Building Your Own Canning Shelves: A Personal Experience

When I first started canning, I quickly realized that I needed a better storage solution for my jars. After doing some research, I decided to build my own canning shelves. It was a bit of a learning curve, but I found the process to be very rewarding. In this article, I’ll share with you my experience and some tips for building your own canning shelves.

How To Build Canning Shelves

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Measure the space where you want to put your shelves.
2. Cut your wood to the desired size of your shelves.
3. Drill holes for the shelf supports.
4. Paint or stain your shelves.
5. Attach your shelf supports to the wall.
6. Place your shelves on the supports.
7. Organize your jars on the shelves.

Top 10 Tips and Ideas

1. Use sturdy wood, such as pine or oak, that can support the weight of your jars.
2. Make sure your shelves are level to prevent your jars from tipping over.
3. Consider adding a lip to the front of your shelves to prevent jars from falling off.
4. Label your jars and organize them by category to make it easier to find what you need.
5. Leave enough space between shelves to accommodate taller jars.
6. Consider adding lighting to your shelves to make it easier to see what you have.
7. Use a water-resistant finish on your shelves to protect them from any spills or moisture.
8. Consider adding hooks or baskets to your shelves for additional storage.
9. Make sure your shelves are easily accessible for when you need to add or remove jars.
10. Consider building multiple shelves to accommodate a larger canning collection.

Pros and Cons

There are both pros and cons to building your own canning shelves. On the plus side, you have complete control over the size and design of your shelves, allowing you to customize them to your specific needs. You can also save money by building your own shelves, as opposed to purchasing pre-made ones. However, building your own shelves can be time-consuming and require some basic carpentry skills. Plus, if you make any mistakes, it can be difficult and costly to fix them.

My Personal Review and Suggestion

Overall, I’m very happy with the canning shelves I built. They were relatively easy to make and have held up well over time. I appreciate the customization options that building my own shelves allowed me, and I’ve found them to be a very efficient storage solution for my canning jars. My suggestion for anyone considering building their own canning shelves is to take your time and be precise with your measurements and cuts. It’s also helpful to have a second person to assist with the installation process.

Question & Answer / FAQs

Q: What type of wood should I use for my canning shelves?

A: Sturdy woods, such as pine or oak, are good choices for canning shelves as they can support the weight of your jars.

Q: How much space should I leave between shelves?

A: Leave enough space between shelves to accommodate taller jars, usually around 10-12 inches.

Q: How many shelves should I build?

A: This depends on the size of your canning collection. Consider building multiple shelves to accommodate a larger collection.