Magnetic Spice Rack

I love to cook and, as such, I have a huge collection of spices.  About a year ago I got tired of having to dig through my pile of spice jars to find the one I was looking for, so I decided to change it up.  Pulling some inspiration from Alton Brown and some commercial products that I'd seen I settled on a magnetic spice rack.  In looking around it would seem that I'm not the only one that came to this solution.  In fact, there's even another Instructable on the same topic.

Step 1 Equipment and Supplies

To do this project you're going to need some supplies and equipment.

4 oz Round Clear Top Tins [Pic 1]
1/4" x 1/16" Neodymium Magnets (3 per tin) [Pic 2]
Paper Work Surface
JB Weld (or Other Epoxy)
Toothpicks
Paper for Mixing Epoxy
100 Grit Sandpaper (or Similar)
Damp Paper Towel
Label Maker
Pocket Knife Tweezers [Pic 4]

Comments

[guaps]

I built this and have been using these for about a year now. I love them, and have had a lot of compliments about them. I have a couple comments from what I learned, and a question about a problem I'm having.

I used super glue and decided to use two magnets. Sometimes I just have to learn the hard way. For the really heavy spices (think salt), two magnets was not enough. They would slide down the fridge. Also, after a few months, the superglue started to fail and the magnets started to come off the tins. I used JB Weld now and they are rock solid.

The really fine, ground spices (cinnamon for example) are giving me major problems. The fine dust gets between the lid and the rim of the tin and this makes it almost impossible to get the lid off. I definitely can't pull the lid off, and usually I can't twist it off either. I now have a pair of channel locks (pliers) in my kitchen that I use to get the lids off the ground spices. Anyone else having this problem? How do you keep the lids from binding?

[ShadowedOne]

I had the same problem with cinnamon specifically. I never did find a good solution to that problem.

Anyone else have a tip?

[helllordkb]

Yes 2 part epoxy dries quickly. It can take 1 to several days to cure however depending on the 2-part epoxy your using. For best results i would say do all the tins at once for each step, with the exception of applying the epoxy/magnet. For best results you should apply the epoxy and magnet to each tin, one time at a time. Don't apply the epoxy to all of them and then add the magnet, it won't work as well.

I would also use twist locking tins if you can get them. I love the instructable but the first time i did something like this, the problems came from the tops of the tins being loosely attached and not screw tops.

[shootfilm]

So there's no need to scuff the magnets with the sandpaper, like I did the tins?

[helllordkb]

By scuffing the tin your removing, often non-magnetic surface point/finish added to the tin. You are making small microscopic cuts into the tin which increases the surface area . The more surface area for the adhesive material, the better it sticks. That being said this JB Weld Steel and hardener is a 2 part epoxy adhesive. There are many different kinds of 2 part epoxy you can buy but when it comes down to it, 2 part epoxy makes an incredibly strong bond no matter what.

[ShadowedOne]

Scuffing the magnets definitely won't hurt. I've had to reattach a couple of mine. So, if you have the time and patience I'd say scuff away.

-R

[MeredithP]

I just loved this idea and completed a large batch of tins a few months ago. I hadn't had the opportunity to go back and check the tins (just filled them and put them on the fridge). Now I realize that the magnets are sticking to the fridge, and not to the tin. I think two things are in play here: 1) I didn't use enough JB Weld. I really took that sesame seed size to heart and 2) I should have come back and moved the tins more in the last few months before the magnets "adhered" to the fridge stronger than the tins. Working up the energy to re-epoxy almost every one again. Still love the idea and the way they look, though. Your thoughts? Next time: use more epoxy, leave them off the fridge for months? Or move them regularly?

Thanks for the wonderful idea!

[ShadowedOne]

One option might be to rough up the magnets a bit before applying the JB Weld. I started to notice this issue with my tins as well, but retired them when I moved to a new house shortly after.

[garnishrecipes]

This is great.! The website has a couple sizes, and they're much less expensive than varieties I've found in stores. I'm really excited to get all my spices out of plastic baggies.

For housekeeping's sake, the link leads you to the wrong section on Specialty Bottle.

[Punkguyta]

 I swear to god I've seen my teacher buy those exact metal tins with clear plastic lids in the center, but they CAME with magnets already attached. Interesting..

[primrozie]

Ikea sells 3 for $5.00. Then you buy the metal bar for about $8.00. I bought a few to see if it was worth using them for beads. Storage and finding what I'm looking for quickly is a problem.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80102919/

I love the spice idea!

[wyrdmaege]

what about covering the cinnamon tin with a bit of cling wrap before putting on the lid? I suppose depending on how much you use cinnamon, you could tape it down nicely below the lid lip, punch some holes, and use it like a sifter.

[kyle.marsh]

My fiancee and I just built this, too! We tried using cyanoacrylate at first, but it was too brittle and the magnets would stick to the fridge better than the tins, so we switched to a putty epoxy I had on hand that's working fine. Thanks for the great 'ible!

[ca180]

Too bad in my house here in Germany our refrigerator is enclosed in a cabinet.

Great DIY! Thanks!

[scullum]

Has anyone had a problem with the lids on the tins? I can't tell if these ones from specialty bottle are slip cover or screw tops and I'm just imagining the lid accidentally coming off as someone tries to put the tin off the rack... anyone?

