I did some searching but came up “blank” (pun intended)

I have some blanks I need spray paint and wanted to knock number out at once so got to thinking about what I could use to hold the blank upright - and then it also crossed over to thinking about how to store blanks vertically vs leaning against the wall or having to have a long talk space for them on a rack

Was in the sporting good store and saw an archery target that was layered foam sheets and about 8” thick or so, and had a decent bit of weight to it. Thought that would make a nice base with holes in it to insert the butt of the Saw a post recently about storing blanks leaning against a wall and potentially placing a bend/warp in them.

I got some copper pipe at various diameters, then cut and ground some “teeth” into one end. Then heat up the pipe with a torch (holding the pipe with something like a pair of vice grips). After heating it for a minute just push the pipe into the foam and give it a twist and pull out. A dowel rod sized to the inside of the pipe helps to clean it out for the next hole.

[www.rodbuilding.org]



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/23/2020 09:28PM by Michael Ward.

Put a piece of dowel rod in a 2x6 or other wood of your choice.

A great system for storing both rods and blanks vertically is to start with a board about 4 inches wide, as long as you want, and fix it so it is placed horizontal, slants from back down to the front at about a 45 degree angle, and provides a place for the butt of the rod/blank to sit. Above it , about 18 inches up, place a dowel horizontally across the width of your structure right above the leading/lower edge of the slanted board. Simply place the rod/blanks vertically in it. The slant will gently tip them forward against the dowel. No chance of inducing a set. No problem with any diameter. Works great between the open studs in a garage or pole building.

I have too many rods to store one at a time in its own stand. So I use 5 gallon buckets, and then get some of those long, round pool floats and split them lengthwise and push these down onto the top rim of the 5 gallon bucket. Each bucket will hold about 40 to 50 rods and keep them all vertical without leaning on walls which over time can cause a rod to develop a permanent bend.

I've been storing my rods like this for decades with no problems at all. Cheap, easy to do, and best of all keeps rods in perfect condition. I occasionally re-bunch the rods and turn them a little bit if they lean over any and pull the bunch of rods back to straight up and down.

It's be nice to have racks to hold all the rods vertical individually, but then my place would look like the Mud Hole show floor. And I don't have the room for all that. So a 5 gallon bucket does the trick in far less floor space. I tuck a bucket in a corner here and there. Behind home theater speakers. Anywhere out of the way... recently added another bucket for the boys' rods so they stay out of mine.