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I'm a bit of a hoarder, I must admit. Not like, at the level of mental illness or anything, you won't be seeing me on Hoarders any time soon, but I have a tendency to collect bits and pieces of things I think maybe someday I'll use. Maybe. Just in case that interestingly shaped piece of whatever might need to be hot glued to a proton pack or something. You know what I mean.
What this means is that I've got a lot of knick knacks and doodads in my shop. There are never enough shelves or spaces to store things, so I'm always looking for a new place to sequester my thingamajigs. All the walls and shelves and cupboards are jam packed, so I went to the only place that wasn't full up: the ceiling.
Several months back, I swear I saw an instructable about something really similar to what I've done, only using a purpose built track and full sized rubbermaid containers. I went looking to thank the author for the inspiration, but I was never able to find it again. I'm starting to think I dreamed the whole thing up, but if you know what I'm talking about please let me know so I can properly give them credit.
**** UPDATE: clide has informed me that I did see this somewhere, but it wasn't on instructables! To see the inspiration for this instructable, check out this link. ****
My solution was to use the bare rafters as a starting point to hold several small plastic storage containers. It's worked out fantastically well for me and really helped me to clean up and organize my workshop! I hope you find it useful and build something similar, and as with all of my instructables, if you build this or are inspired by it, post a picture of your own version (or a link to the instructable you submit) and I'll send you a profile patch!
Here's a quick demo video:
What this means is that I've got a lot of knick knacks and doodads in my shop. There are never enough shelves or spaces to store things, so I'm always looking for a new place to sequester my thingamajigs. All the walls and shelves and cupboards are jam packed, so I went to the only place that wasn't full up: the ceiling.
Several months back, I swear I saw an instructable about something really similar to what I've done, only using a purpose built track and full sized rubbermaid containers. I went looking to thank the author for the inspiration, but I was never able to find it again. I'm starting to think I dreamed the whole thing up, but if you know what I'm talking about please let me know so I can properly give them credit.
**** UPDATE: clide has informed me that I did see this somewhere, but it wasn't on instructables! To see the inspiration for this instructable, check out this link. ****
My solution was to use the bare rafters as a starting point to hold several small plastic storage containers. It's worked out fantastically well for me and really helped me to clean up and organize my workshop! I hope you find it useful and build something similar, and as with all of my instructables, if you build this or are inspired by it, post a picture of your own version (or a link to the instructable you submit) and I'll send you a profile patch!
Here's a quick demo video:
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Signing UpStep 1Stuff You'll Need
1. A shop with exposed rafters
I suppose you could rig up some sort of rail system on the ceiling, but that would be a lot of work. I suppose you'll also need to have a low ceiling, a step stool, or just be tall.
2. Some scrap wood
Something flat and long that you can rip to the desired width
3. Nails
4. Plastic tubs
I found mine at the dollar tree, but they're sold just about everywhere. You'll need to do some measuring to figure out how many you need to fill your rafters. Make sure to get the kind that are see through!
5. Handles
You could buy these premade, but handles are shockingly expensive and I couldn't find any in a size I liked, so I chose to build them from PVC and bolts.
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Scrap wood would work, and you could definitely get a more appealing look that way. The only downsides there would be added weight and not being able to see inside, and that could be worth it if you want them to look nice!
Props! I love seeing Instructables that make me palmface and wonder why I never thought of that.
Much thanks ^^
its so amazing, im surprised no ones patented it yet!
Believe me, If I thought there was a way to make money on this, I'd be out there like the oxyclean guy hocking this all over the place!
Of course, my workshop HAS to have a pitched roof.....!
On reflection, I wonder whether you need to have handles at all? Let's go for the simple solution!
On the subject of loading, it's wise to check the figures if you aren't in the basement - ceiling joists are usually much narrower than floor joists and have a correspondingly lower loading, and with heavy stuff it's surprising how quickly you reach the pounds-per-square-foot limit. I needed two square metres (21sq ft) of bearers to support a 300Kg (660lb) water tank. But a one-ton waterbed spread over normal floor joists is well within the safety limit, and you don't have a lot of weight in those boxes. Just don't fill them with nails....
i find that boxes of collected things tend to be heavy
What he said!