If your home does not have storage space for any group of items, be it books, work tools, etc., then you probably had to deal with the fact that as their number increased, the apartment gradually began to become cluttered. At first glance, it is quite simple to arrange a storage room or an additional closet, but owners of small-sized apartments do not always have such an opportunity due to the lack of free space. How to organize things in this case? The simplest and practical solution Arranging a wooden rack with your own hands will solve this problem. But this is far from the only case when shelving for the home, including wooden ones, can be useful. The use of a rack is appropriate both in the garage, which without proper systematization of the space often turns into a dump of things, and on the balcony, where it will help to place seedlings or indoor plants in the most compact manner. Also, with the help of a rack you can zoning the space. Despite the fact that arranging a rack does not cause difficulties and is accessible even to a beginner, in this article we will tell you in detail how to make a wooden rack with your own hands.
Using shelving: main types
Wooden rack It is a spacious structure made of wood, consisting of a large number of shelves, which are mounted on special racks. Moreover, the number of tiers depends only on the individual preferences of the owner. A prefabricated wooden rack can be used to store various items: books, dishes, tools, etc. It will fit perfectly into almost any interior, be it country or classic. Functional purpose The rooms in which a wooden shelving would be appropriate are also diverse.
- They will look most harmonious in a children's room, where, thanks to the presence open shelves, children will be able to conveniently place their toys and subsequently have free access to them;
- The functionality of an office or library can also be expanded with wooden shelving, which can be used to store books, documents and any important small items;
- Often, the rack complements the interior of the kitchen, where some housewives place dishes, cereals or spices that are used daily.
- An integral point of using wooden shelving is their use for arranging indoor plants and seedlings. In this case, you need to know a little trick known to professionals. It is known that most indoor plants, like seedlings, need barely perceptible heating of the soil, which will promote effective growth and vital activity. Modern manufacturers To implement this principle, they offer expensive racks with automation, which can easily be replaced by covering wooden shelves foam plastic shelving. This unique material, being an effective heat insulator, is capable of reflecting thermal radiation, which is formed in moist soil, returning it to the pot and thereby implementing the principle of minimal heating.
Structural types of wooden shelving:
- Stationary rack. Its design is a frame consisting of racks and crossbars, on which a sufficient number of shelves are fixed. To increase the reliability and strength of a stationary wooden rack with your own hands, the photo of which is presented below;
- Mobile racks- a constructive option, most suitable for those who cannot decide on their location. Due to the fact that such racks are equipped with wheels, there is no need to unload the contents while moving them;
- Rotating racks- a design that is suitable for storing various small items needed in the household: spices, dishes, hygiene items used daily;
- Hanging racks- a design that allows you to optimize space and use it rationally in the future. It consists of several shelves combined into a single structure.
Original options for installing wooden shelving
Many people believe that a shelving unit is a rather primitive design, consisting of a rough frame with shelves. However similar options are used mainly on the balcony, basement or garage, where the furniture in use must be durable and practical, while for residential premises experts recommend giving preference to more original designs. For example, a rather nontrivial construction for home interior there will be a rack consisting of a pair of oak boards and several glass bottles installed as shown in the photo below. And if, at first glance, the structure does not seem stable enough to you, cast aside all doubts and feel free to exploit it to the maximum, storing not only books, but also layouts of collection wines.
No less original are rope racks, for fastening them, unlike traditional frame structures, you only need two hooks on the wall. Of course, you won’t be able to store heavy jars with winter preparations on them, but you can easily arrange photographs, souvenirs, books, dishes and other small items. Rope racks, being temporary structures, can also be used for premises to be renovated. In this case, it is enough to make a structure from scraps of sedges or laminate, attached to a rope suspension. Fastening the structure will be easier if in the room where it will be located there is a heating pipe running under the ceiling - it will be enough to tie a rope to it.
Guided by the following advice, you can make an equally original wooden shelving unit without a back wall, which will be a successful addition to the interior in industrial style. To make it you will need not only wooden boards, but also a couple water pipes, as well as fittings. It is necessary to pay attention to original way installation of shelves - in this case they are “attached” to the pipes like a children’s pyramid. Thanks to the high rigidity of the water pipes, reinforced with tees, we were able to abandon the rear support posts necessary in case of installation of traditional structures.
