Super Cheap Small Parts Storage

Step 2 Construction

Decide on your base size. Do this by laying out a set of containers and see how much area they take up. I used 12 inches by 18 inches. This is a size that gets a good number of containers on each level, but leaves each level a easy size to handle. Cut the cardboard. Plan the layout of the containers, perhaps even marking guide lines on the cardboard. I just eyeballed it. Put 4 dabs of construction adhesive on the bottom of the can and press in place. Construction adhesive is the stuff to use because it is a gooey stuff and fill in any gaps. It is also strong. Place the second can, there should be a dab of adhesive at the upper rim where the cans touch. This gives the whole construct a surprising strength, much more than gluing to the cardboard alone.

The units can be easily stacked to a surprising height. To aid in this you may want to add some guides to the bottom of each unit. What I did was to cut two disks of cardboard just a bit smaller than a can and glued these on the bottom of the unit. When stacked the disk goes in the can of the unit below and stops it from slipping sideways.