Milk Crates

[Buford T. Justice]

I did a search but found nothing. I have been given a bunch of these milk crates. I was thinking of designing a sort of bench or frame with rails that could support these as sort of a storage area for different things such as work gloves, shop towels, spray lubricants or whatever else. Has anyone done anything like this? Looking for any ideas/input.

 

[cowboy73]

My cousin took a couple of milk crates and bolted them together on one side. He then flipped them upside down and bolted a piece of 1/2" plywood to them and used it for a shop seat.

 

[dirttracker18]

Great carry alls. A 20# propane tank fits nice for travel (ie going for a fill up). We keep them around for heavy stuff as they are almost unbreakable.

Don't waste them on gloves and such. Use it for storage of items that are heavy and may need to be moved around, a quick tool box for a run somewhere, parts storage, etc.

Not to mention they stack nice and sturdy.

 

[bullfrog123]

Strap one on the front rack of a 4-wheeler to hold tools and such when doing fence work, mechanic work in the far corner of your property, etc. Things are awesome!!!!

 

[jeffmoss26]

I use them for holding large catalogs and binders. Works really well.

 

[scottzilla]

I love milk crates.

 

[dirttracker18]

My chain saw and accessories are in a pop crate that is a little longer than that.

The blade (with guard on) sticks out through a vertical opening. Perfect to grab and run or strap to the quad.

 

[TWX]

Just be wary, some jurisdictions have fines of $1500 PER CRATE for misuse, as in, borrowed or stolen from the owner.

There's a manufacturing facility here that makes 'em, and they're CHEAP, like $7.00 each. I'm very tempted to go buy something like 30 of the six bottle units.

The six bottle unit holds a propane tank on its side well, it barely clears the handle on the top. The four bottle unit is what I store my extra propane tank in, upright. I put a little flowerpot upside down on the valve to keep the gauge from being baked to a crisp in the sun.

 

[TWX]

Oh, I forgot to add... A former roommate of mine who moved around a lot had everything he owned in milk crates. The bed pedestal was milk crates, the cubby he used for a dresser was milk crates. Essentially his guitar, his mattress, and the curtain rod he used for hanging shirts were the only things that didn't fit into milk crates.

He used nylon zip ties to assemble them when he moved in, setting whatever shape he needed.

 

[Jeffksf]

Being slightly vertically challenged (5'-4") a milk crate is in the top 3 things used in my garage, they make great step stools. I need to get a couple new ones. They are great for storing chains to.

 

[54FordPanel]

I love milk crates.

+1. Wouldn't want to do without 'em.

 

[bhclark]

Milk crates and produce crates were the mainstay of storage and transportation when I was setting up frequently at the flea market.
Those things will hold 100x their weight and stack securely in the trailer.

 

[DoyleDee]

I use them to store spray paint, coolant jugs, and paintcans in. I have about a dozen or so that I was given.

 

[slickgt1]

I love them. I just can't seem to get as many as I need for free. I use them for storage though. I put stuff in them, and then on my shelves.

 

[half_full]

I picked up some that were for storing the 5 gal. water bottles. They are taller and have supports to hold the water bottles. Stacked them on their side and use them for corney (pepsi) kegs for homebrew. Also use two of them with 2X2 and plywood between them screwed to the bottoms as a step stool for working on my truck.

 

[kbs2244]

Hands down the best storage container out there.
Just the right size and super strong.

I got about 25 when a local dairy sold out and the changed the name.
I wish I had gotten 100.

 

[5lima30]

I keep portable power tools in mine on a shelf under the workbench. I like them because they don't hold sawdust. To clean them I just set them outside and blow them off with the leafblower. YMMV.

 

[rieferman]

Great thread, I'd forgotten about the power of milk crates... just found some locally on craigs list and will hopefully be picking them up later. My plan is to make a few rows of cubbies for power tool storage - can't stand those molded cases.

 

[Steevo]

I have been known to buy something cheap at a yard sale, just to get the milk crate it is in.
I used to have a shelf in the garage (several homes ago) that I built to fit milk crate height and three crates across, so I had 15 of them in a shelving unit. They have handles, so they make good drawers. They drain well, so if you toss something in one that is wet, like a tow chain, it can dry out, unlike in a bucket.

Milk crates were the furniture and carrying container of choice when I was in college.
Those and cinderblocks, with a few 2x10's, and you were set!

Nowadays, I am into the flip-top totes like the stores use for merchandise (see pic below). I pick them up whenever they show up on C/L. I must have fifty of them now, in various colors and sizes.

 

[54FordPanel]

I got about 25 when a local dairy sold out and the changed the name.
I wish I had gotten 100.

That's how we all come upon them, isn't it....dairy closes down?
I'd return all mine if the dairy was still in business.....

My wife got some from Target, and they're just ****.

 

[Zeke]

Man, the stuff they get in the receiving door over at the GM dealer makes me drool. I have a few.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I like those tote boxes a lot! I got several from a cousin who works for a wholesale distribution company.