If you decide to optimize living space in a private house where there is a staircase leading to the second floor, the space under it can be used to arrange a shelving unit, as shown in the photo.
Development of a drawing of a wooden shelving: general requirements
Development of a drawing is an obligatory stage and the key to arranging a convenient and practical rack. To make a drawing in accordance with all the requirements, first of all, you need to accurately measure the place where the rack will subsequently be located. If you plan to use the structure for storing work tools or cans of winter supplies, experts recommend giving preference simple forms. In this case, it will be enough to determine the height of the product, which depends on the height of the room and the individual preferences of the owner. As for installing a wooden rack in the garage with your own hands, it is recommended to do it the full height of the wall. The width of the shelves of the rack depends on what items will be stored on them - to arrange cans or books, shelves 25-40 cm wide are suitable, shelves for storing working tools are mounted taking into account their dimensions. The length of the shelves is another parameter that depends on the purpose of the rack. If shelves 1.5 meters long are suitable for storing toys, figurines and other small items, then for heavy books you need to choose shelves whose length does not exceed 90 cm, which will prevent them from sagging.
To summarize, let's take a quick look general recommendations that must be observed during the development of the drawing:
- The width of the rack is calculated taking into account the free space - its width corresponds to the width of the free space, however, for ease of installation, the resulting figure is reduced by 5-10 cm;
- The width of the shelves should be no more than 1.5 m, which will prevent their deformation;
- As for the depth of the shelves, here the most optimal value is considered 50 cm. If, despite the recommendations of specialists, you increase this figure, be prepared for difficulties to arise when getting items from distant shelves;
- Most optimal height shelves - 30-60 cm, while the bottom shelf may be a little deeper, which is especially important if you plan to store large items on the rack;
- In the process of developing a drawing, it is necessary to make an approximate estimate of the dimensions of the items that will be placed on the shelves of the rack, and taking into account the 10-15 cm gaps necessary for the free placement and removal of items from the rack, calculate the length of its shelves;
- Don’t forget about the rule of rational load distribution. It is preferable to place the heaviest and most bulky items on the lower shelves of the rack, on the middle shelves - objects of medium weight and size, on the top - voluminous but light items (boxes, clothes).
Important! If you are planning to arrange a structure for storing things in small room, most suitable option a corner wooden rack will be for you. Its installation involves joining two racks at an angle of 45 degrees, which must be reflected in the drawing.
Materials and tools for making a rack
Before you start making a rack, prepare the necessary materials and tools:
According to experts, in order to make a high-quality rack, it is advisable to use boards from natural wood. The most preferable in this case, there will be pine, oak or mahogany. It is not recommended to use boards made from wood chips, as they are an impractical material with a short service life. When choosing wood for making shelving, it is important to ensure that its moisture content does not exceed 12%. Before making the rack, the material used must be prepared - treated with antiseptic solutions and special impregnations, after which the boards must lie in the room where installation will take place for several days.
Besides wooden planks, to make a rack you will need the following set of materials and tools:
- shelf holders;
- metal corners;
- wooden blocks that will be used to secure the shelves transversely;
- furniture legs on wheels;
- plywood;
- self-tapping screws;
- wood varnish and brush;
- wood glue;
- electric jigsaw and grinder;
- drill;
- hammer;
- tape measure and pencil, which will be needed for marking.
How to make a wooden rack?
- The first stage of installation activities is the selection of the lower base. To make it, select a thick board (its thickness is selected so that a 3 cm long self-tapping screw fits freely into it). As for the remaining design parameters, the length and width of the board are equal maximum length and the width of the rack, selected by you yourself. At the bottom of the base, in increments of one meter, experts recommend nailing transverse bars, the length of which is equal to their width. This will give the structure additional strength.
