DIY Network

Rockin' CD Rack Find out how a guitar is made into a CD rack. From "From Junky to Funky" episode DFJF-301

Host Samantha Gleisten explains how an old guitar is disassembled and made into a one-of-a-kind CD rack that can hang on the wall.

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Materials:

acoustic guitar
wood screws/wall anchors
wood glue
1/2" plywood
1/4" plywood
1/2" MDF
toggle bolts
1/8" wood strips
small hinges
masking tape
blue and white paint
chop saw
circular saw
jigsaw
table saw
nail gun
power drill
clamps
natural sponge
paint brush
wire snips

1. De-string the guitar using wire snaps, and then remove the pick guard. Note: Set the pick guard aside as it will be needed later in the project.

2. Cut exploratory holes in the back near the neck and down by the butt about 1-1/2 inches from the edge. These are needed to find the thickness of the respective support blocks. Once you know this, then you will know the distance between the two blocks is the total height of your CD box.

	Figure A
	Figure B

3. Measure and mark 1/4 inch from the edge of each side at the narrowest part of the guitar's body. The distance between these marks is the total width of your CD box.

4. Cut a rectangle out of the back (figure A) to accommodate the box.

Tip: Guitar wood is thin and fragile; when cutting, apply masking tape over the surface to prevent splintering from the saw blade.

5. Cut out the box frame sides from 1/2 inch plywood using a chop saw and/or a table saw. The depth of the box should be one inch deeper than a jewel case. Use the measurements gathered previously to determine how long to make the four sides of the box.

6. Cut out 1/4" x 1/4" grooves (figure B) from the vertical sides of the CD box frame to accommodate 1/4 inch plywood CD shelves. They should be spaced as to allow room for the CD height in between themselves and the top/bottom.

Tip: Get a 1/4 inch groove by setting the height of the table saw blade and making two passes per groove.

7. Assemble the box frame with wood glue and a nail gun.

8. Lay the box onto the guitar's front. Make sure the box is centered using the bridge and sound hole as a reference. Trace the interior perimeter of the box onto the face of the guitar.

9. Cut out the face of the guitar starting with the circular saw, and then finishing with the jig saw. Note: Make sure these cuts are straight and accurate because you will be using the square cutout as a door.

Figure C

10. Glue and clamp 1/8 inch strips of wood on the back of the guitar door/face near the edge (figure C), in between its existing support beams. These will catch the screws of the surface mounted hinges.

11. Set in the box making sure to put wood glue on any contact surfaces. Put a screw in through the top and bottom into the respective blocks. Clamp the box to the narrow waist of the guitar. Let dry for an hour.

12. Double check measurements and cut a 1/2 inch plywood rectangle that will cover the back of the box.

13. Attach the back from behind the box frame using wood glue and a nail gun.

14. Measure and cut the CD shelves from 1/4 inch plywood. Glue the edges, and then slide them into the grooves.

15. When the glue is dry, attach the front door by screwing in small hinges by hand. Line up the screws so they will go through the small wood strips glued to the back of the door.

16. Reattach the pick guard to the door so it will act as a stopper.

17. Create a backer board out of 1/2 inch MDF by cutting out your design with a jig saw. Round the edges of the MDF using a router.

18. Paint one side of the MDF blue. After the blue paint has dried, dip a natural sponge in white paint and lightly dab the blue side--creating clouds.

19. Cut two 8' x 42" pieces of 1/2 inch plywood using a table saw. Set the saw angle to 45 degrees, and then cut those two pieces in half, lengthwise.

20. Attach two of the pieces to the back of the MDF board using wood glue and screws. Note: These should be installed with the angled side facing down, forming the V-shaped groove with the MDF.

21. Attach the other two pieces of plywood to the wall using toggle bolts (for strength) with the angled side facing up. This will allow the angled plywood on the backer board to catch and lock in place.

22. Mount the guitar CD rack in the middle of the backer board by screwing in through the four corners of the back of the box. Attach a guitar hook on either side of the CD rack with screws to hold real acoustic guitars.

Project Costs:

Guitar: $6
Wood: $5
Materials: $5

Total: $16

RESOURCES :

The Brown Elephant
Website: www.howardbrown.org/hb_brownelephant.asp