Making more space in the shop

Printable View

Feb 10, 2018, 04:00 PM
jjr2001

2 Attachment(s)

Making more space in the shop

I ran out of space in the shop about 10 years ago but I keep adding stuff.
Had all these paint cans taking up a large part of two shelves in a very deep cabinet.
It was hard to find the can I needed. So........

I used up some scrap lumber. Made a piece of 1/2" plywood out several pieces of 1/4" plywood.
Made up 4 inverted shelf brackets using some scrap 3/4" plywood.
Threw on a couple coats of paint and walla. Note the shelf is suspended from the bottom of the brackets.
This allows the shelf to be below the ceiling and still have a lot of useful head space.
I consider it light duty but it will hold all the paint cans I can put up there.

Now I can see my paint. Got rid of some scrap wood. Reclaimed some cabinet space.
Best of all I reclaimed some space that was not being used on the wall.

Still get one car in the two car garage. Several of my tools and tool boxes are on wheels.
Just sayin.....

Oops, now I see some more space below the paint shelf that could be reconfigured.

Cheers, JR
Feb 11, 2018, 02:33 PM
Jon

An upside-down shelf is an unusually accurate example of an Egg of Columbus:

Quote:

An egg of Columbus or Columbus' egg refers to a brilliant idea or discovery that seems simple or easy after the fact. The expression refers to an apocryphal story in which Christopher Columbus, having been told that discovering the Americas was inevitable and no great accomplishment, challenges his critics to make an egg stand on its tip. After his challengers give up, Columbus does it himself by tapping the egg on the table to flatten its tip.

https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...us_carving.jpg
Feb 11, 2018, 02:55 PM
jjr2001

Indeed, Thanks Jon, I think Columbus was one of the few, early, think outside the box guys.

Cheers, RJ
Feb 11, 2018, 09:57 PM
ranald

These are really good. I had one 4m long by 300 mm by 19mm Meranti above our full wall length mirror in our main bath room.It was supported by nice looking upside down steel brackets. The better half, last year, said "that's gotta go" "Why?" "it holds too much stuff"-it carried boxes for nebuliser, first aid , insect sprays,spare toilet rolls, household gear, etc etc etc so I ripped it out: after 20 odd years of faithful service and now all that gear clutters my shed space & I have a chip in the long mirror to try to hide.The bathroom does look bigger with it gone but when it is 13 ft by 12 ft does it really need to look roomier? LOL.

The ones in my shed work well too: i teered them down from a standard door width (820 mm) to (600 mm) or 2 ft to easy to reach 6 inch ones. Now I have a large NZ board to use for some future project:- had to store it on top of an antique extension ladder high above my head.The things we do!
Feb 12, 2018, 03:05 AM
Tuomas

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjr2001

I ran out of space in the shop about 10 years ago but I keep adding stuff.
Had all these paint cans taking up a large part of two shelves in a very deep cabinet.
It was hard to find the can I needed. So........

I used up some scrap lumber. Made a piece of 1/2" plywood out several pieces of 1/4" plywood.
Made up 4 inverted shelf brackets using some scrap 3/4" plywood.
Threw on a couple coats of paint and walla. Note the shelf is suspended from the bottom of the brackets.
This allows the shelf to be below the ceiling and still have a lot of useful head space.
I consider it light duty but it will hold all the paint cans I can put up there.

Now I can see my paint. Got rid of some scrap wood. Reclaimed some cabinet space.
Best of all I reclaimed some space that was not being used on the wall.

Still get one car in the two car garage. Several of my tools and tool boxes are on wheels.
Just sayin.....

Oops, now I see some more space below the paint shelf that could be reconfigured.

Cheers, JR

Good idea. I could use it too, but im just so short. :)

Btw.
I have used to store spray cans upside down, so the propellant gas doesn't leak out.
Specially if storing them long times, propellant slowly leaks out from the nozzle. ( not every can, but it happens some times, specially if can is used couple times. )
But when the can is upside down it doesn't happen, because propellant rises to the bottom area wich is sealed.
Feb 12, 2018, 05:32 AM
jjr2001

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranald

These are really good. I had one 4m long by 300 mm by 19mm Meranti above our full wall length mirror in our main bath room.It was supported by nice looking upside down steel brackets. The better half, last year, said "that's gotta go" "Why?" "it holds too much stuff"-it carried boxes for nebuliser, first aid , insect sprays,spare toilet rolls, household gear, etc etc etc so I ripped it out: after 20 odd years of faithful service and now all that gear clutters my shed space & I have a chip in the long mirror to try to hide.The bathroom does look bigger with it gone but when it is 13 ft by 12 ft does it really need to look roomier? LOL.

The ones in my shed work well too: i teered them down from a standard door width (820 mm) to (600 mm) or 2 ft to easy to reach 6 inch ones. Now I have a large NZ board to use for some future project:- had to store it on top of an antique extension ladder high above my head.The things we do!

