Slab Rack

[4x4American]

Good Afternoon,


I want to weld a slab rack up out of prolly 3 or 4" channel today (if I can get the steel).  Just gonna do a basic design the way that Baker makes em.  Here's my idea.  Once the slab rack is full, I will band the slabs and set them out by the road for sale for firewood.  So I want them to about what a pickup truck could fit.  Anyone have a size that works well for you?  I will make it a V shape too so that as it gets full it squeezes together so that the banding doesn't have to pull it so tight..that's the idea anyways.


Do you think 3" will do or would I be better to go with 4"? 


Thanks

[drobertson]

Not sure about the "V" shape you are talking about, I am thinking of one that makes more square bundles so that they sit flat and can be stacked if need be,,


 
something like this works pretty good, one bundle is a pretty good load if the slabs are green.

[Sixacresand]

DRobertson, Neat stack of slabs.  Somebody would buy that stack and build something out of it.

[drobertson]

DRobertson, Neat stack of slabs.  Somebody would buy that stack and build something out of it.

six you are correct, these in fact did get used up on a small siding job, an ole fellow stopped by just as I was banding them up,  but rest assured, not all bundles look like this one, these were nice logs uniform and straight, the rack right now is full of a mess! somewhat straight but logs with butt swells and lots of knots,, I'll tell ya the ole saying tougher than a pine knot, carries a lot of truth as far as I'm concerned  ;D

[4x4American]

Grand idea, DR!  The Baker one looks like it has a V shape and I fgured thats wht it was for, but it makes more sense that way.  Btw, that is a very neat stack you got there.

[Dave Shepard]

I made one from four inch channel. It bent. The one I made from six inch h beam was better. Don't load the slabs, unless you like paying for body work. ;)

[DDW_OR]

great idea drobertson.

Sixacresand: when i was a kid i built many a fort out of slabs.

[4x4American]

Maybe three inch channel will be the way to go.  Maybe not.  I like DR's with the pipe.  Maybe I'll just go to the local train track and cut me some track to use..yea that oughta be tough lol  (JUST KIDDING)


I am just finishing up on getting my design for drag back fingers completed then gonna call around to local steel/scrap yards and see what I can source.

[drobertson]

adding a little draft angle would not hurt a thing, just a few degrees, letting the rack sit, then rained on thru the night, there is some swelling of the wood, so at times a pain to pull out,, a draft angle would help, wider at the top, does not have to be much, any would help.

[Peter Drouin]

 

 
I made it so I can cut the pile in ½. Or leave it 8' And band it and lift it out. Or pick the whole thing up and move it around.

[4x4American]

Nice rack too.  I'll post a pic of the one I was gonna model.  I made a wood rack a couple years ago.  They're pretty much just a free standing piece.  It's a 6x6 with an upright on each end.  That way I can move em closer or farther apart if necessary.  Honestly wasn't a bad way to do it I might just make some more of dem.  Might be a good way to practice some timber frame joinery. 


That's one heck of a bark inclusion in that board 

[Ohio_Bill]

I am not a welder and don't even try . I am blessed to have a son-in-law that makes his living as a welder and he is kind enough to help me out. So a lot of things I do on the spur of the moment evolve other techniques. . I needed a slab rack in a hurry and drilled some holes in reject ties and dropped some pipe in them . 

 

[Brucer]

Here's my system. How it evolved, what it's made from, some dimensions, and how one of my customers (and now me) gets the wood into the woodshed.

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,62424.msg1158247.html#msg1158247

[Tree Dan]

Use what you can get your hands on.
imo, 3" channel for the bottom and keep that about 8" off the ground,
Us 2" pipe for the 4 posts...run a pc of tube or angle or what ever you have from post to post on the right and left side for the slabs to rest on. alow the slabs to over hang.
Make the rack so you can pick up the whole works, by your pallet forks, or pick up just the slabs by raising your forks up.

Have fun 8)

[redprospector]

Nice rack too.

There was a time in my life that a statement like that would not be wood, or sawmill related.  :D

[4x4American]

Nice rack too.

There was a time in my life that a statement like that would not be wood, or sawmill related.  :D

lol lol lol

you must be talking about a hefty built rack and pinion lol

[redprospector]

yeah.
;)

[OneWithWood]

I welded up this simple rack using 1 1/2" angle.  I stack the slabs on skids.  Band it up.  Cut in half.  Move to OWB and cut in half again.

  

  

 

[Magicman]

I see the thread title and am still thinking Ribs.   

[WH_Conley]

All threads eventually turn to food. :D

[bkaimwood]

Not sure about the "V" shape you are talking about, I am thinking of one that makes more square bundles so that they sit flat and can be stacked if need be,,


 
something like this works pretty good, one bundle is a pretty good load if the slabs are green.

NICE RACK...aside from the functionality, I was thinking, man, so neat....doc musta been sawin' some NICE logs...:)

[21incher]

How about some old pallet racking. You could lay the uprights down, cut load channels in half to use for uprights and have a quick to make adjustable rack. You can pick that stuff up on craigslist pretty cheep.

[4x4American]

I finally remembered to take a picture of what I wanna build.  Notice it has that V shape I talked about.  Baker sells these.

[Dave Shepard]

A vee is good. I have an idea for self releasing parallel racks, but it would take some extra work.

[drobertson]

I get it now 4x4,, that v I call draft angle.and  yea they pull out easier with the angle, been wanting to draft mine a little,