Spray Can Storage

[semenza]

I finally got rid of an awkward shelf and a tote full of spray cans. I have seen plenty of pictures of racks and such for them but I decided to make use of a deep tool chest drawer.

3" PVC pipe cut 5" lengths. A narrow strip to fill at the back and then some filler pieces that provide spots for can guns or accessories on one end.  The pipes are all just fit in tight and pressed together by the fillers. that way it is easy to change down the road. Originally I was going to glue them to a piece of PVC sheet placed in the drawer bottom. But discovered there was no need.

2 3/4" ID would have been perfect and even better if thin walled. That would allow quite a few more cans in the same space. But I  couldn't find anything that was remotely cost effective.

Of course a lot more cans could be put in the drawer without the pipes but then I would be back to the jumble in the storage tote. Tipping over, piling, and the little rims catching on each other when pulling cans to find one. The tubes make finding and selecting easy.

        What is everyone else using to store them?

        [attachimg=1]            [attachimg=2]            [attachimg=3]              [attachimg=4]

Seth

 

[yetihunter]

Your organization game is as strong as always. 

 

[mike_aa]

Nicely done!  Your organization posts always provide some great inspiration. [thumbs up] 

My spray can organization is pretty lame.  I just keep them in milk crates and stack them 5 or 6 crates high - nowhere near as elegant as your solution.  Someday I'll fabricate a dolly so I can more easily move the stacks.

Mike A.

 

[Bob D.]

You could use McMaster p/n 9245K59 which has a 2.75" ID and 3" OD, but it's ~$10.50 a foot so a bit pricey for this application.

I found a listing on Amazon for 2.75" ID clear polycarbonate tubing but again it's expensive at ~$43 for 3 feet.

What about some cardboard shipping tubes? You can get 6 pieces of 3" OD x 6 inches long for ~$13.50.

You probably had the 3" PVC laying as scrap or left over from some job so it costs nothing more or less. So tough to compete with free if that's the case. ULine offers all sorts of cardboard shipping tubes in various lengths and diameters.

 

[GoingMyWay]

Have you thought about labeling the top of each can for quick identification or is the color the of top sufficient?  I wasn't sure if you have duplicate cans or if a lot of them are different.

I could see myself picking up many cans searching for the exact one I was looking for.

 

[ChuckM]

Not my own original idea, but I use overdoor shoe organizers from dollar stores to keep spray paint cans, glue bottles, oil finishes, and anything in that kind of shape and size.

Like you, I have one of those trigger handles too:https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/home/home-care/painting/64638-spray-can-trigger-handle

 

[semenza]

You could use McMaster p/n 9245K59 which has a 2.75" ID and 3" OD, but it's ~$10.50 a foot so a bit pricey for this application.

I found a listing on Amazon for 2.75" ID clear polycarbonate tubing but again it's expensive at ~$43 for 3 feet.

What about some cardboard shipping tubes? You can get 6 pieces of 3" OD x 6 inches long for ~$13.50.

You probably had the 3" PVC laying as scrap or left over from some job so it costs nothing more or less. So tough to compete with free if that's the case. ULine offers all sorts of cardboard shipping tubes in various lengths and diameters.

Yeah, found all of those in my search.  I used almost 20' of pipe.  Which I did need to buy, but at a total of $30.00 for the pipe the other options don't come close.  The closest is the cardboard but it is still more and I wasn't sure how it would hold up or glue (which I thought I might need to do).

  I used a Milwaukee 48 22 4252 pipe cutter ( get the PVC wheel) . This is a really nice cutter and made clean cuts easily.

Seth

 

[semenza]

Have you thought about labeling the top of each can for quick identification or is the color the of top sufficient?  I wasn't sure if you have duplicate cans or if a lot of them are different.

I could see myself picking up many cans searching for the exact one I was looking for.

I might label some but I generally have a pretty good idea of what's there. Most of the black and white tops are all black or  white paint (yes , duplicates).  After doing it once I could have made the tubes 3 1/2" - 4"  instead of 5". That would still hold them well, get more out of a length of pipe and show the can labels a bit.

Seth

 

[Michael Kellough]

Just because the cans are round doesn’t mean you have to put them into round holes.

A grid would work just as well.

Make one with with 1/8” thick tempered hardboard. Use half slot joints spaced to maximize the number of cans. Use strips from the perimeter of the sheet as the edges are naturally rounded and harder than a freshly cut edge so they’ll better survive getting bashed by steel cans.

 

[savsuds]

Have you tried clear shipping tubes? I think that is how I scored some pretty cheaply.

 

[semenza]

Just because the cans are round doesn’t mean you have to put them into round holes.

A grid would work just as well.

Make one with with 1/8” thick tempered hardboard. Use half slot joints spaced to maximize the number of cans. Use strips from the perimeter of the sheet as the edges are naturally rounded and harder than a freshly cut edge so they’ll better survive getting bashed by steel cans.

Oh,no, no, no ..............................  must be round, must be round.  [eek]    [big grin] 

  If I need to get more in that sounds like a good option. 

Have you tried clear shipping tubes? I think that is how I scored some pretty cheaply.

  Yes, I found them online for about $1.25 (give or take) for 3" dia. x  6" . Which is more than PVC pipe (not a lot). But I thought they looked a bit flimsy and figured for about the same spacing and less money the PVC pipe was a better option.

Seth

 

[six-point socket II]

That looks great, Seth! Exceptionally great idea!

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[DeformedTree]

Just because the cans are round doesn’t mean you have to put them into round holes.

No, square might cause the cans to get out of round and all square shaped.  No good. 

 

[Michael Kellough]

Just because the cans are round doesn’t mean you have to put them into round holes.

No, square might cause the cans to get out of round and all square shaped.  No good. 

[member=68063]DeformedTree[/member]  I guess you should know  [poke]  [wink]