I'm adopting this idea for my business by the way; I sell fine loose leaf tea and this is the concept I'm using for my display of samples.

[ShadowedOne]

The tins I used have slip on covers, but the fit is quite tight. Even when I had them fall off the fridge (with the low strength mag tape) they wouldn't pop open.

-R

[scullum]

Cool thanks, just ordered them :)

[sbot1]

Do the 3 magnets hold up well?
Would a fourth in the center help with heavier items?

[ShadowedOne]

3 magnets held up awesome! I didn't have any problems even with heavy items like a full tin of rock salt.

-R

[ransufodo]

Question - did you really say the containers themselves attract the magnets? If so, what are your thoughts on skipping the magnets, and instead mounting a sheet of magnetized vinyl (like they use for car signage) to the inside of my cabinet door?

[BlackFang171]

I'm fairly certain magnetized vinyl would be too weak. Assuming they hold at all, if your cabinet door closes with too much force (wouldn't take much) the tins are going to fall off into the cabinet.

[ShadowedOne]

That really is a great idea.  Given the full surface area of the back of the tin you could probably get enough pull strength to keep them up.  The only sticking point I see (pun intended) is that the bottoms of the tins I have aren't perfectly flat.  There is a slight concave on some of them.  This is part of the problem I ran in to with the magnet tape that I tried first.

Certainly worth experimenting with.  Thanks for the idea!

[ransufodo]

I found this site that sells differing thicknesses of flexible sheet magnet.  It also lists the pull in lbs/sq feet.  For the thinnest it's 40 lbs/sq foot.  Although I don't think I need 20 sq feet (the smallest quantity I could find on their site), it's heartening that it was so easy.

I also recall that Tap Plastics used to carry the sheet magnets.

[kirnex]

 THAT is actually an excellent idea.  I made this several years ago with some square tins, and the problem I find is that even with epoxy and roughing up the back of the tins with a dremel, the magnets eventually come off, and can leave you with a mess if the tin opens.  You'd need something possibly heavier than the magnetized vinyl, though--although I suppose there are various grades and thicknesses of the stuff.

The other issue I've had is that in a humid climate (or if you place this over a stove), the plastic "windows" on the tins can allow condensation to occur and can ruin your spices. 

[tekjock]

My spice rack is done. I did not put it on the fridge, I got a piece of galvanized steel and put that on the wall. I painted the steel black to match my appliances. 24 are done and I got about 20 more to do.

Here is the parts I used -

Window Round Tin Cans 4oz tins (6513240P)

Neodymium Magnets 1/4" x 1/16" 

Thanks to ShadowedOne for this Instructable.

[ShadowedOne]

Nice work! The black background really looks great.

-R

[tekjock]

Thanks man ... I saw your Instructable last year and I could not wait to do it. Now I'm a home owner and now I can do these things.

thanks

[shootfilm]

What a great instructable this is; I've got an entire shelf of my pantry overrun with spices, and this is going to let me clear them all right out. I've ordered the parts and will try this on my own this weekend. Thanks for posting!

[blopez]

Thank you for the idea. I hung two cookie sheets inside my cupboard doors to protect the spices from heat and light. Everything else was your idea. So far I have 30 cans - might need more.

[blopez]

love the instructable. Just sent for the tins, the magnets have already arrived.
However, with the clear tops on the cans, I'd suggest storing them on a metal sheet inside the cupboard doors because light is also hard on spices.

[metrometro]

There are many like it, but this one is the best. Your link to the bottle supplier is a winner -- other people are linking to watchmaker bins that are not sold as food grade, which creeps me out. Mmmm, toxic spice.

[Spice rack]

I really like how you organize things on the picture with the spice rack. It's clean, accessible and well organized. great post!

[Spice rack]

I really like how you organize things on the picture with the spice rack. It's clean, accessible and well organized. great post!

[alwhorley]

I think DIY TV just bit your instructable.  If they had credited you I would have been happier. Of course if it is good, expect imitators, it is a compliment.

[ShadowedOne]

Wow, crazy.  Thanks for the heads up. :)

-R

[CrimsonCrow]

Odd, the links work fine for me. Odd.

Thanks for the swift reply, though. I have already ordered and will let you know how the project goes!

[CrimsonCrow]

I love this idea! I have a lot of spices (I like Indian food!). Here's a question: why not use a slightly larger magnet and only have to epoxy one per tin?

I was thinking of using these: www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp

or these: www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp

What do you think? Using an odd number (1) would still allow one to "tip the tins" making them easy to pull off.

[ShadowedOne]

Thanks for the comment Crimson.  I think you could easily use one larger magnet for this project.  You'll sacrifice some of the stability of the three contact points but if your magnet is strong enough it shouldn't be a problem.  The links you've provided above don't work properly, so I can't comment on the specific choices, though.

[gizmogrl]

good ol' Alton brown.  Love him.  Ive always wanted to do it but I can't find those jars at a good price.  Very nice idea with the magnets though... I live in an apartment so drilling into things i out.  Thanks so much for the great idea.  And to the comments about the labels....what ever happened to just taking it off and looking at the label if your not sure...geez lazies!

[metalgrannie]

Wow.  That's a lot of spices.  Looks great.  "Cept my fridge is stainless steel and it won't hold magnets!  Where do you get the tins????  Thanks.