Spray Can Shelving

[Snap50]

So right now, two full shelves, 16"x 36", of my storage rack are full of spray cans of lubes, paints, waxes, oils, etc.
There is no telling what is in the back, so.........

What's everyones' storage solutions for these things?

I was thinking maybe some bent sheet metal shelves, one can deep so everything can be seen.

 

[JimmyM]

a while back there was someone that made a spray can shelf out
1x4's it was a nice idea

 

[jmh21586]

I was contemplating this very problem today. My biggest problem is I don't heat my shop 24/7. So I have to keep my spray paints in the house during the winter which is a real pain. What I was thinking is getting a metal cabinet for things that can't be allowed to freeze, and then wiring a light socket in there and having a 100 watt bulb in there to create enough heat to keep them from freezing during the winter. I don't know if it would work or not though.

Any ideas anyone?

 

[no2tracks]

Get a refrigerator that doesn't work for free, (insulated) and disable the light switch, which will allow the bulb to burn forever. Just unplug it in warm seasons.

Oh yeah, don't forget to disconnect the power to the compressor too.

 

[jmh21586]

Not a bad idea. I'm gonna churn that one in my brain for a bit.

 

[stoval]

Rattle can cabinet doors...

 

[Joe B.]

I just keep them in little shoe box sized plastic bins. You can put similar items in one bin. You can slide them off of the shelf to see the front and back without knocking them over.

 

[Kirk]

I have been thinking of using steel studs for shelves. That way the cans are only one deep so none are hidden.

 

[Stuart in MN]

If you went through all those spray cans and tossed the dead players, you'd probably have a lot more space. I did the same thing myself not long ago.

 

[jxxxoxxxe]

a while back there was someone that made a spray can shelf out
1x4's it was a nice idea

Thread here : http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12369&highlight=aerosol+cans&showall=1

4th post down i believe...

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Here's some ideas.

 

[metal1313]

i had the same issue, so my solution was to get some slides and build a shelf out of 3/4 ply i had on hand and used some 4in stips around the shelf, and down the middle to make it more rigid

 

[Charles (in GA)]

So right now, two full shelves, 16"x 36", of my storage rack are full of spray cans of lubes, paints, waxes, oils, etc.
There is no telling what is in the back, so.........

What's everyones' storage solutions for these things?

Flammables cabinet.

Charles

 

[mjozefow]

My solution:

Tilted, you can see every can!

 

[Snap50]

Thanks, some good ideas there.
The 1x4 idea would seem least costly and easiest to build.
Don't prefer the tilted solutions; I need to see the labels.
And don't really need the strapping to hold the cans on the shelves; no ground motions here.
Metal stud solution would be good for a metal worker but I'm wondering if there might be some conflict among the more noble metals.

Wood, screws and glue fit the bill for me.
Thanks all.

 

[Kevin54]

I was contemplating this very problem today. My biggest problem is I don't heat my shop 24/7. So I have to keep my spray paints in the house during the winter which is a real pain. What I was thinking is getting a metal cabinet for things that can't be allowed to freeze, and then wiring a light socket in there and having a 100 watt bulb in there to create enough heat to keep them from freezing during the winter. I don't know if it would work or not though.

Any ideas anyone?

I wouldn't use a 100 watt bulb. If you put them in a metal cabinet, add a little bit of styrofoam insulation to the sides and top and a 40w bulb will keep it above freezing.
A lot of people also use an old refridgerator, bypass the light switch so the light stays on and don't run the fridge.

 

[1984GMC]

I have heard a good way is the get some old milk crates, lay em sideways, and stack the cans on their side with the cap facing out so you can see what colors the can is.

 

[Full Size 66]

I use a metal cabinet I got from an Industrial surplus, it is not fire proof but it does shield the products from weld and grind sparks. From time to time I go through and sort out the old **** and it stays mostly organized.

 

[mkdive]

After reading the thread....I thought I needed to build/make something like the above shelf. So I went into the garage...looked around. And decided, heck I don't have any room. I have wall to wall shelves (both side walls are nothing but shelves). I store all my paints and rattle cans on one of the shelves. But like others my shelves are a couple feet deep, so its hard to see whats in the back. I think my problem is I just need a bigger garage!

 

[Mattlt]

I wouldn't use a 100 watt bulb. If you put them in a metal cabinet, add a little bit of styrofoam insulation to the sides and top and a 40w bulb will keep it above freezing.
A lot of people also use an old refridgerator, bypass the light switch so the light stays on and don't run the fridge.

It's best to use TWO smaller wattage bulbs, that way if one burns out...

