Core racks are the second half of a core storage system — the boxes protect the core, the racks organize it. A good rack keeps filled core boxes off the ground, sorted by hole and depth interval, and retrievable years after the drilling program ends. We build core racks in Cranberry Portage, Manitoba from brown-treated 4×4" and 2×4" lumber, with ten organization slots formed from metal conduit nailed through the posts so the slots can't spin under load. A complete rack is three units, which keeps it stable under the weight of filled boxes. Racks ship across Canada alongside our core boxes, so a core library can be ordered as one system.
Why core racks matter as much as core boxes
A drilling program produces core faster than most teams expect to store it. A few thousand metres of drilling becomes hundreds of filled boxes, and what happens next determines whether that core is an asset or a liability. Boxes stacked directly on the ground wick moisture from below. Boxes stacked too high become unsafe to pull from, and the box you need is always at the bottom of the pile.
Racks solve both problems. Filled boxes sit in slots, off the ground, sorted by hole and depth interval. A geologist looking for a specific interval two field seasons later walks to the right rack and pulls the right box — no unstacking, no guessing, no damaged lids from repeated re-piling.
How we build them
Our racks are built for the same conditions as our boxes: outdoor storage in the Canadian Shield, loaded heavy, handled with gloves on.
- Brown-treated lumber. The frame is 4×4″ posts with 2×4″ members, treated for weather and ground contact. Untreated framing rots at the ground line within a few seasons; treated framing is what lets a core library live outdoors.
- Ten conduit slots. The organization slots are formed from metal conduit, nailed through the 4×4″ so the conduit can't spin when a loaded box slides across it.
- Three units per complete rack. A complete rack is three units. Filled core boxes are heavy, and the three-unit footprint is what keeps the rack stable under full load instead of racking sideways.
Full details are on the core racks product page.
Racks and boxes as one system
Because Canadian suppliers build core boxes to the standard 63″ inside length, racks and boxes are interchangeable parts of one system — our racks hold standard boxes from any supplier, and our boxes sit in any standard rack. Most customers still order them together, for a practical reason: the core library arrives on one truck, sized to the program's planned metreage, instead of being improvised at site out of pallets and scrap dunnage.
If you're planning the storage side of a program, our guide to core sample storage and organization covers labeling, stacking, and record-keeping in more depth.
Racks, boxes, or both
We build core racks and core boxes in the same shop in Cranberry Portage, Manitoba and ship them across Canada, usually palletized together. Send your planned metreage, drill size, and delivery location through our contact page, or see box sizes, specs, and shipping details on the wooden core boxes Canada page.
Frequently asked questions
What is a core rack?
A core rack is a wooden frame that stores filled core boxes after geological logging. Instead of stacking boxes directly on the ground or on pallets, racks hold them in organized slots — sorted by drill hole and depth interval — so any box can be located and pulled without unstacking the ones above it. Racks also keep the bottom boxes off wet ground, which matters for wooden boxes stored outdoors.
What are your core racks made of?
Brown-treated 4×4" and 2×4" lumber, with ten organization slots formed from metal conduit. The conduit is nailed through the 4×4" posts so the slots can't spin under the weight of filled boxes. A complete rack is three units, which gives it the stability to carry heavy loads in field conditions.
Can core racks be stored outdoors year-round?
Yes — that's the normal use case in Canadian exploration. The lumber is brown-treated for ground and weather contact, and the three-unit construction keeps racks stable through freeze-thaw cycles. Most core libraries in the Canadian Shield live outdoors at the project site or a regional storage yard.
Do your racks work with core boxes from other suppliers?
Yes. Canadian exploration suppliers build to the industry-standard 63" inside box length, so standard-size boxes rack interchangeably regardless of who made them. If your program mixes box sources, the racks don't care.
Do you ship core racks across Canada?
Yes. Racks ship from Cranberry Portage, Manitoba by the same freight as our core boxes — direct trucking or common carrier, palletized. Most customers order racks and boxes together so the core library arrives as one system. Tell us your box count and location and we'll quote the full setup, usually same-day.
Need a quote on a real drilling program?
Tell us your meterage, your bit size, and your timeline. We'll come back with a real number — usually the same day.
Get a quote