Organizing "scrap" metal ideas?

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Looking for an efficient way to organize my cut metal pieces. Right now, anything longer than 24" leans up against the wall, organized by type (angle, tube, solid, etc). And everything smaller is thrown on an old cart and it used to be organized but there's way too much stuff on it now to keep it clean. I throw away smaller pieces like less than 6" unless it's something somewhat exotic (like a 3/8" x 2-1/2" 316 S/S flat stock) because I know as soon as I throw it away, I'm going to NEED it! I've thought about a set of bins to throw smaller pieces in that I just have to dig through to find what I need in it but there's got to be a better way to organize all this. I really like to keep the smaller stuff so I don't want to throw it away. I will throw away some of the smaller stuff if I already have a few smaller pieces of the same type of material. So basically I'm looking for an efficient way to organize smaller pieces ranging from 6" to 24" of all different types and sizes of material in a way that can be expanded on later and added to with the addition of new materials.Thanks!John 3:16(2) Miller Pheonix 456(2) Millermertic 252Dynasty 210DXHobart 210MVPDoringer D350 SA Cold SawScotchman 350LT Cold SawWebb 10x50 MillWebb 15x40 LatheGeka Bendicrop Ironworker
Reply:Have a look at this project.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ation-New-RackCheers AndrewLast edited by FODFA; 09-30-2013 at 05:48 PM.
Reply:One thing I do with scrap is keep everything in common lengths.EDIT - I mostyl deal with mild steel in Sq. tubing or flat stock, with some piping mixed in - Just Hobby Stuff.I don't do a lot of small stuff, so everything under 2' is in the pile to be sold as scrap.  All the 2' pieces are in buckets in the corner.I have a vertical rack on the wall with 4', 6' 8' and 10' pieces.  Anything over ten is hung in a rack on the ceiling.I like the common sizes - Keeps me from thinking I have a 4-ft piece only to find out it is 46"
Reply:I had a handful of 6" pipe pups about 16" long. I laid 4 in a row on the welding table and tacked them together top and bottom, then added a second row on top and tacked the intersections. That gave me a good starting place for shorts. I also had a piece of 12x12" square that was about 3' long that got tacked to the end of hte rows of pipes. I can sort it into pieces that are 2-3' in the back, with round solid, round tube, square solid, square tube, and the bigger square gets pieces that are too short for the rack, but too big for the pipe pups.
Reply:Google French Cleat system and let your mind wander.
Reply:I built a shelving unit out of scrap unistrut. It is 60'' high , 36'' wide ,  and 20'' deep. The shelves are spaced with 8'' of clear space in between. A buddy got me some discontinued plastic coke cases that fit perfect in the shelving unit. I should have made this years ago. It's amazing how much time you save by being organized. I can go to the shelf and see exactly what I got.   I got some old golf club bags at flea market for $ 1.00 and set those inside a 30 gallon drum. Then I dropped short lengths in them. The bags keep them contained and make for easy removal. You really can't afford to scrap steel with the price of new.
Reply:Are you close to any recyclers ? all of the small pieces add up and a trip to the scrap yard can net you a couple bucks.Last edited by Broccoli1; 09-30-2013 at 06:54 PM.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Oh look at mine too   (yet another self serving my-di##-is bigger than yours reply)http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ack&highlight=Or better yet  Come up with something that fits your needs  You have a welder, and you have a brain........use them  I'm sure you'll come up with something that works"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Subscribing! I like seeing pictures of racks!
Reply:Put it up on the roof.I don't have a place to put mine inside and leaning it against the side of the house and shed has attracted thieves/meth-heads in the past.So I put a lot of it up on the side of the roof that faces trees, sorted by size and length, with one look I know precisely what I have how much and how long it is.I keep my ladder hidden and locked. I keep a few pieces at ground level. You cant see it from the road and you cant see it from the back yard.I have about 500lb of steel, that can walk off, I keep most of that up high. The larger lengths are around 12 feet long and weigh around 200lb each, not worried about those walking off, I would like to use most of the smaller stuff up before I buy more.old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:I made a rack out of used steel fence posts (t-posts) for the uprights and angle iron for the cross pieces. Basically just a strong set of shelves.  It's 1' by 3' wide by 6' tall.   Longer pieces go side to side and shorter pieces go front to back.    A few of the shelves have scrap sheet metal on them for the really short pieces (I hate to throw anything away) but the rest of the shelves are just the angle iron frame work.