- The next step is to work on the side walls of the rack. To reduce the cost of construction, thick plywood can be used instead of boards, marking it so that its width is equal to the width of the base. The height of the plywood is chosen arbitrarily. Cutting out side walls required sizes, make marks for the shelves on their insides. At the same time, remember that most often the height of the shelves is 21 and 42 cm. These two values can be alternated, which will allow you to equip the rack with spacious and, at the same time, neat shelves.
- Next, cut out the wooden shelves. Their length must correspond to the inside of the rack so that they fit tightly and, at the same time, freely into the rack. The width of the shelves corresponds to the depth of the rack. As for the thickness of the shelves, it should be at least 2.5 cm, but experts recommend fixing them with transverse bars, which will give them additional strength. To nail the bars, you can use regular small nails.
- Once you have cut out the shelves, you can begin making the back wall. To simplify the task, experts suggest abandoning the installation of the rear wall, but this is only if you are completely satisfied with the texture and color of the wall to which the rack is adjacent. If mounting the rear wall is necessary, it is cut out of regular plywood in accordance with the dimensions of the rack.
Assembling the rack: step-by-step instructions
- After all the parts have been prepared, it is necessary to proceed to the next important stage of manufacturing a wooden rack - assembling the structure. At this stage it is important to use different kinds fastenings: from wood glue to screws and nails.
- At the first stage, take the lowest shelf, which will be used as a base, and attach the back wall of the rack to it using self-tapping screws. If the design of your wooden shelving for a balcony or other room does not include a back wall, immediately begin working with the side walls. Previously, you have already made markings for attaching the shelves, which will facilitate the subsequent stages of assembling the rack.
- At each of the marks, parallel to each other, it is necessary to attach special metal or plastic (depending on the expected load on the shelves of the rack) holders, on which the shelves will subsequently be placed. Then, using self-tapping screws, the side walls are mounted to the lower base, while maintaining the evenness of all corners. To increase the reliability of the structure, it is recommended to use metal corners as additional fixing elements.
- Above we described one of the common options for mounting shelves. It is not the only one and in terms of its reliability it is inferior to the method that will be discussed below. Another, more thorough method of attaching shelving shelves does not involve installing holders, since the shelves are attached directly to the side walls. First of all, using self-tapping screws, the side walls are mounted to the base. Then, to effectively complete the task, you will need the help of a partner who will place the shelves inside the rack in accordance with the previously made markings, while you attach them to the sides with outside using self-tapping screws. To increase the reliability of fastening, it is advisable to additionally fix the shelves from under the bottom with metal corners. Giving preference this method fastening shelves, it is important to remember that, along with greater reliability, it is considered more complex and requires ideal measurements of the length of the shelves. During the installation process, it is important to avoid even minimal distortions, as they can completely ruin the structure of the rack. To prevent this, you must use a building level from the very beginning.
Having prepared the main part of the structure, proceed to attach the cover, which will give the future rack a finished look and prevent dust from getting onto the top shelf. Self-tapping screws are also used in the fastening process.
Another way to increase the reliability of the shelving structure involves coating the holes after drilling with wood glue, which will provide additional strength. It is recommended to use furniture legs on wheels as the legs of the future rack, which will make moving the structure more convenient and, at the same time, will prevent distortions of the rack when exposed to high loads.
If you used chipboard or MDF boards to make the rack, you can give the finished structure a more aesthetic and finished appearance by gluing melamine film to all ends of the parts, which can be done using a regular iron. The edge is laid on the end, pre-treated with fine-grained sandpaper, and smooth it with a hot iron. If there are any excess edges remaining, they are removed using a utility knife.
To add originality to the rack, some shelves can be closed with doors or even turned into an entire wardrobe. Additional design the shelving, which will give it a decorative effect, can be achieved by painting it with stain or varnish, using decoupage or craquelure. The latter depends only on your imagination and individual preferences.
DIY wooden rack video
Despite modern design solutions, for many years the rack is a universal option for storing things. But it’s not even about convenience or comfort. The aesthetic component also plays an important role here, because good shelving fits perfectly into almost any interior. You don’t have to spend money on buying such furniture, since you can make a wooden shelving unit with your own hands, without any carpentry skills.
