For a wine buff, this sturdy wine rack would be the ideal gift. Made of solid pine, it can hold up to 18 full-sized bottles.
Materials:
Attached wine rack pattern
2 lengths, 24" x 10" x 3/4" surfaced lumber
6 lengths, 23" x 2 1/2" x 3/4" surfaced lumber
24 8 guage, 1 1/2" flat-head screws
stain, paint or clear varnish
2 paintbrushes
tracing paper
transfer paper
hard pencil
jigsaw or coping saw
coarse and medium sandpaper
sanding block
ruler
drill and 1/16", 1/8" and countersink drill bits
screwdriver
Preparing the Wood
1. Using tracing paper and a pencil, trace the patterns of the scallop-edged racks and the heart-shaped cut-out from the master pattern.
2. Using transfer paper and hard pencil, transfer the scallop shape onto the six racks. Then transfer the heart shapes to the end panels, placing them in the positions shown.
3. Using the jigsaw, cut out the scalloped edges.
4. Within the heart shape to be cut out, drill an access hole greater than the width of the jigsaw blade. Place the blade of the jigsaw in this hole and carefully cut out the heart shape.
5. Wrap coarse sandpaper around the sanding block and sand the edges of the end panels so that the square outside edges are slightly beveled.
6. Sand all surfaces completely smooth with medium sandpaper.
Assembling the Wine Rack
1. Following the dimensions shown, mark the positions of the racks on the end panels, noting that the racks are spaced 8" apart vertically and the top of the upper rack is positioned 1/4" from the top edge of the end panel. The outer faces of all racks should be flush with the vertical edges of the end panels.
2. Mark the positions of the screws on both the end panels and the ends of the racks. The center of each screw should be 3/8" from the outer edge and 3/8" from the top and bottom edges of each rack.
3. Using the 1/16" drill bit, drill holes for the screws right through the end panels and about 5/8" into the ends of the racks. Use a vise or clamping system to help you to hold the panels and racks in position each time you drill through.
4. Using the 1/8" drill bit, redrill all the holes in the two end panels.
5. With the countersink bit, countersink the outside face of each hole in the two end panels.
6. Screw the racks to one end panel. Place the other panel in position and screw it to the racks.
Finishing
1. Lightly sand all surfaces with the medium sandpaper.
2. Apply stain, clear varnish or paint to all the surfaces.