 

[Zrexxer]

There was a thread on Ikea cabinets recently at http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=53176 where Manansal showed in post #17 his Bestå Bur Ikea cabinets that look like they're perfect for spray cans. And they're glossy red, they look toolboxish enough to blend right in!

 

[PurdueSD]

I took an old bathroom cabinet shortened it and turned it into one...

Nice and shallow so nothing gets "lost"

 

[Snap50]

I took an old bathroom cabinet shortened it and turned it into one...

Nice and shallow so nothing gets "lost"

That I like.

 

[69supercj]

Is your shop insulated? If so, unless it gets just downright bonechilling cold I dont think you need to worry about the paint freezing. I'v just got mine stored in a regular old cabinet and have yet to have one freeze and we get pretty cold here in MO. And if you use an old fridge, you dont need a light bulb at all, think about it, its INSULATED!!

 

[jmh21586]

It gets below freezing in my shop on the really cold days.

My house is insulated too but I still need a furnace to keep it warm inside.

 

[Brinskan]

And if you use an old fridge, you dont need a light bulb at all, think about it, its INSULATED!!

I don't know how true this is. It will eventually freeze even in an "insulated fridge." When I was a kid, we had an old fridge in the garage. It wasn't plugged in, just used to keep rats out of food we would store in there, and in the winter it would freeze. And NYC doesn't really even get that cold.

 

[Snap50]

It's best to use TWO smaller wattage bulbs, that way if one burns out...

I might add to try compact florescent. I believe that the 60 watt equivalents draw about 13 watts. You'd be surprised how much heat they generate.

 

[USMCBay]

Here's my storage cabinets... I guess I should have opened one up~!

 

[ahaidet]

I use a lateral file cabinet for mine. A regular file cabinet would work as well depending on the space you have.

Not mine obviously but mine is pretty empty right now as I moved most of the spray paints and stuff to the basement to keep it out of the cold. I keep the spray cans in small cardboard boxes in the drawers so that they can be easily transported to a warmer climate come winter.

The drawers make it so you don't loose anything in the back but you still have to move things around a little to read the labels.

 

[bossdriver]

I store all my spray paint cans between the open studs in the part of my garage that has unfinished walls. Just attach some small pieces of scrap wood to the studs (aprox. 3/4" X 3/4" X width of studs) with nails or screws, then rip some shelves out of scrap plywood or 1" X wood. Make the height of the shelves to fit the can height. Sorry I don't have any pictures available.

 

[JSBriggs]

I was feeling inspired, so I built this today out of scrap plywood. Wall space is limited so I built it to hang on the workbench portion of my palet rack.

-Jeff

 

[sctattooer]

just got around to taking a pic. These are those "hang on the door" shoe thingys they sell at Lowe's for a couple bucks. Works perfect for me, and I can see right where everything is.

 

[vtx531]

just got around to taking a pic. These are those "hang on the door" shoe thingys they sell at Lowe's for a couple bucks. Works perfect for me, and I can see right where everything is.

This would be awesome if it was concealed somehow. Also, I just had to show this picture to my fiancee..."does this look familiar? oh, shoe thingie!"

 

[jmh21586]

I finaly made one. Not insulated or anything but I think I'll be alright.

 

[PurdueSD]

Nice!!

 

[38Chevy454]

Not a real solution to the original request, but I store my aerosol cans in cardboard 6-pack containers. The good part is buying the container and you get 6 free beers!

It keeps them from falling all over, and you can still see the top for color or enough of the side to tell what it is. I store like chemicals together (carb cleaner, brake cleaner, engine degreaser, spray paint, spray lubricants, etc) so they are easier to find when you need them.

 

[jmh21586]

Thats a great idea. Do you have one for the ketchup, mustard, salt and pepper too??

 

[stricht8]

Do the contents of rattle cans really get affected by freezing temps? I keep mine in my unheated garage all winter (it gets below freezing in there) and they seem to be fine when I use them in the summer.

 

[TA^Guy]

The walls of my garage are not insullated and the studs are still showing so I just put 2x4s nailed in between the studs and it's the perfect width for things like spray cans, quart/liters of oil, lubricants, etc.

 

[Moose10]

Do the contents of rattle cans really get affected by freezing temps? I keep mine in my unheated garage all winter (it gets below freezing in there) and they seem to be fine when I use them in the summer.

I do the same with mine too....never had a problem. I do turn the heat on at night though when a vehicle is in there, or anytime I'm in there. I've seen it down in the single digits inside, and Simple Green will freeze, but not the paints or aerosols cleaners. It's funny though because paint in a 1gal can will freeze. Maybe it's got something to do with being under pressure.

Oh, mine are all on metal shelving. I just try to keep them organized by type of product.