How/where to store completed parts?

[RNB]

I am looking for ideas on how to safely store airplane parts after they've been completed. I have ample room to just let them sit on the ground but hate giving up the real estate. I can hang them on the wall in some manner but can't figure out the method. I can also take some to the airport hangar if I figure out shelving or something hangin off the red iron framing. Smaller things can fit on commercially available shelf units, not sure about full wings or HS.

For wings I picture I might be able to just fit wheeled wing cradles at the hangar.
Otherwise, I am looking for wall and maybe ceiling mount ideas.
Pictures might help.

Thank you.

 

[chrisskymaster]

Small parts on shelving. Wings in cradle with wheels. At home in climate controlled environment is best. Hangar climate varies with weather and can leave your parts covered in moisture. If parts are primed and painted the hangar might work. I stored all my parts at home while building because I often would grab a part like a rudder or aileron to check fitment while I was building the next part. My vote is to keep all finished parts in the general area of where you are building.

 

[wirejock]

I installed big padded hooks in the garage ceiling then bought a roll of 2" webbing and plastic hardware. I used carabiners to hold the webbing straps to the hooks. Each part hung safely. Minor accumlation of dust over time.
Wings lived in a wing cradle.

 

[JimCMI]

My HS is hanging against the ceiling supported by baling wire tied around construction screws driven through the ceiling into the trusses.

VS, rudder, and elevators are stashed in the trusses above my garage. Mouse infestation is a risk there, so I covered all the holes with aluminum window screen and packing tape after tossing in a rag with some peppermint oil on it.

Tailcone is at the hangar; it fits under the tail of the Lance.

I have the wings in a cradle. My plan is to take them to the hangar when they're done.

 

[Ralph Inkster]

Darn things keep breeding…
A few storage ideas:

 

[MED]

Don’t overlook storing some things in the house. Tell your wife they are objets d’art.

 

[RV7A Flyer]

Don’t overlook storing some things in the house. Tell your wife they are objets d’art.

We used a spare bedroom for first my neighbor buddy's build, then for mine. At various times, the bedroom held both wings, VS, HS, flaps, ailerons and elevators, all at the same time. And it was like bonded stores...nobody could enter without my permission .

Granted, getting those wings up the stairs and around the upper landing was...tricky...but we managed. And the parts were safe from damage, dirt, bugs, moisture, etc.

 

[esco]

Overhead racks in garage- at some point airplane project moves to hangar, but garage storage remains, adds to resale value.

 

[Draker]

I built a shed in my backyard, just big enough to store the wings on their rolling cradle and the empennage parts. That got everything out of the 2 car garage so I could work on the fuselage.

 

[bifft]

Cradle in the living room. Built with 2x4s and some carpet scraps for padding. Of course, I was single then. But she married me anyway. Let me keep the parts in the living room until we moved to a house with a bigger garage (about 8 years).

 

[MIKE JG]

This is also a concern for me as I don't think I can swing storing the wings in the garage while I build the fuse. Was planning on a storage unit down the road but maybe on of the climate controlled units would be better....?

 

[Kyle Boatright]

Got an airplane hangar or a buddy who has some extra space in his? I've stored wings and flying surfaces in one for years.

 

[georgemohr]

Some ideas for you...

 

[RV-9erA]

We stored our tail assemblies in the spare bedroom (wife permitting) and the wings in the garage (both in jig holders) as completed assemblies! Then, you really need a hangar at some point, but generally a waiting list for hangars (sometimes takes years), so check soon and check often!

 

[JimCMI]

Some ideas for you...

View attachment 95611
View attachment 95612

I like the webbing. That's a lot better than baling wire

 

[TimBo77]

Don’t overlook storing some things in the house. Tell your wife they are objets d’art.

Did you actually try that one out ? My misses just gave me the look

 

[Jetmart]

The living room or kitchen

 

[Reflex]

Note the back wall above the tool board.


View attachment 111179

 

[RWoodard]

In general, my suggestion is to look for high ceilings or high walls. There’s a bunch of unused cubic space up high. This includes even standard residential garages. I like building shelving over the tracks of a standard garage door at the header. Most garage ceilings are 10’ so there’s significant room above the tracks. A simple 2x4 frame screwed to the header and then suspended by 1/4” steel rods at the other side of the shelf works great.

I’ll post some pictures later when I get to my computer, but I’m currently in the process of adding 4’ deep shelving along the north 50’ wall of my hangar. The hangar side walls are 12’ and I’m hanging the shelves 2’ down from the ceiling. I’ll never use that 4’ around the perimeter of my hangar for aircraft, so I might as well have the storage. I’m planning on everything from aircraft engine parts to Christmas tree boxes up there.