Types of racks
The rack is a spacious structure made of different breeds tree. It consists of several, which are fixed on durable racks. Advantage self-made shelving is that you choose the dimensions, color and number of tiers of the future design. There are several types of racks that are designed to perform their functions. It's about about stationary, mobile, rotating and hanging racks. Let's consider each of these varieties separately.
Stationary
The structure includes crossbars that serve as supports for the shelves being installed, and racks. To increase the strength of the rack, the structure can be attached to the wall. The number of shelves may vary depending on the taste preferences of the master. Stationary shelving can be open or closed, but the second option is more difficult to manufacture.
Mobile
The design is very similar to the previous version, with the exception of wheels on which the rack can be moved along the floor. The advantages of mobile products include their mobility, so you don’t have to disassemble the structure every time or ask a neighbor for help to rearrange the house. Racks are made with plastic or rubber wheels. The first option is cheaper, but the second is more reliable.
Rotating
A popular type of shelving that is easy to use. Such designs are great for people who need constant access to various items stored on wooden shelves. For example, a rotating rack is suitable for motorists repairing their vehicle in the garage.
Mounted
Such structures can hardly be called shelving, because the shelves are not attached to the supports below, as is the case with traditional shelving, but to the wall. But still, hanging racks are in great demand. The advantage of such shelves is their convenience, because the rack can be installed almost anywhere where there is extra space. As with other structures, wall-mounted shelving provides for the installation of a different number of shelves.
Prices for different types of racks
Shelving
What is needed to make a rack
Once you decide on the type of structure to be made, you need to calculate the amount of material that will be needed for the work. For example, to make a regular straight rack you need the following materials:
- wooden supports from 1.5 to 2 m long;
- bars for connecting supports;
- boards for making shelves;
- metal corners;
- a set of nails and screws (you need to take it with a reserve, because some of them may get lost in the process);
- special impregnation for wood;
- varnish or paint (optional).
Prices for construction boards
Construction boards
To work, you also need to prepare some tools, most of which can be found in any garage:
- brushes for painting wood;
- vacuum cleaner or small brush to remove dust;
- electric jigsaw or regular wood saw;
- crosshead screwdriver;
- sandpaper or Sander(if you have one);
- hammer.
Note! The amount and type of materials used may vary. It all depends on the chosen rack design. But in order not to interrupt the work process to purchase additional wood or screws, it is recommended to take materials with a small reserve.
Prices for popular models of screwdrivers
Screwdrivers
Step-by-step instruction
Step 1. Cut the lining, adjusting its length in accordance with the length of the rack. If the planks you bought are longer than the width of the structure, then the excess needs to be carefully cut off.
Step 2. Treat the surface wooden products impregnation, thereby protecting them from external factors.
Step 3. Paint each of the structural elements. To save time, you can lay several planks together at once and paint them as one surface. Then turn them over to the other side and continue painting.
Step 4. Once all the parts are painted, leave them outside until completely dry. The impregnation does not smell very pleasant, so it is not recommended to dry painted products indoors.
Step 5. Make marks on the bars in the places where future shelves should be located. Then install metal corners in the designated places. If you have a screwdriver in the house, this will significantly speed up the work process.
Step 6. Install the lower horizontal elements to create an "H" shaped structure. As a result, you need to make four such products.
On a note! The installation of second horizontal lines must first be performed only in extreme designs. It is necessary to start installing the remaining horizontals a little later, when the bottom shelf is ready.
Step 7 This is what the rack design should look like at this stage of manufacturing. She is not very attractive yet, but this can all be fixed.
Step 8 Fasten the first shelf, or rather, the boards of the first shelf to the horizontal bars. It is not necessary to use screws for this - you can get by with ordinary nails.
Step 9 Start nailing the outermost board first, which will be visible to everyone. You need to select here quality material, without defects. After installing all the elements, the bottom shelf will be ready.
Step 10 Make small stands for the legs of the structure being manufactured, thereby protecting the floor covering from mechanical damage. In addition, if you add a few scraps, they can be used to level the rack in the future.
Step 11. Proceed to make the second shelf of the rack. All actions should be similar, only at this stage of work you can immediately install the upper horizontal lines.
