How to Make an Under Cabinet Wine Glass Rack

Hanging up your glasses is handy and safe.

Stemware can be a big hassle if it's sitting on a shelf. The glasses are prone to tipping, even when you store them upside-down. A slight bump can make them clatter together and even break. And they take up lots of space. Cut down on all these problems by making a custom rack to take advantage of unused space and give your glasses a safer home of their own.

Things You'll Need

• One 8 foot 1x2" piece of lumber
• One 8 foot 1x3" piece of lumber
• Small plywood or MDF panel
• Mitre saw, jig saw or hand saw
• Self-tapping wood screws

Instructions

Organize Your Glassware

1. 

   Measure to determine how much space you can allot to your rack.

   Pick a location for your under cabinet rack. Decide how far back you want the rack to sit. Most people like their glasses far enough back to be protected from countertop activity, but not so far back the they are constantly bending and reaching.

2. 

   Cut a rectangular base that fits your area.

   Cut a piece of plywood down to the right size. This will be a rectangle. The depth will be determined by how much space your under cabinet area gives you, the width will be however wide you need it to accommodate your glasses. This is the base for your wineglass foot channels, which will consist of a series of T-shaped cleats attached to the base.

3. 

   Use sturdy screws to make the cleats that create channels for the glasses.

   Each cleat is composed of a length of 1x2 and 1x3. Make a cleat by arranging the 1x2 and 1x3 in a T-shape, with the 1x2 forming the riser and the 1x3 forming the crossbar. Arrange and screw to the base with wood screws.

4. Lay the board down with the first cleat and make sure that your glass is held securely in place. Then, fit the second cleat (gently) together with the glass in place, but don't screw it until you've removed the glass. This ensures your rack is truly custom and will fit your glasses well. For the remaining cleats, measure how far apart your first two cleats are and use that distance to space the remaining cleats and use it as a spacer before screwing the second cleat into place. Make sure the foot is held solidly and that the bowls don't bump. Once you're happy with the spacing, repeat until you have enough storage.

5. Sand and finish your rack as desired before screwing it into the upper cabinet. Popular and no-fuss finishes are linseed oil or a polyurethane varnish. If it is out of sight, you can be a little lax. If it features prominently, you'll want to take pains with your finish work.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to add a little extra flair to your rack, use decorative moldings instead of plain dimensional lumber.

References

• eHow: How to Build a Stemware Rack
• Kegworks.com: Glass Rack Gallery
• eHow: Make a Wooden Stemware Rack