Lost some good storage space there ranald. The way I see it storage space is like tools. Always better to have storage space you don't need than to need storage space you don't have.

Cheers, JR
Feb 12, 2018, 05:35 AM
jjr2001

Tuomas, I have a light weight 4' ladder in the shop that is perfect for reaching all my storage that is just "out of reach".

Good Idea on storing the spray cans upside down. Paint is thicker than gas so that plugs the valve.

Cheers, JR
Feb 12, 2018, 08:52 AM
mklotz

Another useful rattle can trick for future readers...

After use, before storing away, invert can and blast a bit of the gas through the spray button to clear the paint residue. I do this and store the cans right-side-up and haven't had much problem with clogging.
Feb 12, 2018, 09:06 AM
jjr2001

Cleaning spray can nozzles

Indeed Marv, great way to keep that nozzle clean for the next use.

Another method I use frequently is to remove the nozzle from the can and put it in a jar of thinner.
Let it soak a bit and then use the air hose to clear it. Repeat once and that is it.
Place it carefully on the can or store them in a container for later use on another can if you happen to get one plugged up.
More work but better to have nozzles that you don't need than to need a nozzle that you don't have..

Cheers, JR
Feb 12, 2018, 01:05 PM
Jon

Can anyone speak to the act of recharging aerosol cans? I know this is at very least a contentious topic. Note the comments in these two builds:

Homemade Aerosol Can Recharging - HomemadeTools.net
Homemade Aerosol Can Recharger - HomemadeTools.net
Feb 12, 2018, 01:56 PM
jjr2001

Never tried it. Seems like it might be messy and you might end up with some surprises.
I use a standard trim gun or quart size compressed air sprayer for bulk paints.
Sometimes an airbrush.

Here is an example of the rechargeable type:

https://www.amazon.com/Gino-Developm.../dp/B009IY6IHS

I have seen some rechargeable spray cans on line but never tried that.

Cheers, JR
Feb 12, 2018, 02:46 PM
ranald

Ordinary house paint in cans, not aerosol, can be stored that way also. 1 litre/1 quart, 4 litres/ 1 gallon are examples. it helps to stop skimming and any rust at the lid. if left too long it will skim midway which can be cut out using an old sharp filleting knife or similar : after opening simply slice all the way around the inside of can and remove the disc then start normal stirring for use. I've also had luck with polyurathane finishes and trailer / steel finishing paints using this method.
Feb 13, 2018, 06:26 AM
DIYer


Thanks jjr2001! We've added your Paint Can Storage Shelf to our Storage and Organization category,
as well as to your builder page: jjr2001's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-paint-can-storage-shelf"> <img src="/uploads/210403/homemade-paint-can-storage-shelf.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-paint-can-storage-shelf">Paint Can Storage Shelf</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/jjr2001">jjr2001</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/storage'>storage</a>, <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/shelf'>shelf</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
Apr 17, 2020, 08:52 AM
Nick79

I have made several of these "upside down" shelves installed in children's bedrooms. There is about 12" above doors that are often built into the extreme corners of rooms. The inverted design allows for a very useful, sturdy shelf with proper support. The door molding also helps support the back edge of the shelf.
Apr 25, 2020, 08:28 PM
ranald

4 Attachment(s)

I'm in the process of culling and packing so please excuse the current mess of my shed; but you can get the idea from the pics. Upside down shelves are also excellent above a bench. I have used such for many years as can be seen above my sharpening and mitre saw bench. You cane note my use of old book shelves hung upside down on the wall and another shelf joining the two allowing storage for large lightish items in that pidgeon hole.
Attachment 34691

I also like to incorporate hanging boxes for parts too big for the usual screw/parts containers and not too heavy requiring more solid storage but still at easy reach.
The ones shown here are above a hinged bench and above a french cleat shelf that can be removed as necessary.

Attachment 34692

Attachment 34693

I also like to get long steel ( up to 7 metres) and long timbers, fishing rods, conduit etc away from my feet so hanging/storing them above head height. this rack I built like a wall frame from framing timbers but with more cross members: then hung from the roofing structure (I have also done this from the floor joists in previous houses). The main frame which is lengthwise along the shed and opposite a door (in this case a roller door) is a prerequisite for loading and retrieval of such items. This is on one side of the shed to allow lighting along the middle. You need to be aware of the engineered loading allowable on sheds like my metal framed one. I used mudguard washers to spread the load and two nuts to lock the height once level. Previously I had a Canadian canoe hanging on the other side on upside down board rack type hangers =simple wood or steel pipe hanging on cyclone rods. Continuous rod & nuts allow levelling.

Attachment 34694 Attachment 34695

For more storage of rod, timbers, etc up to 5 feet or so, I added another hanger below the large one, this time at right angles to the the upper one, allowing easy access from both sides.
Old interior hollow doors are light and make good shelving as can be seen above the plastic hanging boxes and in the gable with my grandfather's on site tool box.