Chic Wine Rack

I'm not a wine drinker but I like cool and interesting accents to my walls. I saw this in the Lowe's Creative Ideas magazine and have added it to my to do list.





Assemble the Shelf

•From a 1"×8", cut to length the back A; from a 1"×4", cut shelves B and the top shelf C to length (Cutting Diagram, Cutting List).
•Drill ¼" holes 1/2" deep in the shelves for the retainer pins (Wine Rack). Sand the parts with 220-grit sandpaper.
•To locate the repetitive pin holes in the shelves, make a pin-hole drilling jig. Use a scrap from the 1"×4" and a piece of ½"×1½"×24" poplar. Cut the ½" poplar to fit the edge and end of the 1"×4" to make positioning cleats and nail them in place. The cleats locate the jig in the same position on each shelf.

Tip:Drilling holes of equal depth is easy if you use a piece of painter’s tape as a flag on the drill bit to indicate the hole depth. Place tape 11⁄4" from the end of the bit, allowing for the thickness of the jig and the hole depth into the shelf.

•Attach the bottom shelf by drilling countersunk pilot holes on the back for the bottom shelf. Apply glue, clamp the shelf, let the glue set for 15 minutes, and then drive the screws.
•To ensure even spacing, cut two 4"- long scrap spacers and place them on the bottom shelf. Set the next shelf in position and secure it with screws. Repeat for the remaining shelves.
•For an even tone on a soft, light-colored wood like poplar, apply 3 coats of gel stain, allowing the stain to dry for 2 hours between coats. Then apply a clear protective finish according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
•To make the retainer pins, cut ¼" aluminum rod into 1" lengths with a hacksaw. Clean the cut ends of the pins with a mill file. Then use an abrasive pad to give the remainder of the exposed pin a nice sheen.
•Add the Hangman picture-hanging system using the screws supplied. Center the hanger on the back 3" from the top. Secure the corresponding bracket to your wall, driving the center screw into a stud or using a hollow wall anchor. (The hanger includes a handy built-in level.)
•Add two rubber bumper pads to the lower back and hang the rack on your wall. Now fill it with bottles of your favorite vintages.