shelves... Wood or Metal?

[Iplayfarmer]

My collection of lubes and fuel cans is growing. I started with a gas can for the lawn mower and oil for the car/truck. Now I have a gas can for the mower, mixed gas for the trimmer and chainsaw, diesel for the tractor, Kerosene for the shop heater, two cycle oil, bar and chain oil, motor oil, hydraulic fluid, and waste oil (stored for a few oil changes before taking to the local tire shop that has a waste oil heater). I've also got a few new gas power tools, and I've acquire a few project engines and "spare" engines.

My "flammables" collection has started taking over my garage. I know that the best way to store all of this would be to get a large flammables cabinet, but due to the $1200 price tag for the cabinet, I've decided to scrap that idea and go with a set of shelves instead.

Enter the next dilemma...

I think the best option for shelves would some kind of metal shelving. However, all of the "metal" shelving readily available either has a wood deck, or does not have the weight per shelf capacity of comparable wood shelves.

I have thought about fabricating something out of metal, but I'm not that good yet with the welder, and I don't have a ready supply of the kind of material that it would take to make the shelves. I've got plenty of scrap wood laying around and the experience to build a pretty solid set of wood shelves.

How big of a deal would it be to put all of my gas, oil, engines, etc. on wood shelves?

 

[DaveRR]

I keep my gas cans, oils, etc on a set of wood shelves in my garage. I'm pretty careful anyway, but I place oil absorbant pads on the shelves, underneath the containers, to catch drips and such. They work great to store funnels on. When one of the pads get stained, I just toss and replace it.

 

[mikim]

I lost everything to fire in '88 ... it was electrical but it made me more cautious all around about fire. If your garage is attached to the house - I don't think it wil matter what your shelves are made of ... ditto I guess if it is a dettached ... the point I'm trying to make so early in the a.m. --- is I keep all my flammables away from the house - period - in another building. and I have some in a cheap metal locker that I scrounged from work (they were throwing it away) It's not a flammable rated metal container - but I figure it'll help.

 

[firemanpat2910]

keep them in a seperate shed or a "Dock Locker" .Lowes HDepot and wally world have plenty of options.. Even a plastic play house would work.

 

[slaveToHorses]

Yeah, count me in with the get em out of the garrage crowd!
I keep all my gas cans in a heavily ventilated outbuilding. I keep some diesel cans under a carport, where the tractors are.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Sounds like the question is not so much "wood or metal", but rather "Where should I put the wood/metal shelves?"

Now for the next question... Would it be better to store the stuff on wood shelves in the garage or on shelves outside with a make-shift "Roof" built on the tops of the shelves?

My garage is detached, but I've got enough stuff in there that I'd really rather not watch it go up in smoke. I've got a few other outbuildings, but they are all far enough removed that I don't really want to keep anything I use frequently in there. The only other option is to make a set of shelves with a "roof" at the top and put it at the back of the cement pad behind the garage. It would be about 25 feet from the garage up against the dog kennel.

Now you've actually got me thinking... I could make the shelves into more of a cabinet with a solid back and screened doors that latch/lock. I've got some old corrugated tin roofing that would be great for a pitched roof at the top of the cabinet.

 

[Farwell]

Make a small pole building, add the shelves before adding the siding. Have the floor of the building about 18 inches above grade. Put screen in the floor so the heavy vapors can escape and not accumulate. The screen will also help keep the bugs out. Air passing under the shed will help keep the fumes moving. In the roof put in a vent so when it gets hot in the shed it will vent. The shed can be 2' by 6' or any size that you feel will hold your flammables. Cover the exterior walls and roof with metal siding. If you are real nervous about fires, you can line the inside of the shed with fire resistant 5/8" sheet rock.
Gas fumes usually stay close to the ground, note the 18 inch height requirement for water heaters and furnaces that reside in garages.
Add a solid door of some sort for safety and security.
This is what I have been planing on doing with my flammables, fuel, spray paint, etc.
Farwell

 

[scott_vt]

Make a small pole building, add the shelves before adding the siding. Have the floor of the building about 18 inches above grade. Put screen in the floor so the heavy vapors can escape and not accumulate. The screen will also help keep the bugs out. Air passing under the shed will help keep the fumes moving. In the roof put in a vent so when it gets hot in the shed it will vent. The shed can be 2' by 6' or any size that you feel will hold your flammables. Cover the exterior walls and roof with metal siding. If you are real nervous about fires, you can line the inside of the shed with fire resistant 5/8" sheet rock.
Gas fumes usually stay close to the ground, note the 18 inch height requirement for water heaters and furnaces that reside in garages.
Add a solid door of some sort for safety and security.
This is what I have been planing on doing with my flammables, fuel, spray paint, etc.
Farwell

Best suggestion so far IMHO ! I have a metal cabinet in the garage, but Farwells suggestion is the right way to go is you have the time, space and money

 

[Iplayfarmer]

...Farwells suggestion is the right way to go if you have the time, space and money

It's the time, space, and money that's holding me back. I'm going to follow Farwell's advice, but I may have to do it in stages. Right now I just need to get it all up off the floor.

If I do this right I can plan each step of the process so that I don't have to "undo" it at the next step.