Just moved into an unfurnished flat and rather than do the Ikea thing, I'vedecided to build myself some furniture... First up, a storage system...

I decided to go with scaffolding tubing and planks as the base material.Scaffolding by nature is designed to assemble/disassemble easily, is strong andwould give the piece a unique look. It is also modular, meaning you can alwaysadd to the unit if you require more space. Scaffolding, planks in particular, canoften be picked up used meaning you can do it reasonably cheap..

Tools Needed:

Hacksaw

Saw

Related

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FZN/KKVO/I3BHFKX9/FZNKKVOI3BHFKX9.LARGE.jpg)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/F70/OH7T/I3BHFKYD/F70OH7TI3BHFKYD.LARGE.jpg)

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(http://cdn.instructables.com/FCG/VBXO/I3BHFKZ7/FCGVBXOI3BHFKZ7.LARGE.jpg)

About This Instructable

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(/member/barclay5426/)

barclay5426(/member/barclay5426/)Portfolio(http://liambarclaydesign.wix.com/portfolio)

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I'm a design engineer based inBristol, UK, with a love for designing andmaking things..

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More by barclay5426

Storage (/tag/type­id/category­workshop/keyword­

storage/)

shelves (/tag/type­id/category­workshop/keyword­

shelves/)

scaffolding (/tag/type­id/category­workshop/keyword­

scaffolding/)

wood shelves (/tag/type­id/category­

workshop/keyword­wood shelves/)

industrial design (/tag/type­id/category­

workshop/keyword­industrial design/)

workbench (/tag/type­id/category­workshop/keyword­

workbench/)

clothes rack (/tag/type­id/category­workshop/keyword­

clothes rack/)

tubing (/tag/type­id/category­workshop/keyword­

tubing/)

planks (/tag/type­id/category­workshop/keyword­

planks/)

furniture (/tag/type­id/category­workshop/keyword­

furniture/)

Tags:

Kee Klamp Shelving(/id/Kee­Klamp­Shelving/)by duncanwilkinson(/member/duncanwilkinson/)

(http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.instructables.com%2Fid%2FScaffold­Storage­System%2F&media=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.instructables.com%2FFZN%2FKKVO%2FI3BHFKX9%2FFZNKKVOI3BHFKX9.MEDIUM.jpg&description=Picture%20of%20Scaffold%20Storage%20System)

Scaffold Storage System  by barclay5426 (/member/barclay5426/)

 Collection   I Made it!

 Download (/id/Scaffold­Storage­System/?download=pdf) 3 Steps

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Allen Keys

Sandpaper/ Varnish

Spirit Level

Measuring Tape

Step 1: Design

I wanted this to be able to store the majority of my things so set about designinga unit that would have sections to accommodate clothes, sports/hobby stuff andtools. I also added a small desk/workbench for future projects.

I started by doing a simple sketch, keeping in mind the standards lengths I couldpurchase the scaffolding tubing and planks in to minimize waste material.

Step 2: Make

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(http://cdn.instructables.com/F0N/U67T/I3BHFLW8/F0NU67TI3BHFLW8.LARGE.jpg)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/F6E/68PF/I3BHFKZV/F6E68PFI3BHFKZV.LARGE.jpg)

Wooden Wardrobe(/id/Wooden­Wardrobe/)by alphydan(/member/alphydan/)

Instant Furniture(/id/Folding­Shelves­From­Bunkbed­Ladders­and­other­Ins/)by TimAndersonTension Series ­ FloatingBed (/id/Tension­Series­Floating­Bed/)by barclay5426(/member/barclay5426/)Building an Armoire (akaWardrobe) (/id/Building­an­Armoire­aka­Wardrobe/)by EcoExpatMike

This project is very simple to do, only taking a day or two all together:

1.  Cut the tubing to length with a hacksaw2.  Measure out any shelves that aren't 'off the shelve' lengths3.  Cut the planks with a saw4.  (Optional) I cut V­groves into the small shelves to help them locate on the

cross tubes. I set my mitre saw to a 45° bevel, engaged the depth stop andcut. And then finished the cut with a hand saw.

