Okay.... you know the deal.... you haven't bought new jars in years as you pick them up where ever or someone gives you a bunch... or you use salad dressing jars...

then the canning jar shelves are full... so you turn to boxes...

but I'm tired of stacking them on top of another to see the bottom box to "squish" down and basically ruining the box...

is there a box out there about the size of the quarts or pints that is about "perfect"?

at this point I'm ready to buy a custom box... but it could get pricey... and Ball and Kerr wouldn't sell me any boxes.... called them

so help?!?!?! guess I'm being to picky and want straight stacks!!!

-- Mary Ann (peanut@wi-net.com), August 17, 2000

Answers

I used to pickup salad dressing or spagheti sauce boxes (kind with dividers) when I saw them empty at grocery store. Unfortunately usually they had tops cut off them. But if you want something more sturdy and permenant, why not design your own wooden crates? They sure arent going to squish. Those old wire milk crates might work too. They certainly stack but dont know how many jars they would hold. Also they are antiques anymore I guess. I know antiquers keep stuff around that most likely would go to landfill, but it is frustrating at times to have to compete for something I want to actually use and other guy will pay big price to just use it as a decoration.

-- Hermit John (ozarkhermit@pleasedontspamme.com), August 18, 2000.

Find someone who sells Avon. A friend at church gave me some boxes for something else and I wound up using them for canning jars. They are very sturdy and have lids that fit down over the box instead of just closing flaps. Best of all they were free. They are the boxes that Avon ships the stuff to its salespersons in and are usually discarded. Blessings Peggy

-- Peggy (wclpc@cookeville.com), August 18, 2000.

Hi, You might try going to a farmer's market like one owned by the state. There is usually someone there that sells quarts of honey, and pints,and quarts of jams and jelly. They throw away lots of the boxes because people buy one or two jars at a time till the case is empty. I know that the one in Ashville, NC does this.

Good Luck Beth (NC)

-- Beth (NC) (craig@icu2.net), August 18, 2000.

What about the boxes computer paper come in? We have customers (at the healthfood store where I work) who call ahead and ask when the next delivery is, and they have their pick of heavy boxes, many with dividers. Don't know why I never thought to get a few, my jars are spread all over the house. Ya never know what you'll take away from this forum!

-- Cathy Horn (hrnofplnty@webtv.net), August 18, 2000.

I go to the liquor store for my boxes I use for everything--we ship a lot of things & move & store a lot of things & the boxes are heavy & have dividers also! I ask the owner to save for me & I pick up when she stocks the shelves! Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), August 18, 2000.

I use old produce boxes that grapes come in. They have wooden ends & VERY heavy cardboard bottoms & sides. They are the perfect size & you can stack them. They do not have tops, but you have to wash the jars before you use them anyway. Call your local produce stand or grocer & they will save them for you, especially if you shop there. Good Luck! Jane

-- Jane Gauch (sewbears4u@hotmail.com), August 18, 2000.

We use case boxes that reams of copy/laser print paper come in and make dividers out of odd and ends of cardboard. 12 quart jars will fit in the standard box with room to spare on the side and top. We stack the boxes four high. You can get two layers of pint jars in a box but the mouthes of the top layer will be just a little higher than the box top, we put the bottom layer mouth down and top layer mouth up with some newspaper in between the two layers so the lips don't get chipped.

-- Robert (STBARB@usa.net), August 18, 2000.

Did anybody know that the U.S.postal service will send you free of charge, boxes that are labeled "priority mail" (do we care?), I think that the # is 1-800-ask-usps. They have all different sizes and they are all sturdy. They will send you a boxes of 25 at time. Have fun!

-- Lawannea S. Stum (Whitedov1@citlink.net), August 18, 2000.

Well, of course, this is marginally illegal, depending upon how you may have gained possession, but there is nothing better than milk crates. In our area of the country, smaller dairies have gone belly- up due to the BIG competition and insane government regulation. There are many milk cases available that once belonged to defunct dairies. And they are cheap - I have gotten them for 25 cents. Problem is finding them, and I can't help you there, but I use them in the chest freezer to keep things apart, and they hold 9 quart jars (or 18 pint jars) of canned (jarred?) goods. GL!

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), August 18, 2000.

If you don't mind buying them new, you can get 'milk crates' at discount home goods stores. (Dollar Store, Odd Lots, etc.) If you get lucky, yard sales are a good source.

-- Connie (Connie@lunehaven.com), August 18, 2000.