Step 12. Make sure that the shelf, or rather the planks from which it is made, lie on all horizontal lines. Ideally, all these elements should be in the same plane.
Step 13. If large gaps appear between the shelves and horizontal bars, level them using small pieces of laminate. Simply cut out a strip and place it under the board in the desired location.
Step 14 Do not screw the side of the square that attaches to the upright too tightly. When eliminating too large gaps, the horizontal will need to be moved a little. Once everything is level, screw the fasteners as tight as possible.
Step 15. Install the last shelf, making it slightly wider than the others. If the first two shelves use 5 planks, then the top one should have 6. This will increase the strength of the entire structure.
Additionally, you can make a small ladder if the rack is high enough. The design of the staircase may vary. Now everything is ready and you can enjoy the result of the work done.
In almost every apartment there are places that are not used in any way. Such places include small space By different sides from the door, where it usually costs nothing. If desired, it can be used rationally by placing a small rack in which you can store books, shoes or other items. The peculiarity of this design is that it should be covered with walls on the sides. You can make a rack yourself if you follow all the rules and recommendations.
Tools and materials
The list of tools and materials for making a compact shelving unit is practically no different from the list mentioned above. Prepare the following for work:
- chipboard (chipboard);
- thick sheet of plywood;
- boards for the frame of the structure;
- set of self-tapping screws;
- glue for working with wood;
- impregnation (stain);
- router or electric jigsaw;
- roulette;
- paint brush and work gloves.
Important! Stain not only gives the wood a certain shade, decorating the entire structure, but also protects it from pests. Therefore, if you are in doubt whether to treat wood with stain or not, it is better to spend a little to save yourself from unnecessary problems in the future.
Prices for popular models of jigsaws
Jigsaw
Manufacturing
After the wood has dried from the previously applied impregnation, you can proceed directly to the manufacture of the rack. Below is step-by-step instruction, compliance with which will significantly facilitate the work. This is important for beginners who have not previously worked with wood.
Table. Instructions for making a wooden shelving unit.
| Steps, photo | Description of actions |
|---|---|
| Assemble the base of the structure by cutting out all the necessary elements for the rack from the boards. The number and dimensions of parts must correspond to the drawing according to which you assemble the product. Use self-tapping screws as fasteners. |
| Cut out the side parts of the structure from a sheet of plywood. After this, special grooves must be made in the resulting parts of the rack into which horizontal shelves will be inserted. |
| Make marks with a pencil on the remaining plywood, and then cut out the shelves and, inserting them into the previously made grooves, secure them with self-tapping screws. To accommodate books or magazines on the finished shelf, make it tall enough. As a rule, 30-40 cm is enough for this. |
| Connect all the previously cut parts into one structure, which ultimately needs to be attached to the wall. But if you plan to move the shelving unit in the future, there is no need to attach its base to the wall. |
| Cover the surface of the vertical shelving panels with chipboard to improve the aesthetics of the structure. Secure the plywood pieces using a screwdriver. |
| Decorate the shelves of the rack, thereby giving the manufactured structure a natural appearance. To make working with materials more convenient, use a clamp. |
| Decorate the lower and upper parts of the structure with a special curly plinth made of wood. To prevent the caps of the screws from spoiling the appearance of the baseboards, secure them with small nails. |
After assembling the shelving unit, you can immediately load it with various items, such as books, toys or indoor flowers. The product can be installed not only in an apartment, but also in a garage, although for garage conditions you don’t have to worry too much when choosing materials for making the structure. It can be made from cheaper plywood sheets and wood.
Installation of stationary shelving can be carried out in a pantry or garage. Large open shelves provide great visibility. In this case, all items are easily obtained and just as easily returned to their place. A closed shelving unit is best installed in a child’s room or living room.. For example, you can store a large number of books or toys there. The baby will be able to store his things in such a rack.
If we talk about the rotating structure, then it can be installed almost anywhere, be it a children's room, a garage or a living room. The rack is more complex to make, and you also need to learn how to decorate it, because if you install the product in the middle of the living room, it will always be in sight of guests.
