This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Newell Rubbermaid®. The opinions and text are all mine.
My garage is often a disaster. I use it as both a work space and a storage space and it ends up getting neglected when it comes to cleaning and organization. Lately, my scrap wood pile has overtaken an area, with pieces of wood falling over and small scraps strewn everywhere. I needed a simple, practical solution and came up with this altered trash can lumber bin.
Once I came up with a plan, I couldn’t wait to tackle this disaster.
I bought a Rubbermaid® Roughneck™ Wheeled Trash Can at The Home Depot …
… knowing that I could easily add a quick DIY to it and have the perfect solution for my wood stash.
The fixed handle and inline wheels make it so easy to move around, meaning I can pull it over by my current project or move it aside to sweep under it. The 32 gallon capacity can hold lots of wood and the height keeps the wood from falling over. A wide wheel base keeps the can stable. It’s a win win!
I knew I’d be able to pile the long pieces of wood right in the trash can but I didn’t want to have to reach to the bottom of the can for the smaller pieces so I built a small shelf partway up. The shelf lifts right out so I can easily access the space under it if smaller pieces do end up falling down.
To alter it, I measured the inside of the trash can and, using a piece of wood as a compass {cut to the radius of the can}, I made a semi circle on wood …
… then cut it out with my jigsaw.
To hold that shelf in place, I opted to set it on wood blocks attached to the trash can. I cut four two-inch pieces of wood …
… and used a screw on each one to attach it to the inside of the trash can, seventeen inches from the top.
The wood shelf sits right on top of the wood blocks …
… and is perfect for holding smaller pieces of scrap wood. The longer pieces sit right beside the shelf.
This simple project has made such a huge difference in my garage, completely organizing my lumber pile and giving me easy access to the pieces I have.