How to Build a Wine Storage Cabinet
A wine storage cabinet is one of the most attractive and useful ways to store and display wine. Cellar shelves offer capacity but can be bulky and inconvenient, while tabletop racks are often visually appealing and handy, but can't accommodate many bottles. In contrast, a lattice wine storage cabinet can hold two cases of wine (24 bottles) and looks wonderful, and perfectly natural, in a kitchen or dining room. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Hardwood lumber:
- • Two pieces (3/4" by 14" by 20") for top and bottom
- • Two pieces (3/4" by 14" by 18 1/2") for sides
- Plywood:
- • One piece (1/2" by 19 1/2" by 19 1/2") for back
- • Two pieces (1/2" by 10" by 26 3/16") for full dividers
- • Four pieces (1/2" x 10" x 13 1/16") for partial dividers
- Router
- 1/2" router bit
- Screwdriver or drill driver
- Wood screws
- Table saw
- Sandpaper (as needed)
- Stain, paint, polyurethane (if desired)
Instructions
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1
Prepare cabinet walls. Using a router and 1/2-inch bit, cut a groove in each piece of hardwood 3/4 inch from one of the long edges.
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2
Assemble the cabinet. Place the edges of the plywood cabinet back into the grooves to create a square cabinet 20 inches by 20 inches. Connect the cabinet walls using wood screws.
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3
Bevel full dividers. Measure the inside of your cabinet from corner to corner and, if necessary, trim your full dividers to match. Then, cut a bevel of 45 degrees into both sides of both 10-inch edges to create a 90-degree point. This will allow the dividers to slide into the cabinet and rest securely against opposite corners.
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4
Cut slots. Place a full divider into the cabinet, and then slide the other partially into the cabinet using the free corners. Mark both dividers where they intersect, and cut a slot 1/2-inch wide and 5 inches long in each divider. The slots should let you place both dividers all the way into the cabinet in an "X" shape.
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5
Bevel partial dividers. Cut a bevel of 45 degrees into one side of both 10-inch edges, with both bevels slanting inward. This will allow the dividers to slide into the cabinet and rest securely against adjacent walls.
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6
Cut slots. With the full dividers in the cabinet, place each partial divider into the cabinet so it is parallel to one full divider, perpendicular to the other and has its edges at the midpoints of the walls. Mark full and partial dividers where they intersect, and cut a slot 1/2 inch wide and 5 inches long in each. The slots should let you place the partial dividers into the cabinet so they form a diamond around the "X."
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7
Finish wine cabinet. Place all dividers into the cabinet. Each diamond opening should hold four wine bottles (16 in all), while each triangle can hold one (eight in all). If you like, you can drive nails or wood screws into the dividers through the back wall of the cabinet for additional support.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are a confident or experienced woodworker, you may want to consider joining your cabinet walls with dovetail joints.
Drilling a pilot hole for your wood screws can help prevent splits and cracks.
If your pieces are difficult to put together, or if you see any sharp edges or rough spots, use sandpaper for a smoother finish.
A coat of paint, stain or polyurethane can add a finishing touch.
The wood pieces need to fit together fairly precisely, so measure carefully, test-fit your pieces following each step and make adjustments as needed to achieve a solid final product.