Video - Wooden rack in Scandinavian style
You can store unnecessary things on a rack. This is a convenient place, the presence of which allows you to avoid cluttering the apartment. It is practical and simple in its structure and appearance. The rack will bring many benefits not only in the house, but also in the garage. You can also use it to arrange a storage room on the balcony.
How to make a rack with your own hands? To answer this question, let's prepare simple tools and materials. The manufacturing process is quick, and you don’t have to spend money buying similar furniture from a store.
Preparation of tools and materials
Before starting assembly, prepare the following accessories:
- Fastening elements (screws);
- Screwdrivers or screwdriver;
- Jigsaw for cutting material;
- Level and roulette;
- Drawing tools (pencil, chalk).
Beginners should know what a rack can be made from; for this you will need:
- Beam;
- Reiki;
- Shelves.
The selection of materials for the future shelving is done taking into account climatic conditions and purpose. The location of such structures in wet areas will cause corrosion metal elements, A wooden base will begin to rot. To avoid such phenomena, you should use varnish and other protective coatings.
If you plan to use MDF or chipboard for shelves, then the material must be sawn before processing. You can do the procedure yourself using a jigsaw.
In the absence of tools, cutting is done in special stores. Many materials are suitable for making shelves: cut boards, thick glass, plywood, plastic.
Designs and drawings
Meet on the Internet different schemes and shelving drawings. You can choose any, but for best result changes will have to be made. It's all about the size of the place where the structure will stand. For measurements we will use a tape measure and a pencil.
If can twists or working tools will be stored on the rack, then the simplest design of the product is chosen. Meet various options DIY shelving.
The width and height of the product are selected depending on the room and the items being stored. It is not recommended to make long shelves; it may sag due to heavy weight, or the shelf itself will bend under its own weight. In this case, its length should not exceed 90 cm.
It is also necessary to fasten the elements together with the calculation of the expected load. For this purpose, appropriate fasteners are selected. To attach the rack to a brick-type wall, you should take screws no more than 52 mm long, and if the wall is concrete, then 89 mm.
Having decided on the measurements, and appearance rack, the design process moves to the next stage of drawing development. Rough sketches are made general view, and the dimensions of the shelves are noted.
Step-by-step production
Detailed instructions for making racks can be divided into stages:
- Base assembly.
- Installation of boxes and shelves.
- Finishing work.
Before installation, markings are applied to the wall. The frame of the rack, made to cover the entire height of the wall, must be secured at the top and bottom. This will give it stability.
The rigidity of the structure will be given by a base made of wooden beam. Such a load-bearing support will serve as the key to success for the entire structure.
Depending on the size of the shelves, it is determined which type of timber to use. They can be square or rectangular shape. To secure the base of the board and beams, self-tapping screws up to 3 cm long are used.
Each load-bearing support must be in a strictly vertical position during installation. To make the structure rigid, side transverse braces are installed. This condition is met if heavy objects are stored on the rack.
When the base is formed, it is necessary to begin installing the elements of the box. It is assembled from chipboard or MDF boards. Other types of materials are also used. Each slab is attached to the sides of the structure. The back wall remains uncovered.
Installation of shelves begins at last stage assemblies. To begin with, markings are applied to the walls of the structure. The method of fastening the shelves depends on the weight they must withstand.
Metal corners hold the load more effectively. The bars are mounted on them, then the shelves. It is better to choose self-tapping screws that secure the timber and the shelf a little longer than the thickness of the shelf by 6 mm.
On the Internet you can see photos of racks with different finishes. Every lover will find something interesting for themselves.
Photos of DIY shelving
Making a new shelving unit that will perfectly fit the size and design of the room is a simple and doable task. Especially if the list of “pluses” includes considerable savings and the opportunity for self-realization.
With the help of a new shelving unit, you can easily organize space, zone a room, and effectively and neatly place all small items and accessories.
The main thing is to decide on a drawing and diagram, find materials and start assembling.
Ideas for using shelving
The design of the wooden rack is distinguished by an abundance of identical open shelving. The simplicity and versatility of the design makes it practical and ideally suits any interior style and room.
