How to Build a Magazine Rack

A wooden magazine rack is a functional and stylish way to organize your magazines, catalogs and newspapers. Building a magazine rack is a great beginner's woodworking project that you can complete in just a few days. No matter where you put it, it can be a great addition to your home décor and can help eliminate excess clutter.

Things You'll Need

• Circular saw
• 1-by-12 inch 8-foot board
• Tape measure
• Wood glue
• Clamps
• Carpenter's square
• Drill with 3/4 inch bit
• 3/4-inch dowel rod
• 1-by-4 inch 8-foot board
• Various 1- and 1/2-inch wood screws
• Sandpaper

Instructions

Organize the Pieces

1. Cut the 1 by 12 inch board into four 12 inch pieces. Make 2 24-inch pieces from the 4, by adding glue to the edges and clamping them together until dry. These pieces will create the ends of your magazine rack.

2. Measure and mark 7 1/2 inches to the right and left of the seams of the 2 boards and cut off the excess. You should now have 2 12-by-15 inch panels.

3. Mark 5 inches to the left and right of the seam along the bottom edges of the panels. From these marks, measure up along the 12 inch sides and mark at 10 inches at the outer edge. Using a carpenter's square, draw a line from the bottom mark, to the side mark.

4. Use a carpenter's square to draw a line from each 5-inch mark to the top of each panel. From the seam, measure down 1 inch and draw a line from the top 5-inch mark to the outer edges of the board.

Cut the Pieces

1. Use a carpenter's square to draw a line from each 5-inch mark to the top of each panel. From the seam, measure down 1 inch and draw a line from the top 5-inch mark to the outer edges of the board.

2. Cut up from the bottom edge beginning at the 5-inch mark and ending at the 10-inch side mark. Repeat on all edges on both panels.

3. Drill a hole on each panel that is 3/4 of an inch in diameter and 3/8 of an inch deep. The holes should be centered 1 inch below the upper edges of the panels.

4. Use your circular saw to cut the remainder of the 1-by-12 inch board into 2 18-inch pieces. Cut one board down to 10 inches wide, which will create the bottom of your magazine rack, and the other to 6 inches wide, which will create the divider.

5. Make the handle of the magazine rack by cutting the 3/4-inch dowel so that it is 18 1/2 inches long.

6. Create the side pieces by cutting the 1-by-4 inch board into 4 19 1/2-inch pieces, then rip them in half so that you have 8 19 1/2-by-1 3/4 inch boards.

Assemble the Pieces

1. Secure one end panel to the bottom of the magazine rack by screwing each corner edge to the bottom panel. Be sure the hole you have drilled faces inside.

2. Set the divider piece on its edge and center it on the bottom piece so that it is tight against the edge panel. Screw through the panel into the divider along the bottom edge and in the center of the panel.

3. Insert the dowel first into the hole in the secured end panel followed by the loose panel. Adjust the unsecured panel with the bottom piece and screw along the bottom edge and in the center of the panel.

4. Turn the magazine rack upside down and secure the divider to the bottom piece by screwing at the center and outer edges.

5. Attach a 19 1/2-by-1 3/4 inch board flush to the top edge of each side and another flush to the bottom edge of each side. Evenly space the remaining boards between the top and bottom pieces and attach with screws.

6. Sand and finish the magazine rack as desired.