project 2 from ogorir: new/rebuilt parts rack

[ogorir]

I acutally built this during last contest, but I didn't get around to posting it.

it's a 6-shelf rack for holding new and already rebuilt parts (distributors, master cylinders, points, coils, clutch kits, ect) I only appear to have one picture of it before it got covered in stuff.

I assembled the top shelf first, which is sized so I could use it as a jug to tack the other 5 shelves that needed to fit inside the uprights. that made welding together the shelf frames really quick. I cut the expanded metal with a pair of dykes, which went alright, but it only worked because this is 16ga. anything thicker I'dve used a cutoff wheel.

I tacked the expanded metal inside the shelf frames at every 'x'. the tacks are the only thing that really gives this any strength, as it allows the expanded metal to be used in tension.

to assemble the unit, I clamped the uprights first to the bottom shelf (which fits inside of the uprights), then set the top on (which sits ontop of the uprights), squared it up and tacked it. then I weazeled the 4 shelves into the frame, as once I welded in the first one, there wouldn'tve been enough room to slide them in.

I used vise grips to position and level the shelves by putting one clamp on each upright and setting the shelf on top. the shelves were held fairly tight by the uprights, so I didn't actually clamp the shelves to the uprights before tacking. after I got all the shelves tacked in, I welded everything off.

you can see on the second to top shelf where I started welding dividers in. I was going to do the whole thing, so everything had a set place (also to help support the shelf) but it was just taking too long.

I'll try to clean the thing up tomorrow and take a few pics of it with it's intended load. it's a mess right now and has needed to be set straight for a while. this is as good an excuse as any.


I think I made it 4' wide, but for the life of me I can't exactly remember. I think it's 2'dx4'wx5'h. I believe it took 5 hours to cut, assemble, and weld.