Apr. 6, 2009 - Rotating can rack
Seth and I spent Conference weekend building a rotating can rack for our food storage. If you've looked at the shelf reliance kind, you know how expensive they are! Plus, who doesn't prefer wood over plastic?
Anywho, we've been thinking of building one of these for a long time. Last week I found plans online for this do it yourself rotating can rack made of cardboard:
Check it out
I decided to make this. It took quite a long time, but it worked like a charm. I would never have thought you could make something that sturdy out of cardboard and wood glue, but when we disassembled it while coming up with our own plan this weekend, we discovered that it was quite strong and tough to pull apart to our surprise.
Well, there were a few things we didn't like. Yes, it was virtually free, yes, it rotated cans and held about 12 - but it was ugly. I could have painted it, but by then it's not virtually free anymore. It was rear loading, which when you leave enough room for your arm to do the loading, seems a terrible waste of space. It took forever to cut the cardboard!!! And who wants to wait for glue to dry anyway?
So here is a picture of what we came up with:
Our version holds twenty of the vegetable sized cans in each section, so 120 cans. It is front loading and unloading. We plan on building another one with slightly smaller measurements for soup cans. The smaller campbell soup sized cans tend to turn sideways and get caught up in this one, but it will hold 24 of them in each section when we complete it. We plan on making that one, and another one like this, but with 9 compartments so that it will take the entire length of the shelf.
If anyone is interested in measurements, leave a message and I'll work on it. If not, then I don't want to bother with making up plans.
Here is another pic of the unit in progress.
As you can see, we used cleats to hold the shelves in which gave us something to attach brads to as we went along. It was pretty slick and cost $25 for the plywood and the brads. You could easily do this with something less expensive, like OSB, but we wanted a nicer finish so we spent a little more.
Comments
Apr. 12, 2009 - I love your rotating food storage shelf!
Posted by Kelly West
It looks great! If you have the instructions, would you mind emailing them to me at kellywest@tampabay.rr.com?
Thank you!
May. 1, 2009 - It's a work of art
Posted by Anonymous
Your can rack is amazing. I like the size and design. Looks like you solved the problems of the other design. My only concern is weight. Even empty it must weigh quite a bit, so loaded with cans it might overwhelm my resin shelf. I wonder if there is a lighter-weight material that would still be as durable.
If I had the tools, I'd lay all the verticals down and rout channels into which I'd slide one long piece of masonite or something to be the shelf for all six channels. Might be faster to assemble. Still the weight issue, though.
Thanks!
Jul. 1, 2009 - Love it!
Posted by Anonymous
Could you email me the measurements also? I wish my husband were that handy, lucky you!
Thanks
Jamie
jcnixonku@gmail.com
Jul. 3, 2009 - CAN STORAGE
Posted by Anonymous
I would love the plans for this. Better yet if someone sold this in a kit for people with little less skills.
Jul. 11, 2009 - can rack
Posted by Kristen
I'd love the measurements for this too. Our food storage is starting to overwhelm our space and this would help. I've looked at shelfreliance and they want a ton of money!
Aug. 18, 2009 - Oh would love the info
Posted by Marcia
I would love the outline and stuff for this one.. my husband actually made a much bigger one (if you are interested.. when you email me let me know) but this smaller one would be nice.
Thanks
Marcia
oh the email- mmtarver@windstream.net
Sep. 30, 2009 - Plans please
Posted by Anonymous
I would like a copy of your plans please. jwurbane@gmail.com Thank you!
Nov. 24, 2009 - Instructions
Posted by Anonymous
I have been looking all over for some decent plans, your's look great. Could you please send me a copy, Thanks
raik_@yahoo.com
Dec. 3, 2009 - Re:Can Shelf
Posted by Anonymous
I love it!!
Can you send instructions to my email at rickgwilliams@gmail.com