 

[ratdoggy]

They are how I moved from NY to Ohio. I'd bring empty ones to NY,wifey would fill them and I'd empty them in Ohio and do it all over again

 

[rogsmart]

I use a mix of milk crates and flip top totes in the garage. Just getting all of your miscellaneous **** into something and on a shelf makes a world of difference in terms of usability of space. Local H.D has really sturdy flip top totes for about
$9. I buy one every now and then when I'm getting materials for a project.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

Does anyone have a built-in frame or cabinet that stores like 12-15 of these (3-4)per row, etc? If so please post up some pics/plans.

 

[JCQuick]

I love me some milk crates back in the 70's when i raced motocross they made a nice stand for the bike. had anotherone that held oils and such. to this day i still use them.

 

[rwhite692]

Stolen Milk Crates! Watch out!

Someone will report you to AttackWatch dot com...

 

[Will67]

I love milk crates.

I love turtles!

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have one that holds a couople of chains. I have no idea where I came upon it at.


I wonder how many 9" Ford third members are filling milk crates at this moment ?

 

[jeffmoss26]

Is is stealing if they only got re-purposed within the same building? Some of the food service milk crates made it into the AV closets at Toledo...hmm

 

[Az Scooter]

I used to work for a Dairy. At one time I was assigned to go on recovery missions to get the milk crates back. I saw some REALLY unique uses for them in places that I otherwise would have never gone.
Sure is a good thing they are sanitized every time.

 

[shopnut]

I have about 20 of those old plastic cube style milk crates up in my loft with nothing in them. The wasted space is KILLING me because I'm a packrat. I just can't seem to toss them so keep the ideas coming - I need to find a good use for them!

 

[HOTFR8]

Just be wary, some jurisdictions have fines of $1500 PER CRATE for misuse, as in, borrowed or stolen from the owner.

A swap meet some time ago some one here was picked up by the Sherriffs office as he could not proove he owned them. I forget what the fine was but he used them to carry all his goods to the Swap meets.

I had damaged ones given to me and after I heard this ground the name off as I have no way to proove they had been given to me after being damaged.

 

[mdbeck1]

We use them in Boy Scouts to tie 20# propane tanks in. The square shape keeps the propane tanks from rolling around. Make sure you tie them in or use a strap. You will grab the handle on the propane tank and leave the crate behind.

We also put rolls of rope in them. Then when we are done we roll the rope up about the size of the crate and put them back in.

They stack nicely and don't take a large footprint.

Lay them on their side on top of a counter. Notebooks fit in them. Add a 2X12 or a damaged bifold door and you have a shelf.

Put an air hose (or extension cord) in it with one end sticking out (near the bottom). Roll the hose (cord) into the crate. You can grab the free end and walk away while the cord is unrolling.

I was cutting 1 quart oil cans to use for nut and bolt organizers. I needed to drain the quart cans. I put a milk crate on top of the oil change tub and placed the quart cans (without the lids) open side down in the milk crate. I left them until I had changed oil a few times (several months). When the crate was full I set a stop on my radial arm saw and pulled the oil cans out, cut to length, wiped out with a grease rag, and put them to work.

Place automotive maintenance liquid containers in the crates. Much easier to move onto shelves as a group.

Make bookcases with shelves higher than the sides of the crate(s). Use the crates as drawers to store LOTS of stuff. If you have smaller stuff, put it in cardboard boxes then put it in the crates.

Put your plumbing or electrical supplies in one while you are working in the attic (basement). It's easier to move the crate than individual tools.

As stated before... they make good seats for the garage while you are sanding the lower 1/2 of the car door. Also good for foot stools.

I've got a roll of bailing wire in one. Then grabbed the tag end of the wire and pulled up and through the side. I've got another one stacked on top of it. I can always get to the wire without having to unstack.

I don't like them much for chain. Lots of time it will fall through the bottom holes. I usually throw the chains in the oil dry bucket. That will absorb the liquids on it.

In short, I've used them for lots of stuff. I REALLY like the older, metal ones.


I've got to say that the idea I heard of using them for a closet with zip ties is good. I wish I had thought of that when I was in college.

 

[sikopal]

milk (crate) it does a body good

 

[Buford T. Justice]

Stolen Milk Crates! Watch out!

Someone will report you to AttackWatch dot com...

Not stolen. mine were given to me by a dairy delivery driver who owned them. the crates I got were cycled out due to company name change.

 

[ElectroLight]

I wonder how many 9" Ford third members are filling milk crates at this moment ?

I've got a few

 

[trainer]

West Marine sells them...only $19.99
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...01&storeId=11151&partNumber=7809528&langId=-1

 

[Garage5.9]

At a job site I was last working at they had 2 40 yard roll off containers full of them. They were to be recycled and let's just say I took home several truck loads. Gave some away and still have a bunch

 

[Crawfish]

Great propane tank holders.

Great for chains, especially on ATVs... lets them dry out after the snow melts and the mud dries.

With studs 16" OC, it is pretty simple to hang them on their sides between the studs with a couple lag screws and washers for quick bins/shelves on your unfinished walls.