Weld Storage Racks
Datetime:2014-05-21 Hits:
Storing heavy, valuable or flammable items can be a challenge. Welded storage racks provide the strength and other qualities needed. Welded storage rack frames can be covered with expanded metal to make secure lockers, or sheet metal to make storage cabinets for flammables.
Instructions
1
Choose a total height for your storage rack, and decide how wide, deep and far apart the shelves will be.
2
Use a chop saw to cut angle iron to the dimensions given in the materials list, or adjust dimensions to fit your needs. The listed materials will make a three- or four-shelf storage rack, 2 or 3 feet deep and 4 feet wide.
3
Miter the ends of all the 4-feet long pieces of angle iron to 45 degrees. Miter all but four of the shorter pieces to a 45 degree angle as well. The four remaining pieces will be center shelf supports. According to Learn to Weld.com, you need to miter the shelf frame pieces, "...so that when you weld them together, the height will be flush. If you were to just weld it up as it is now, two bits of steel would sit higher than the other two which would leave a gap all the way along."
4
Make the shelves first. Lay one piece of sheet steel or expanded metal across two steel sawhorses or a welding table. Lay two of the 4-feet lengths of angle iron on the long sides, with the vertical face of each piece flush with the outer edge of the sheet or expanded metal and the horizontal faces pointing toward one another. Lay two of the short pieces along the short sides in the same way.
5
Don a welding helmet, gloves and full leathers. Weld the angle iron in place. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 until you have made all the shelves needed for your storage rack.
6
Mark each of the 5- or 6-feet pieces of angle iron 2 inches from one end, and 4 to 6 inches from the other end. This represents the positions of the bottom edge of the top shelf and the top edge of the bottom shelf.
7
Mark positions for the top and bottom edges of each remaining shelf, spacing them as you choose. Clamp all pieces to the top and bottom shelves, adjusting shelf positions until the lines are flush with the correct edges. Weld the pieces in place.
8
Set shelf upright and inspect all welds. Grind away any weld spatter if desired. Wipe shelf clean using acetone on a clean, soft cloth. Spray entire shelf with rust-inhibitive enamel paint if desired.
