Wall-O-Cans Storage Unit Plans

Description

Storing cans of food has never been easier!  This very efficient can storage unit makes rotating your food storage automatic – and you can customize it to meet your needs.  The size is up to you (plans explain how to make it the size you need).  And, it stores a lot of food without taking a bunch of space.  Ideal for easy access to the cans you need.

Having a little food supply is a great choice for emergency preparedness as well as for simple convenience.  It is comforting to have a little on hand for emergency preparedness – for whatever comes.  PLUS, it is a great way to have things when you need them instead of running to the store.

Canned Food Storage Details:

When finding space for storage, Space efficiency and Convenient Access are the two biggest problems.  To help conquer these issues, we developed this storage unit that provides both space efficiency and easy access for stored food in cans.

This “Wall-O-Cans” is designed to store canned goods with just a few inches against the wall.  To maximize the use of space, cans store from floor to ceiling.  It looks big, but actually takes only a small part of a room.  (We have our unit against the wall of our home office.  Covered it with a drape, and it sits rather obscure.)

Just put cans in at one end, and extract them at the other.  This is an easy FIFO – First IN, First OUT – canned food storage shelf unit.

Plans include easy to follow, illustrated instructions.  . . . See sample plans pages . . .

Although it obviously holds more than usually needed, the number of shelves is an interesting design point.  When counting the things to store, the number of different items may surprise you.

For us, when we included several varieties of canned fruit, vegetables, soups, baking supplies, tuna, etc.., (and variations of those items – like pineapple chunks, rings and crushed) we have 30 different items we use regularly!  We very rarely have a shelf full, but the convenience of easy storage, automatic rotation and efficiency is wonderful – not to mention the savings when purchasing quantities of the food goods on sale!

If your needs are greater, make this unit with 3 shelves wide.  If your needs are smaller, make it 1 shelf wide.  (2 shelves width is in the pictures.)

Specifications

Wall-O-Cans Storage Unit Plans

• Space efficient with convenient access.
• First IN / First OUT, automatic food rotation.
• Approx. 7 ft. high, 14 in thick, and 7 ft. wide (if made as shown.  Size options exist.)
• Height and length are easy to modify.
• Customizable size to fit your needs.
• Plans include complete drawings and instructions.

More About The Design Features

Make Storage Work For You

Storage unit as shown is approx. 7 ft. high, 14 inches wide, and 7 ft. long.  It fits nicely against a spare wall of a room so it does not take much space.  The height and length are easy to modify if you want.  If that is too wide, build it in a one shelf width instead.  The design makes it easy to modify and to better accommodate your individual needs.

One thing we have found with ours:  The cans don’t always roll right down as we want.  Sometimes the friction of the end of the can rolling / sliding against the side will cause it to stop rolling part way down the shelf.  While this is a little inconvenient, we have a stick we use to encourage the cans along.

(Actually, the stick we use is a telescoping paint roller handle.  It is short mostly, but it telescopes out when we need it to be long.  Works very well.)

Our “Wall-O-Cans” food storage unit has been in service now more than 20 years.  We have become so dependent on it.  The needed cans are always there when we want them.  Food storage is always cycling through.  For things we use more of, the shelves are more full.  For things we use less, we keep less in the queue.  That way food is always fresh.

Note:  For convenience in getting it into the house and through doorways – and for weight – the unit is built with an upper and a lower half that bolt together.  Don’t try to move the unit when it has cans in it.

For Safety:  Do not climb on shelves or allow children to climb on or around.  If needed, cover the side of the unit with thin plywood or other material so that climbing is not possible.  Anchor the top to the wall so it cannot tip over.

Plans from Mechanical Elements are an awesome start to a great project.  And, these suggestions too.

Reminder:

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