If you have a large enough wine collection to warrant a sizable wine rack, odds are you occasionally purchase wine by the crate (or at least know where to procure wine crates). Wine crates may seem useless once you've unpacked your purchases, but with a little creative woodworking, you can give them a second life by turning them into unique, eye-catching and very effective lattice wine racks.
Instructions
1. Prepare long dividers. Measure the inside of your crate to determine how deep it is (front to back) and the diagonal distance from corner to corner. Cut two pieces of plywood to the length of your diagonal distance and a width 1-2 inches shorter than the depth of your crate. Use a table or miter saw to bevel opposite ends of the dividers to create 45-degree angles in each side, so the dividers can slide into the crate and fit securely into the corners.
2. Cut slots. Place one divider into the crate and then slide the other partway in using the opposite corners. Mark where the two intersect, and then cut slots at that point in each board. The slots should be a half-inch wide and half the length of each board, which will allow them to interlock in the crate and form a stable "X" shape.
3. Prepare short dividers. Measure the diagonal distance from the center of one wall of the crate to the adjacent one, and cut plywood dividers to that length (and the width of the long dividers). If your crate is square, cut three additional dividers to these same specifications. If it is a rectangle, measure each center-to-center span and cut one divider to match each distance. Use a table or miter saw to bevel opposite ends of the dividers to create a 45-degree angle in one side, so the panel can slide into the crate and fit securely against adjacent walls.
4. Cut slots. The short dividers will form a diamond that surrounds the long dividers, has sides parallel to them and has points at the center of each wall of the crate. One at a time, place each short divider into position and mark the short and long divider where they intersect. Cut slots into each that are a half-inch wide and half the length of the divider.
5. Place dividers. Use the slots to put all your dividers into place within the crate. If desired, you can drive nails or screws through the back of the crate and into the dividers.
6. Use wine rack. Place your wine rack in a stable place, and fill each diamond or triangle with as many bottles as will fit.
Tags: diagonal distance, into crate, long dividers, your crate, bevel opposite, bevel opposite ends