How to Build a Spice Carousel

A carousel spice rack works just like a lazy Susan: It turns on a bearing to allow easy access to the spices or goods around its edges. While many spice racks have shelves or wire to hold up the spice containers, a simple lazy Susan works just as well and has a simpler construction. By modifying the design of the lazy Susan a little, you'll keep the spice containers from falling off the turntable when you spin it.

Things You'll Need

• 12-inch-by-3/4-inch plywood circle
• 8-inch-by-3/4-inch plywood circle
• Sandpaper
• Edge banding
• Iron
• Utility knife
• 4-inch turntable bearing
• Pencil
• Screws
• Drill

Instructions

Preparing the Rack

1. Sand one side of the 12-inch circle so it is rough. Use coarse sandpaper first, then fine sandpaper, to soften the wood a little. The roughness will help keep the spice containers from moving.

2. Place the 12-inch circle on its side. Place the end of the edge banding, glue side down, along the edge of the circle. Line up one edge of the banding with the bottom edge of the circle so that the extra banding on the opposite side sticks out from the rough side of the circle. This creates a lip to keep the spice containers from falling off.

3. Iron the edge banding with the heated iron. This melts the glue on the banding. Press down hard with the iron to help stick the banding in place. Iron the banding all the way around the circle. Overlap the banding about 1 inch when you reach the beginning.

4. Cut through both layers of banding at any point where they overlap, cutting the banding at an angle. Iron the ends to make sure they stick.

Attaching the Bearing

1. Locate and mark the center of the 8-inch circle. Place the bearing on the circle so it is centered.

2. Turn the top layer of the bearing so you can see the holes on the bottom bearing. Mark the holes, one for each corner of the bearing, with the pencil.

3. Turn the top layer so it looks like a diamond, but do not move the bottom layer. Mark the four holes for the top layer with the pencil. Make these marks a little darker or bigger to help distinguish them from the other holes.

4. Remove the bearing and set it aside.

5. Drill 1/2-inch holes with the drill all the way through the four marks for the top layer of the bearing. These are the marks you made darker or bigger. Remove any dust from the wood before continuing.

6. Place the bearing back on the circle, lining up the bottom-layer holes with the pencil marks. Place a screw into the holes and drill it into the wood. Repeat with the other three holes.

7. Place the 12-inch circle upside on the work surface. Place the 8-inch circle, bearing side down, on the 12-inch circle. Make sure it is centered.

8. Turn the 8-inch circle so that one of the holes in the wood lines up with a hole in the bearing. The hole in the wood is bigger than the hole in the bearing. Place a screw in the hole of the bearing and drill it into the 12-inch circle. Repeat with the other three holes.

Tips & Warnings

• Cut square plywood into circles or purchase precut wood.

• Make the spice carousel larger or smaller, as desired, but use circles that have a 4-inch difference in size. That way, the smaller circle is large enough to hold up the larger circle and keep it steady.

• Drill the holes before attaching the bearing so that dust does not get into the bearing.

• Take care when screwing the bottom circle to the top. Too much pressure will flatten the edge banding. You can iron the edge banding after attaching the bearing, but it is awkward to do.