Hobby Workbench Bottle Organizer

by Don Weixl
--------------------

35mm 100” film cans (you just need the lids) and cores

I was looking for a way to organize my new workbench. I had many miscellaneous bottles and paint tins of various sizes that I needed easy access to. I didn’t have room for a shelf so I came up with this rotating stand made from surplus 100’ 35mm film canister lids and the plastic cores that the film was wound on. 

These film can’s are what “bulk” 35mm film comes in. Winding your own film into re-usable canisters is similar to rolling your own cigarettes. You can locate these cans by phoning professional photographers, commercial photo labs, camera clubs or high schools with a photography program. Most should be happy to give away their extra cans and cores or save their next ones for you.

The rotating feature is made by super gluing a “Lazy Susan” type bearing to the bottom film can lid. I got mine at a plywood store for $3.00 CDN.

The construction was super simple. I used thick super glue to glue the cores together. Depending on how tall your bottles are, you can use 2 or 3 cores between levels. Once dry, the cores are super glued to the can lids, being careful to keep everything centered.

Don

Completed organizer with bottles

Photos and text © by Don Weixl