In a children's room, a shelving unit will accommodate all the toys, books and trinkets, and, thanks to the openness of the shelves, will visually expand the space.
A semi-closed wall-length shelving unit with the maximum number of surfaces for placing books, folders or office supplies will be useful in the office.
The most common place for shelving is the living room, where this item time has more aesthetic goals: spectacular accessories, photo frames, sets, and indoor flowers are placed on the shelves symmetrically and organically.
A rack is also installed in the kitchen for dishes, jars of cereals or seasonings.
What types of racks are there?
It is enough to look at a few photos of shelving to see the variety of their shapes, sizes and colors. However, all designs are divided into several typical groups:
Stationary racks
They are distinguished by their reliability, strength and massiveness, but their movement is impossible without dismantling the structure into separate racks and crossbars.
Mobile mobile shelving
Supplemented with wheels and made of lighter materials. This option is convenient for those who like permutations.
A rotating design will be an original place to place frequently used items, such as seasonings, personal hygiene items or keys.
Hanging racks
Hanging racks consist of 3-4 connected shelves, which are popular in small areas, as they are compact and do not take up space. free place against the wall or floor.
Standard shelving: requirements
Before you start cutting and assembling the rack, you need to decide on a suitable drawing. To begin with, you should accurately measure the space and take into account that for heavy objects, the thickness of the shelf board should be at least 25 cm, the length - at least 90 cm and no more than 150 cm, while the optimal shelf depth is 50 cm, height - 55 cm.
Necessary materials
A rack made of natural oak, pine or mahogany with a humidity of no more than 12% will last a long time.
All materials are sawed several days before assembly required sizes and are treated with antiseptics and other special woodworking products.
Concerning additional elements, then you will need plywood or chipboard, shelf holders, plastic or metal corners, clamps, legs on wheels.
Note!
To work with wood, you will need a standard set of tools: self-tapping screws, a jigsaw, a grinder, nails, a level, electric drill, ruler, hammer, tape measure.
List necessary materials ends with paint and varnish materials and wood glue.
Rack assembly diagram
Making a rack with your own hands is easy if you follow a certain algorithm:
- Mark the side boards and back wall with a pencil for attaching the shelves;
- Start from the ground up. On the lowest shelf, use self-tapping screws to secure the back wall, and if it is missing, secure the side walls.
- Secure metal or plastic corners that will hold the shelves in the marked places;
- When installing rack elements, you must carefully monitor the evenness of the structure;
- For greater strength, it is recommended to coat all holes with glue;
- At the end of the assembly, secure the cover on top of the rack with self-tapping screws;
- If necessary, coat the product with varnish or paint, after sanding the surface.
Original shelving
Often, a do-it-yourself rack made of wood is distinguished by its originality and non-standard nature. So, you can make a rack from 6 identical boards and 12 glass bottles.
To do this, at the ends of the base board it is necessary to drill a pair of holes corresponding to the bottle bottoms, and on the next board - for the necks. In total, you will get three original shelves, which must be securely fastened together using a strip and self-tapping screws.
Note!
An interesting solution would be a rack with a rope frame, connecting 4-5 shelves and placed on the wall using hooks or nails.
True, heavy objects can break the structure, so use the space to store towels, photographs or fakes.
When making your own rack, all dimensions are taken into account square area, the appropriate shape, color and texture are selected, which ultimately allows you to obtain an original and ideal design.
Photo of a do-it-yourself rack
Note!
Racks have always been of great interest. This is enough convenient thing, which can be used to store various things, books. Can also be placed on high racks and pots with low growing plants, which will look quite nice.
Figure 1. Drawing of a wooden shelving unit.
Making a wooden rack with your own hands is not so difficult and almost every person can do it. You just need to prepare in advance everything you need for work. Today there are many options for shelving, different in design. But below we will consider one of the simplest and most practical options.
Materials and tools for work
Before you begin the process of making a wooden rack with your own hands, you need to choose the right materials and tools.
