Apothecary-labeled test tube spice rack

This instructable is based on noahw's Test Tube Spice Rack, and I used his links to find my test tubes, corks, and o-rings.  However, this instructable contains the addition of labels and the rack is constructed differently.

For this instructable, you will need:

For the rack
~a power drill
~1/8 and 3/8 inch drillbits
~8 or 10 foot strips of molding, cut into 18-inch sections.  (got mine from Home Depot, where they cut the pieces for me.)
~duct tape
~two machine screws and six nuts per rack, for a total of eight screws and 24 nuts.  Note that these will be visible, so get something that is at least a little visually pleasing.  I used brass #6, 2-inch machine screws and the nuts that fit them.
~Spices, of course!
~test tubes (25mmx150mm)
~o-rings
~corks
~a funnel for pouring spices into the tubes

for the labels:
~wallpaper glue
~paintbrush
~plain white printer paper to print your labels on.  This is my first instructable, but I will find a way to share my labels in case anyone wants to use them.

Ready?  Let's go!

Step 1: Drill holes in your molding

First things first.  You have your molding, and you've cut it into strips of 18 inches or however wide you want your rack to be.  Next thing you have to do is attach your molding pieces to each other and to the work surface.  I used duct tape, but you classy people would probably want to use clamps, as long as you don't damage the molding.  Use the tape to make sure the pieces are flush with each other so that when you make your hole through both pieces, it lines up how you want it to.

Finally, measure where you want the hole to be and go for it!  I believe I did 3/8" from the top and 1/2" from the side for both holes.  Make sure to go into your "front" piece and out of your "back" piece to get a prettier front.  Drill down until the bit makes it through both pieces of molding and into the piece of scrap wood you used to protect your work surface ;)

Once you've drilled holes into each side of the rack, you have to un-tape the pieces and set the top piece aside.  depending on the length of the screws you bought and the width of the pieces of molding you got, you may need to inset the screws you just made holes for.  To do this, figure out how much you need to inset them by, and put a piece of tape on your 3/8" drillbit to mark how far up the bit that distance is.

Flip over your back piece of molding so that you are looking at the part that will be facing the wall.  Your two drill holes will be easily visible.  Trade up drillbits to the 3/8" bit and center it right over the already-drilled hole.  Drill down until the measuring-tape you put on the bit is flush with your piece of molding.

Once you have nice clean holes, you're ready to assemble the rack!

Comments

[TIvetun]

And a great idea for liquids(olive oil, oil) would be tapered beakers and for the dry goods(flour, sugar, coffee) would be large different size beakers with cork lids. Turn the kitchen into a lab! Love your labels too!

[SwampDragons]

I love that idea. I have an acquaintance who actually used a chemistry setup for his bar. I had considered using hanging titration bulbs--no idea what they are actually named--for dispensing oils, but they're expensive!

[PapaGeek]

How do you like the size of the test tubes (25mmx150mm)?
Do you wish you got bigger/smaller ones, or are they just the right size for spices?

[SwampDragons]

I think that visually, they look perfect. My one complaint is that I can't fit my measuring spoons inside the mouths, so I have to do a lot of gentle tapping to get the spices out. It's fine for things I don't bother to measure like garlic salt, but I recently had a debacle with cayenne pepper, which made for over-exciting chili.

If I were to do it over I might try to go a little wider.

[Iridium7]

I was wondering if you could share how you made the design for the labels. I would like to make labels like yours but I can't see the details of them.

[SwampDragons]

Sorry, I didn't realize the pics I had uploaded weren't at a hundred percent res. I'll try to put up some new ones when I get home. In the meantime, there isn't much to say. Go to "1001 free fonts" to find some cool old-timey fonts you like. I've had good luck with the western section. Download those and install them on your computer. I used photoshop to make my pictures -- create a new canvas, 2in by 2 in at 300pixels per inch, and google around for pictures and descriptions of the spices. For finding images, I had good luck with " engraving" or " botanical drawing". Once you find them, copy and paste. To make the basic shape, I just used the line tool to create a double border around the edges (duplicating and merging layers is your friend) and googled around for images of borders, etc. Can't remember the search terms I used. There was very little actual "art" that I did. It was just finding stuff already available and using that.

Hope this helps.

[Iridium7]

Thank you very much! I'm gonna find some kind of texture for he background. Maybe canvas? I dunno. I think I'm going to do it in Illustrator though just because I like things be nice a sharp ^_^ thank you!

[SwampDragons]

Great idea -- there are a ton of great pieces of vector art for borders and things that you can find online. Just remember these labels are gonna be *small* so make sure any background you have is not distracting.

Share a pic when you're done?

[Iridium7]

but yes I will post pictures

[Iridium7]

This isn't actually for a spice rack perse, I am planning on making an Alchemy shelf and I am thinking about using this for bottles to mark which elixir is which.

[porcupinemamma]

Fabulous

[Gwencallon]

Nice job! Love the labels!

[nanosec12]

Nicely done !!

[Penolopy Bulnick]

Cute idea! Love the labels!

[SwampDragons]

Thanks! Once I created the layout, it was pretty easy to go through and change it to suit each spice. The hardest part was finding old drawings for each one.