Spray Can, etc, Rack

A simple rack that recycles some otherwise wasted items into a useful rack for holding all those spray paint cans and other similarly shaped containers in a readilly accesible, easy to see manner.

I don't know about you, but I never have enough space. I have shelves, but I always have bits and bobs that I wish to put on them other than spray cans. When spray cans are stored on shelves it always seems that the one you want is in the very back. This rack puts them all out where you know what you have and you can simply reach out and get the one you want.

Step 1: Getting the tools you will need

The minimum tools you will need for this instructable are;
a pair of pliers that have wire cutters built in,
a screw driver with the sort of tip as the screws that you choose to use,
a saw.
I prefer the locking needle nose type pliers with the wire cutter at the base of the jaws when bending and cutting wire, but regular pliers will work fine.
For the saw, a cross cut saw will probably be the best unless you have access to a power saw.
For the screw driver, choose one that has a good tip that securely fits the screw type that you have chosen. Phillips or cross head screws that do not require pre-drilling will probably work best for this instructable.

A ruler with decent divisions (not shown)
A pencil or other marking device (not shown)

Comments

[mothflavour2]

Any tips if you live in an earthquake-prone area?

[hernanai]

I know it's been over 4 years and hopefully you've solved your problem, but paint cans are magnetic. Neodymium magnets work wonders.

[fuzvulf]

Thanks for the positive comments above. And for earthquake prone areas I think that you would probably want to mount it upright on the wall using earthquake rated hardware. It would definately be more secure than putting them on shelves. I think that maybe you would also want to make the board that keeps them from slipping out the back a little bigger. Fuzzy

[Murdok]

I used this for my graffiti tools. I keep a can of paint, and a small round container (paintball holder) with my marker and tips in it in this rack. I have it screwed into the top of my closet so it's fairly hidden. Great instructable!

[Mr. Deeds]

I can see this being used as overhead storage for those cold ones when a man simply has no space for his beer/beers. Also can apply to energy drinks for those of us, myself included, who are not yet of legal drinking age. Rockstar and Monster Ftw!

[Shifrin]

I've always needed away to store my spraypaint cans, using a box just did not cut it! Great Instructable! ~Shifrin

[lemonie]

works for beer-bottles too?

[caledonian]

..take one down, pass it around... More seriously, the rack in general isn't a bad idea if you have the space. I have to cram all this stuff in the apartment pantry to get it out of the way.

[fuzvulf]

Beer? Sure why not? I think that you'ld probably want to mount it above an air conditioner vent to keep them at least something like chilled. As to the space thing. That is why I came up with the idea. All of "my" stuff is restricted to the shop by the wifer. It gets crowded in there. So to clear out working space so I could have room to try out some of the other cool instructables that I see on here I decided to do my own. thanks again for the positive comments. Fuzzy

[fuzvulf]

Just thought of something. You could make the loops and attach these to the bottom of existing shelves in a pantry, making use of vertical space. Fill the holes with wood putty when you move out and the landlord would be none the wiser. Also a further note on the beer, you could make the hangers and instead of bending the loops on the end for the screws at 90 degrees just leave them straight and put the bend in the straight portion. then just hang them from the bottom of the fridge wire shelves, again making use of vertical space. you would probably need to take another piece of wire and do a wrap around the first hanger go straight back to the second hanger go back about an inch make a 90 degree bend toward the other side of the hanger loop, where the wire is even with the loop make another 90 degree bend back towards the front and a wrap around the back hanger and then if you still had enough wire go onto the front hangar again. This would keep the hanger stable, keep the beer from falling out the back and would provide air flow all around the bottle which would allow for more efficient cooling. You would have a nice in fridge beer hangar and still have room on the shelf for the lunch meat and left overs. Fuzzy

[Stercus Fit]

That looks awesome. Do you think there's a way that it can be adapted for items that are not all the same size?

[fuzvulf]

If there not too far different then just using a bigger board to keep them from sliding out the back should suffice. If they are a lot different, then I would say group them according to similar sizes and make hanger loops of several different sizes. Also, you could use cheap recycled containers that are the same size that your items that you want to store would fit inside of and label them. Something like pringles cans or plastic peanut butter containers. That way you wouldn't need to have different size hanger loops. Fuzzy

[Sgt.Waffles]

Thats a really good idea! I have loads of half empty spray paint cans rolling around in the garage, and i needed a way to organize them. I think ill work on this this weekend. Good job, keep up the good work!