straps. But I did see some cheap ratchet straps at TSC the other day.......
$200 a piece!!!!!!!!!! Northern tool has the cheapest beat straps I have bought. 600 lb ones in a bag of 4 or 5 for $10 or was it like$7?? I have bought 2 bags at different times.I use them 1 per corner to strap ATV down.
You are correct Smokey. He was not referring to the Straps. Clem, reread the post. He is speaking of the actual rack. They were over $200 to build each rack (3 rows). Mine are singles as opposed to MM's triples. And they cost just North of $70 a piece, so that is very believable. Heck, the brackets are $25 a pop, plus wood, and lag bolts/washers and a couple screws.
I know I had two ideas some post. $200 for one wood rack still seems crazy!! My 12x 16 shed I think just cost a bit more than that. But some wood is salvaged the tin is as well
I was thinking one row was $200! I wanted some of those brackets bit I'm to cheap to buy them. So I just stack and when I want dividers I set ceder posts in the ground.
I'm saving a lot of details for the "official" thread but here ya go. 18 12' PT 2x4s at $5.77 ea 3 10' PT 2x4s for roughly the same amount. Brackets are about $16 a set if you buy in bulk, I bought 3 sets for the prototype and then 2 boxes of 6 sets each. Then picked up 2 5lb boxes of deck screws, 1 1/4" and 2 1/2" IIRC. That cost is spread out over all 5 racks I currently have and I have enough for more.
I know! We need T-shirts for the "stack crashers club" I got that T-shirt years ago…. Thats why I let my wife stack now, when they fall, It's her fault…. MM, Sorry Bud, I feel for ya, Sandy blasted two rows of mine
I used 2.5" screws for the first 2 of mine, then used 2.5" (3/8") lag bolts for the last 6. Much more stability in the last 6. IMO. Then again, you have 3 combined, so the overall stability will be higher, right from jump street..
These things are rock solid. Not using them in this project but I have pretty much given up lags in favor of structural screws like TimberLoks or HeadLoks. Faster, cheaper, and supposedly stronger.
