Food Storage Made Easy - Latest Comments in How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Elaine — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 17:09:03 -0000

did you ever get the multi can roller designed? I'd really like to make several

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Jim Carroll — Mon, 01 May 2017 23:19:03 -0000

If you go to a liquor store and look at a box that wine or liquor was shipped in, you'll see a perfect example of corrugated cardboard. If you Google "corrugated cardboard" you'll find a link to a Wikipedia article on corrugated fiberboard, another name for this cardboard. It's the same stuff the post office uses in its mailing shippers.

The stuff you'll want is about 1/16th of an inch thick and is the most common thickness. There is a heavier-duty type that is 3/16th of an inch thick. I would stay away from this as it's much more difficult to work with.

By "big box store", I mean K-Mart, Target, Walmart, or Best Buy. You can also check out your local grocery store (mine is open 24x7, so if I go there at like 2AM the aisles are full of cardboard boxes with items that are being stocked on the shelves.)

When I'm finished I'll send my write-ups and photos to Jodi and Julie for them to use as they see fit.

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Jodi and Julie — Mon, 01 May 2017 22:51:41 -0000

corrugated is just the kind that is thicker with like two layers of "paper" with little slats in between them. Most sturdy big boxes are corrugated. sorry it's hard to explain!

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Charisse Tryon Merrill — Mon, 01 May 2017 07:36:22 -0000

What is corrugated cardboard? What type of big box stores are great to find boxes at? And I would love your update on the calculations too!

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Charisse Tryon Merrill — Mon, 01 May 2017 07:34:03 -0000

This is great. I was just about to buy some of these, but now I don't need too!

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Jodi and Julie — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 10:31:43 -0000

Thanks for the follow up! That is great to know.

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Jim Carroll — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 22:08:46 -0000

Just reviewed these instructions after recommending this project to a friend. After 7 years of use I have to make a MAJOR correction.

If you scroll down to the comments from 7 years ago, you'll see where I made a number of posts describing how I made my racks. I had made many of these using chipboard -- the cardboard material used to make cereal boxes, tissue boxes, etc. By gluing multiple layers together and painting with latex paint afterward, I had can racks that worked, seemed sturdy, and looked nice.

Fast forward 7 years. By now the chipboard racks aren't working so well or looking so nice. The problem is that I went through a couple of summers where things got very humid in the apartment, even with a dehumidifier. After the humidity and much use, the racks were wilting. It was so bad that when I moved last month I just threw all the chipboard racks away. The racks I made out of corrugated cardboard, though, are standing strong. So I will be making some new ones out of corrugated cardboard ASAP.

I work at a big-box store, and I can tell you that there is plenty of cardboard for the taking there. You probably won't find much in the store dumpster as most places recycle their cardboard. BUT... if you can get there first thing in the morning after they open, you might find their cardboard cages are still out and available. If you ask nicely the people stocking the shelves should let you take the cardboard that you want out of the cages. We frequently get requests like that from people looking for boxes to use to move. (Also, if you're moving and need bubble wrap, check with the people unpacking the boxes. Glassware and other items frequently come in bubble wrap bags, and to them it's just plastic that needs to be recycled.)

Based on some other comments here, I'm going to do some calculations and see what it would take to make a multi-can rack (i.e., one that will store 3 or 4 cans across) out of one box. IOW, you wouldn't have to glue a box together; you'd only have to glue 3 or 4 central partitions in the box and the shelves, and the upper and lower fronts. You'd have the equivalent of 3 can racks for the same amount of time you used to make a single can rack. I'll try it soon and get back to you how well it works.

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Rebecca C — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 13:56:29 -0000

I just made a bunch of these, however now that I got everything that can roll on it's side taken care of, I still have a ton of items that need something else. Have you tried making anything that rotate hand canned item, maybe like where they get pushed around a U shape?

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

mom6 — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 13:36:48 -0000

love the ideas would like the measurements for the large storage cans that are 6.5 x 7

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Ellen — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 12:54:01 -0000

Thanks! I am.

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Daily Fiber — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 22:53:00 -0000

Put a couple of rubber bands around the jars (one closer to the top and one toward the bottom); they will act like bumpers.

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Deana Wade — Mon, 26 May 2014 11:03:48 -0000

would love to see photos

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Becky S — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 19:19:38 -0000

Instead of cutting up boxes willy nilly... I say the easiest way to do this project is find a box about the width and height you want. Cut off the top and front opening(s) keep the scraps for the ramps if possible. Measure your cans against the side of the box and draw where you want the ramps to go. Make sure both sides are identical. Cut slits into the box. Slide your ramps straight through the middle and fold extra length down on the outside of the box. If you were particularly flexible, you could staple it together. Less cutting will mean a sturdier box. Thanks for the inspiration!

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Dotte — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 04:15:17 -0000

You can cut the tops from your old socks that have holes in the toes and heels and ready to be tossed. The sock tops fit perfectly around the glass jars and protect them from banging together.

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

christine clament — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 20:52:15 -0000

I am going to start making these tonight. Instead of using paint, I plan to cover mine in contact paper when they are done, they will look nicer and I think it will make them even more sturdy.

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Heather — Tue, 28 May 2013 16:49:18 -0000

Please help. This is probably a dumb question, but I'm having trouble interpreting the instructions. On the "Bill of Materials & Dimensions" under fruit can and soup can in the row labeled sides it looks like there should be 2 different height sides and does the f & b mean front & back? Someone please explain. Thank you in advance.

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Jodi and Julie — Wed, 01 May 2013 23:33:57 -0000

So glad they are working for you :)

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

FoolishCop — Wed, 01 May 2013 23:31:31 -0000

Just made one of the soup can boxes. Very cool! My top shelf was a little angled but the middle and bottom are fine so the cans roll right on down now problem. One addition I made was to cut to finger holes just about the bottom face. They look like a quarter of a pizza pie. They allow me to better grab the can so I can easily pick it up from the bottom tray. My ham hands kept getting in the way, but now I'm ever so dainty picking the cans out between thumb and forefinger.

Thanks for the great idea. I've had so much corrugated cardboard laying around that I didn't want to throw away and now I have a use for it all.

Rich

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

cogrnma — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 09:53:43 -0000

I used a Planters peanut box, cut the sides down (looks like a magazine holder) on the sides. Store the same kind of soup.

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Deborah Jennings — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:06:25 -0000

Pantry Panel blog This blog is no longer available. =(

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

DARC3353 — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 14:36:59 -0000

I just turned my cardboard inside out so the writing is all on the inside, then the rack is just brown. PLUS, this gives you the same color all over if you decide you MUST paint it (all you OCD'ers like me ;-))

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Lori — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:28:58 -0000

Maybe put a rubber band or two around the jars?

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Staci — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 23:02:59 -0000

I used my rotary cutter for fabric and it was PERFECT!!! Also, used hot glue for instant hold...we'll see how it holds up over time!

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Tim — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 06:51:43 -0000

Great storage rack, but don't forget to write the date on your cans when you purchased them. Like june/2012, this way you know how old the food is when you eat it.

Re: How To Build Your Own Can Rotating Rack

Jodi and Julie — Tue, 22 May 2012 01:05:42 -0000

I think they are having technical difficulties, we'll see what we can find out. Thanks!