Just thought this tip at making quick and easy shelving might help some of you wondering where to put all those cans of food......I saw this tip on another forum, tried it, and it works nicely. You just use 5 gallon pails (I think if they have lids, this makes them sturdier as a base) and set up two or three on your floor. Then, lay a sturdy board across them. Next, you arrange the cans of food on the board; you can stack at least 2 of size #10 cans, this way. If you need a second shelf, repeat the process. You can really store a lot of food, this way, and keep it off the floor, which is recommended, if in the basement. Being a single lady, with no carpentry skills, I found this to be a neat way to add storage space. Later on, the pails can always be used for other purposes.

Next, in shopping at Ace's Hardware store, today, they had 3 Alladin lamps on the shelf.....I could hardly believe my eyes, since I've had one on order from a catalog since last December!!!!! The clerk said they just got them in- they've had them on order for a long time, also, but can get more, now. They cost $48.49 and have a glass base. They also had extra mantles and wicks especially for Alladin lamps.

Hope this helps someone.....I appreciate the tips and newsy articles I read in the forum. Too bad the potty mouths can't find another place to spew their filth, but we can always click them into cyberspace.

-- Jo Ann (MaJo@Michiana.com), June 18, 1999

Answers

Good idea Jo Ann...and if the 5 gallon pails were full of something (like dog food), you are just getting extra use from them! It does make it harder to rotate them, so you might want them to contain long term storage stuff.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), June 18, 1999.

Maybe the buyer of the Alladin company has ramped up production. Thanks for the tip JoAnn. I'm going to check out the local Ace Hardware tomorrow. Good idea on the shelving too. Wish I had a basement.

mb in NC

-- mb (mdbutler@coastalnet.com), June 18, 1999.

Another storage tip. We used cases of 24 cans in the flats stacked 6 or so high covered with a cloth to make a bedside table. Works great and it's sturdy. You can't tell what it is. You could leave a few cans out of the center to make a hiding place if needed for some valuables.

mb in NC

-- mb (mdbutler@coastalnet.com), June 18, 1999.

mb,

....You could leave a few cans out of the center to make a hiding place if needed for some valuables.

Even better is to get one of those new can openers that cuts the top off of the can (as opposed to cutting into the top of the can). You know, the ones that don't leave any ragged edges.

Just cut the BOTTOM of the can off, put in your valuables (after washing the can of course) and smear a drop or two of superglue on the rim before re-attaching the lid. When it dries you can put it back on the shelf (or in the case) and it'll look JUST like every other can. The seams are almost invisible and if you need to get to your stuff in a hurry a good squeeze is all it takes to pop the bottom off!

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), June 18, 1999.

What do you mean, put your valuables in a food can? If a thief stops by your house after y2k, I think he will go straight for the food not the good china. ya think?

-- bulldog (sniffin@around.com), June 18, 1999.

bulldog,

::What do you mean, put your valuables in a food can? If a thief stops by your house after y2k, I think he will go straight for the food not the good china. ya think?

Then put it in a can of dogfood if it makes you feel better. There is only so much a thief can carry, and if you put it in the back of your other cans, or in a case at the bottom of a pile of cases, he's likely not to find it. I put mine in a can of baking powder buried behind 9 other cans of baking powder which is behind 12 large cans of tomato paste which is behind 8 large jars of peanut butter. On top of it all is about 40 cans of soup.

Which jars/cans do you think he'll take first?

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), June 18, 1999.

'...Then put it in a can of dogfood if it makes you feel better...'

Didn't you see Mel Gibson eat dogfood in Road Warrior?

-- Dancr (minddancr@aol.com), June 19, 1999.

yeah....I was just thinking of that! Also know a guy who uses it instead of Spam....... Yikes!

-- Kristi (securx@succeed.net), June 19, 1999.

Tech32--

That is one great idea!! Thanks for the *can do*.

-- Michael (mikeymac@uswest.net), June 19, 1999.

Jo Ann-

WHICH Ace Hardware in Michiana?

-- (Ilivethere@too.com), June 19, 1999.

I hear from one honest Amish retailer of the Aladdin lamps that the new Aladdin lamp company had hopes to gear up production to 5,000 units/month by now, but they have only been able to make 3,000 units/month (up from 2,000 units/month) due to foreign supplier problems. The Genie II models at Ace Hardware are ok; they are as bright as any other Aladdin (31 candelas or the brightness of one 60 watt bulb), but are bothersome to refill and have a lower footprint than the B2301 brass table lamps (handsome and has more options). The Genie III glass lamp is due in a month or two and makes refilling the font a bit easier with a cap and hole just for the kerosene. On the Genie II, you have to unscrew the burner from the font to fill it up. I'm told that the Genie IIIs should be retailing for about $75.00.

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), June 19, 1999.

To livetheretoo.com: The Ace's Hardware I got my Aladdin lamps is near St. Joseph, in Scotdale. However, I would imagine any Ace's could order the lamps, since they have a main warehouse or supplier.

-- Jo Ann (MaJo@Michiana.com), June 19, 1999.

Wow 3 people so close, must be more preparing than I thought. Good luck to you 2 :o) I'm just outside Michiana.

-- Josie (outside@michiana.Ind), June 19, 1999.

TECH32

That is a great idea! I just happen to have one those kind of can openers. Too bad I don't have any silver or gold to hide in there! Now if I could make it fireproof...

I checked on the Aladdin's today. Talked to the guy at our local "old timey" hardward store. It's been in business here for 100 years and been buying Aladdin's as long as they've been in business. He had a couple but they were $119 & $130. He said he expected to get some in the $40-$60 range but wasn't sure when they would show up. Now reading Stan's post maybe I'd better check the details on these. Maybe they are worth the extra money. One was brass and the other silver colored. I don't have a clue as to the model names or numbers.

mb in NC

-- mb (mdbutler@coastalnet.com), June 19, 1999.

Are the Aladin lamps really that much better than my $6 WalMart lamp. That's a big difference in price

-- (rcarver@inacom.com), June 19, 1999.

Rcarver- there is no comparison. The wal-mart lamps are ok for mood lighting and basic room illumination- you can see enough to walk around, etc. with an Alladin lamp, you can read, sew, etc by one. Not something you can do with a wal-mart lamp.

Re: Ace- they have long had an arrangement with alldain and get preferential ordering I believe. the basic glass bottom Alladin works well- yes- it is more difficult to fill but works well. the light quality is the same. If you can swing the $$ and find one, get a harp and shade for your alladin- major difference- no glare. I get headaches from the unshaded Alladin lamp.

-- farmer (hillsidefarm@drbs.net), June 20, 1999.