So I need a more efficient way to store loose fluorescent 4 foot tubes. Currently they are all leaned up in a corner in the basement. I'd like some sort of durable plastic container/tote that could hold a decent amount of them. But I've not seen any out and about.

Any recommendations? I really don't want to use cardboard if possible.

This is how it's done:


I built this with some 2x4s and some shelving material I found lying around. You need to be careful with you're measurements, and make sure to find studs in the wall to put the braces into. I cut the 2x4s with a miter saw and used a plainer to smooth them down. I actually built this for holding old televisions, but later I found out that it was perfect for holding fluorescent tubes!

Another way is to store them horizontally, stacked on top of each other.

That's my solution, at least. It sounds like you want something more portable, though.

Yeah unfortunatly where I live drilling holes in the wall is a no no. As much as I would like to display my tubes it will have to wait. So I need a more... Container like method preferably clear and heavy duty.


I do like your shelf tho.

If you just need something to hold them vertically and you have a ton of lamps, I'd look for a 55 gal drum or something similar. The plastic ones shouldn't be too heavy. The lamps will stick out the top but unless you wanted to stack the containers, this shouldn't be a problem. Here's how it would look like with lamps in them.

I personally just use the cardboard cases they come in but you wanted to avoid cardboard.

Most of the lamps I have are loose and their cardboard cases disintegrated, burned, rotted apart long before I was even born.

Any cases of lamps I do have I keep together but I have a growing problem of loose tubes just free roaming in the basement corner and it looks really bad.

I do like the drum idea but I would like some form of horizontal storage. I know long totes/crates exist, but I was hoping someone here has a preference or discovered the best crate for the task.