It is advisable to choose boards from natural wood. Oak, pine or mahogany are best suited for this purpose. It is not recommended to use boards based on wood chips, as they will not be particularly durable and practical. At the same time, make sure that the wood moisture content does not exceed 12%. Also, before work, the wood is treated with antiseptics and special impregnations, after which it is allowed to lie in a warm room for a couple of days. In addition to the boards, for the rack you will need:
- tape measure and pencil for marking;
- self-tapping screws;
- Grinder;
- electric jigsaw;
- wood varnish;
- hammer;
- wood glue;
- metal corners;
- drill;
- plywood;
- furniture legs on wheels;
- varnish and brush;
- wooden blocks for transverse fixation of shelves;
- holders for shelves.
Preparing the base, walls and shelves
We begin work by selecting the lower base. As such, take a thick board (the thickness should be such that a self-tapping screw 3 cm long can fit into it freely). In this case, its length is equal to the maximum length of the rack, and its width is equal to its maximum width, which you choose yourself. In this case, at the bottom of the base, it is advisable to nail transverse bars, the length of which is equal to the width of the base, every meter of the length of the rack. They will provide additional strength.
Now let's move on to working on the side boards. If you have limited material resources, you can use thick plywood for the sides instead of natural wood. Immediately mark it so that the width is equal to the width of the base, and the height of the boards is chosen independently. Next, carefully cut out the sides of the required sizes. We immediately make markings for the shelves on the inside of them. At the same time, we should not forget that the optimal figures for the height of the shelves are 21 and 42 cm. These two heights can be combined. This way you will get shelves that are both spacious and quite neat.
Now move on to cutting out the wooden shelves. Their length is measured from the inside of the rack so that they fit both loosely and tightly into the rack at the same time. The width is equal to the depth of the cabinet itself. Shelf thickness in ideal should not be less than 2.5 cm. BUT it is still better to fix them with transverse bars from below. The bars can be nailed with ordinary small nails.
Next, it's time to tackle the back wall. As a rule, if you are satisfied with the color and texture of the wall to which the cabinet adjoins, then you don’t have to mount the back wall. But if this is necessary, then a wall is cut out of ordinary plywood, based on the dimensions of the length and height of the rack.
Assembling a rack with your own hands
So, everything you need structural elements prepared. Now the most important part is assembling the wooden rack into a single structure. It is best to use several different types fastenings: self-tapping screws, wood glue, nails, and metal corners if necessary.
Shelf mounting options
First, take the lowest shelf for the base, to which it is attached back wall rack using self-tapping screws. If you do not have such a wall, then immediately start working with the side walls. WITH inside You have already made markings for the shelves earlier.
So now on each of the markings, parallel to each other, it is necessary to attach special metal or plastic (depending on the intended load for the shelves) holders on which wooden shelves can be placed. Next, these sidewalls are mounted to the lower base using self-tapping screws. At the same time, do not forget to keep all corners even. For reliability, it is even better to use metal corners as fixing elements.
But this was the first version of the shelves. There is another one - solid fastening. Here you no longer need to make holders. In this case, the shelves will be directly connected to the sides. To do everything correctly, first attach the side walls to the base with self-tapping screws, after which one person should hold the shelf inside the rack according to the markings, and the other should fasten it with self-tapping screws from the outer part of the sidewalls. From under the bottom of the shelf, it is advisable to additionally fix everything with the same metal corners. But keep in mind that this method is a little more complicated, as it requires perfect measurements of the length of the internal shelves, as well as more time and attention to work. Any distortions can ruin the rack. Therefore, immediately use the building level.
So, the main part is ready. Now all that remains is to secure the rack cover on top, which will give the rack a finished look and protect the topmost shelf from dust getting on it. Fastening is carried out using the same self-tapping screws.
Making a rack (in particular during the assembly process) will be more reliable if, after drilling holes for the screws, you coat them inside with wood glue. This will provide additional reliability. It is best to use furniture legs on wheels as legs for shelving. This way, it will be much more convenient to move the structure if necessary, and it will be able to withstand any loads without causing distortions.
Your DIY wooden rack is ready! Its main part will look approximately like in Fig. 1. This simple and practical design is suitable for any room: kitchen, bedroom, living room. Now all you have to do is coat the rack with wood varnish and let it dry properly.
