| Wall-Art Wine Rack |
| Show off your favorite wine and your creativity. |
From "B. Original" episode DBOR-601 |
|
|
 |

 Slide in a few bottles, and the party can begin!
|
|
Wine means festive occasions and what could be more festive than showing off some favorite vintages with a fun wine rack that hangs right on the wall? Michele Beschen shows how to craft a custom rack from plywood and bed springs yes, bed springs that shows off favorite vintages in style.Don't hide those pretty wine bottles: B. Original and show them off in style with Michele Beschen's how-to. Scroll down to get started.
Wall-Art Wine RackMaterials: 3/4" plywood, 15" x 50" measuring tape pencil carpenter's square large piece of kraft paper straight edge jigsaw safety glasses sand paper bed springs mineral spirits and rag heavy, flexible wire drill with wood bit 3" screws paint paintbrush varnish, shellac, polyurethane or resin finish
 |

 Figure A
|
|  |

 Figure B
|
|  |

 Figure C
|
|  |

 Figure D
|
|  |

 Figure E
|
|  |

 Figure F
|
|  |

 Figure G
|
|
- To make the bottle-shaped back of the wine rack, lay the plywood on a stable work surface. Measure and mark the center of one of the 15" sides of the plywood.
- To shape the neck of the bottle, make a mark 2-1/2" to the left and right of the center mark. Use a carpenter's square to draw a line about 16" down the plywood from each of these lines (figure A).
- Draw the desired curve for the side of the bottle on a large piece of kraft paper or other sturdy paper. Once you're happy with the curve, cut out the paper to use as a template.
- Line up the template with one of the 16" lines and trace the curve onto the plywood (figure B). Flip the paper over and trace the curve from the other 16" line. This will help make sure both sides of the bottle match.
- To complete the bottle shape, use a carpenter's square to extend the lines from the curve to the bottom of the plywood.
- Wearing safety glasses, use a jigsaw to cut out the bottle shape (figure C).
Safety Alert: Always wear safety glasses when using a jigsaw or any other power tool. - Sand all edges smooth after cutting out the bottle shape. Wipe down the sanded piece with mineral spirits and a rag.
- Leave the bottle natural or decorate and finish as desired. Michele Beschen painted hers to look like a traditional wine bottle, including a personalized label design.
- Seal the piece with varnish, shellac or polyurethane. Michele Beschen gave her bottle a glassy look by covering it with a clear, high-gloss epoxy resin. If using a pour-on epoxy resin, make sure to follow the instructions for watching the piece as the resin sets up. It may be necessary to use a paintbrush to pop small bubbles as the surface sets up.
Safety Alert: When working with any of these sealers, make sure to work in a well-ventilated area and follow all safety precautions and other product directions. Keep kids and pets away from these products. - Lay out springs from a box-spring mattress on the plywood bottle, with the tapered end of the springs toward the bottom of the bottle. When the rack is completed, wine bottles will slide into these springs. If you don't have a discarded box-spring mattress, the springs often are available at antique or junk shops.
- Cut two pieces of baling wire or other heavy, flexible wire for each spring. These pieces should be about 3" long.
Safety Alert: Wear safety glasses when cutting the wire, and be careful with the sharp ends of the cut wires. - Position the first spring on the rack and choose two places to wire the spring to the board. Make two marks one at each side of the spring wire at each of these connection points (figure D). Set the spring aside.
- Wearing safety glasses, drill a hole all the way through the plywood at each of the marks (figure E). Use a drill bit that is slightly larger than the diameter of the wire.
- Position the spring, bend one of the small wires in half and insert the wire over the spring and into the holes. Use pliers to twist the wire tightly at the back of the plywood (figure F), then coil the wire ends against the plywood.
- Attach the other springs in the same manner.
- Use screws to attach the wine rack to the wall. Make sure to screw into at least one wall stud to hold the filled wine rack securely.
- Load up your new wine rack (figure G) and admire this fun, functional piece of wall art!
|