DIY Network

Wall-Mounted Wine Rack This custom rack stores a huge wine collection. From "Wasted Spaces" episode DWSP-312

Show off a wine collection with this striking rack.

The party's almost ready to get started with Eric and Megan's new serving station for entertaining friends. But the drinks are up out of reach. The couple's extensive wine collection doesn't have a regular home, and dozens of bottles are collecting dust atop high kitchen cupboards.

To get their wine collection within easier reach – and even use it as a design element in the room – host Karl Champley shows the pair how to build a massive, wall-mounted wine rack. It's the perfect conversation piece for a gathering of wine fans.

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Wall-Mounted Wine Rack

Tools: measuring tape level nail gun screw gun safety glasses pencil chop saw dust mask paint sprayer paint rollers, brushes, tray table saw router table jig

Materials: 1x6s plywood backing board wood trim nails screws wood glue primer and paint

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

• Plan out the rack. The rack in this project consists of vertical "trees," each with several horizontal pieces that will actually hold the bottles (figure A). Plan the exact layout based on the number and size of the bottles to be stored and the available space. Each tree consists of two long vertical pieces, with several short horizontal pieces running up and down each side like a ladder.

  Tip: Measure the bottles to make sure the compartments will be the right size. For this project, each bottle compartment measured 4" square and was 11-1/2" deep.

• Cut vertical pieces. Use a table saw to rip 1x6s in half lengthwise. Use a route table to round over the edges of the wood. Cut the pieces to the correct length and set aside.

  Safety Alert: Always wear safety glasses and use caution when working with a table saw, router or other power tools.

• Cut smaller pieces. The bottles will rest on the small lengths of wood spanning pairs of vertical pieces. To cut these, rip 1x6s in half on the table saw, then rip in half again. Cut them to length, then use a router table to bull-nose one end of each piece (figure B).

  Tip: When cutting so many pieces of wood (170 in the version Karl built), it's a good idea to use a jig. Carefully measure the cut for the first piece and attach a jig to the chop saw (figure C). The cuts will go much more quickly than if each were measured individually.

• Assemble individual trees. Lay out all of the vertical pieces side by side so they are even at the bottom. Measure and draw long, straight lines across all of the pieces to show where the horizontal pieces will go. Use wood glue and nails to build the individual trees (figure D).

• Prime and paint the trees. Prime and paint the trees as desired. Since this project includes so many irregularly shaped pieces, Karl used a paint sprayer. He also used tinted primer for better color coverage.

  Safety Alert: Always wear safety glasses and a dust mask when working with a paint sprayer.

• Prepare the backer board. The wine rack will be mounted on a plywood backer that will attach to the wall. Cut the board to size, sand it and round off the edges with a router. Prime and paint as desired.

• Dry-fit the trees. Position the trees on the backer and adjust as desired. Cut spacer blocks to fit between the trees for easier assembly.
  

  Figure E

• Assemble the rack. Position the first tree on the board and attach by driving screws up into the tree from underneath. For this project, the first tree was lined up with the side and bottom edges of the board. Install the other trees one at a time, using spacer blocks to keep the spacing even and correct (figure E).

• Trim the board. Use a nail gun to install trim all around the backing board.

• Install the rack. Position the rack as desired. Make sure the rack is level and install by driving screws through the backing board into wall studs.