Workshop Storage Organizer From Old Canisters

Easy way to recycle/up-cycle your (and maybe your friends) empty jerrycans. I’ve been using jerrycans for storing stuff for some time now, but recently I’ve made some tiny improvements and I’m quite happy with the results.

The result looks neat, stuff is protected from the dust, organized, it's easy to build, cheap, robust and helps the planet a little by re-purposing old canisters.

Supplies

• Empty plastic jerrycans (5L is really good size)

Windscreen cleaning fluid, coolant, distilled water, etc. are easy to clean, so preferred choice.

Step 1: Tools

Exacto knife will be our main tool

Optional: Masking tape, sharpie.

Step 2: Cleanup

Remove stickers asap if possible and clean look is desired. As the years pass the sticker will be harder to remove. If needed clean canisters from inside and out.

Step 3: Side Cuts

Lets make a cuts using our exacto knife in the middle of those sides, so both, the canister and its lid will stay rigid. Do not cross the reinforcement ridges i marked with red lines.

Step 4: Top Cut

Next lets cut top part of the opening lid, i like to cut just before the ridge to keep the containers rigidity. Optionally you can cut a small pull hole for easier opening, i prefer not to.

Step 5: Finishing Touches

Bend the lid to 180 degrees, fully opened position, couple of times so it could open/close smoother. Masking tape is good and cheap way of making labels for organizers. You can always peel them easily of when reorganizing.

Step 6: Complete

Of course the units are not meant for everyday usage but more for organized storage. In my case I made special shelf from scrap wood specially for those canisters. They are stackable, but in my practice it's better to stack 2..3 on top of each other, no more. I have 2 shelves in my garade workshop that uses old canisters.