5.  Sand and finish in your choice of vanish/stains/oils etc.

Step 3: Assemble

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FY3/Q8HO/I3BHFKWF/FY3Q8HOI3BHFKWF.LARGE.jpg)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FBT/C0NU/I3BHFKUK/FBTC0NUI3BHFKUK.LARGE.jpg)

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(http://cdn.instructables.com/FZS/H58O/I3BHFKX7/FZSH58OI3BHFKX7.LARGE.jpg)

We have a be nice comment policy. Please be positive and constructive.

  I Made it!   Add Images Make Comment

With everything cut, its time to assemble. The clamps simply tighten togetherwith an allen key, so the whole unit goes up very quickly!

I just sat the planks on the cross bars without fixings which works perfectly well.You could also drill some some holes and bolt them down...

Finished and ready to fill with your stuff!!

Cheers for looking..

thundrepance (/member/thundrepance/)

(http://cdn.instructables.com/F3N/MCWS/I3BHFKSJ/F3NMCWSI3BHFKSJ.LARGE.jpg)

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7 days ago Reply

it's crazy­beautiful, barclay!! i feel that i cannot wait to make your stylin'project, but i must, as i have several unfinished proj. already in the works{shame on me!}. your scaffold storage system looks TONS sturdier than ikea!

mrsjetjr (/member/mrsjetjr/)

I like your design it is really very artsy.

rwarren10 (/member/rwarren10/)

This is good looking, however I can see it being expensive.

Jabberwokie (/member/Jabberwokie/)

I have tried to search for scaffolding online, but I can't find the clamps youused. All I find is the current industry standard quick release clamps, not thetype you used. Does the type you used have specific name?

barclay5426 (/member/barclay5426/) (author)   Jabberwokie

Try tube clamps or key clamps

mrpunch000 (/member/mrpunch000/)  barclay5426

Try searching for "Kee Klamp"

tomita (/member/tomita/)

It is nice and all, and has a good idea, but it needs redesigning to actually beuseful. Right now it's hipster, with low practicality for a piece of furniture that issupposed to offer efficiency in storing various items. Wider wooden boards,thinner pipes. The design is nice on how it uses 2 walls

Hinkiepunk (/member/Hinkiepunk/)

looks really good, a few questions though: how much did it cost, and what isthe weight limit and how does the floor take it

barclay5426 (/member/barclay5426/) (author)   Hinkiepunk

Cheers. Around £300 all in. No idea on weight limit,its solid so i'll go with a lot and the floor is fine, youcan get 'feet' clamps for the bottom

Hinkiepunk (/member/Hinkiepunk/)  barclay5426

cheers

BlondyLox (/member/BlondyLox/)

I love the design. How much did it cost? I would love to make one of these formy son's room!

barclay5426 (/member/barclay5426/) (author)   BlondyLox

The tubing,planks and clamps come in just over£200 but had to pay for delivery which bumped it upto around £300, it's a lot of weight.. The unit is 8ftwide, 6.5ft high, is solid and stores all my stuff sopretty happy with that price.

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You could always tailor the design to fit your budgetand expand if need be, good thing about themodularity of scaffolding!!

ROD917 (/member/ROD917/)

How much for the pipe and where to purchase? Great idea.

barclay5426 (/member/barclay5426/) (author)   ROD917

Thanks. The pipe works out at around £3/meter. I got it from an onlinescaffolding supplier. You might be lucky and have a reclamation yardor something that has used tubing

primosanch (/member/primosanch/)

Very nice.

harbor_ma (/member/harbor_ma/)

Good jobs! Well done!

ak_midori (/member/ak_midori/)

Instead of cutting metal pipes, would you consider using threaded pipes &joints? And how did you choose the diameter of pipe?

barclay5426 (/member/barclay5426/) (author)   ak_midori

I guess you could, but if you don't want to cutpiping to specific lengths then your design will belimited by the stock lengths of pipe you can buy.The pipe diameter was chosen to fit with theclamps and be strong enough to support theweight of everything the shelves would be holding..The shelves are pretty solid!

amekdala (/member/amekdala/)

Hi, what is the drawing software you use for this?

barclay5426 (/member/barclay5426/) (author)   amekdala

Hey, its Solidworks but any CAD software will letyou do similar.. You can get a free trial of most ofthem

conservator (/member/conservator/)

Congratulations! It's a nice storage system.

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