Scavenger Chic

Adding Wooden Lids to Thrift Store Finds

• By Joan
• September 13, 2023
• 4 Comments

Adding Wooden Lids to Thrift Store Finds

At the thrift store you’ll often find pots, cannisters and cookie jars that have lost their lids.  It’s possible that the pot never had a lid in the first place, or the lid has somehow gotten broken or maybe even the top has gotten separated from the base sometime  in the donation process.

These cute little tins would not have originally come with lids but I  definitely picture them with  beautiful wooden tops 

At a thrift store price of only $1 each, these tins had to come home with me.

One of the tins was marked with a Magnolia Homes sticker. Now it was just a matter of looking up galvanized tin, Magnolia Homes to see what these tins original purpose was.

And now I know, before these were thrift store pickins, they were beautiful scented candles.  I could just stick another candle in my tin but I’m picturing a desk set.  Maybe clips, rubber bands, chocolate (you gotta have chocolate).  Maybe even leave the lid off of one of the tins and it would make a great pen and pencil holder.

This is what these tins would have looked like when they were originally sold.  A Cedar Magnolia candle in  a unique galvanized container that features a worn, hammered metal look.  I believe the candles have been discontinued as none of the stores I checked had them in stock.

My galvanized tins are going to get  nice 1″ butcher block top lids.  This is wood that was already in my scrap pile. Use up whatever wood you may have in yours.

Trace around the outside rim of your jar.

I’m using a tabletop scroll saw to cut out my circles. Carefully cut just outside of the drawn line.  You want the wooden top to be just a hair wider than your jar.

You could also use a bandsaw or jigsaw, but I find the scroll saw gives the finest, cleanest cut.

Your newly cut discs should sit right on top of the tins without falling inside.

On 1/4″ plywood, or similar thickness material, once again trace around the perimeter of your jar or canister.  Once again, use a scroll saw or jigsaw to cut out the circles.  This time, cut inside the line by 1/8th inch.  These pieces should be just small enough to fit inside the opening to your jar. 

Make sure you try out the smaller discs inside of your pots.  If they don’t fit you may have to sand or cut off any excess. 

These smaller discs, when glued to the larger butcher block tops, will prevent the wooden lid from wiggling around and coming off the jar.

Sand the edges of both wooden rounds well before adding wood glue and clamping the two discs together.

Now it was just a matter of going to my stash to see what kind of knob to put on the top.

Finish as desired.

The jar on the right has one coat of  Watco, dark walnut, danish oil. 

This was not my first attempt at adding a wooden lid to a thrift store find.  You may remember my IOD transfer bee jar from June of 2022.  You can find that one here.

Until next time, stay inspired.

Related posts:

Replacing a Missing Lid with Wood DIY Croquet Stand from Reclaimed Wood 3 Easy Thrift Store Makeovers DIY Wall Propagation Station