Anyone who loves and collects wine knows the importance of ample, versatile storage. The discovery of a delicious new vintage or an excellent price for old favorites can quickly expand your cellar, while a large gathering of friends or family might deplete it just as rapidly. These experiences have led many wine aficionados to discover the unmatched benefits of modular wine racks, which can easily expand or scale down to meet your changing needs. In fact, with some basic materials and tools, you can make an attractive modular wine rack to your exact specifications.
Instructions
1. Cut lumber. Cut your board in half (48 inches long), then measure, mark and cut one piece to create four equal boards, 12 inches long and 6 inches wide. Cut the other 48-inch piece evenly in half along both its length and width, to create four pieces 24 inches long and 3 inches wide.
2. Cut slots. Use a scrolling saw, a jigsaw or a table saw and dado set to cut four slots into each board. All slots should be cut into the long side of the board, one inch from each corner and 0.75 inch in width and depth.
3. Cut arcs. Use a drill and hole-cutting bits to cut five arcs into one long edge of each of the 3-inch by 24-inch boards. Measure 2 inches from each end, to avoid the slots, and then place arcs at regular intervals along the remaining 20 inches. Use a 4-inch bit for two of the boards and a 1.5-inch bit for the other two. In both cases, place the center of the bit about an inch above the edge of the board, so that you cut partial rounds rather than precise half circles.
4. Sand, stain and seal. Use sandpaper to smooth rough edges and corners, then apply stain or polyurethane to give your wood an attractive, protective finish.
5. Assemble rack. Place two of the 3-inch by 24-inch pieces on two of the 6-inch by 12-inch pieces, aligning the slots so they interlock. Be sure that one 24-inch piece has wide arcs (for the bottle bases) and the facing one has narrow arcs (for the bottlenecks). This should give you a sturdy, stable rectangle. Repeat this process with the remaining four pieces of wood to create a second rectangle, and then use the slots to stack one rectangle atop the other.
6. Place and use rack. Your wine rack is ready to use, so set it in a stable place and fill it with favorite bottles from your collection.
Tags: inches long, 3-inch 24-inch, create four, four pieces, from each, inches long inches
