How to Build a Knockdown Plate Rack
Plate racks provide a space to store and/or showcase your dining plates. Knock down plate racks are designed to be folded or "knocked down" when not in use. The plate rack has a lip at the front edge of the fold-down shelf to hold the plate in place while leaning against the wall. The shelf portion of the rack is mounted to a backer board which is fastened to the wall. The shelf and supports are hinged and fold against the wall when the rack is not in use.
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Things You'll Need
- Pine board, 1-by-6-by-48-inch
- Pine board, 1-by-8-by-48-inch
- Pine board, 1-by-2-by-48-inch
- 2 pine boards, 1-by-4-by-6-inch
- Paintbrush
- Paint
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Stud finder
- Level
- Screw gun
- Box of flush trim wood screws
- 2 hinge sets, with screws
- 48-inch piano hinge, with screws
- Hook and eye set
Instructions
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1
Paint all of the wooden parts using a paintbrush. Allow the paint to dry at least 4 hours.
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2
Measure the desired height on the wall where you plan to mount the plate rack. Mark the measurement with a pencil.
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3
Run a stud finder across the wall and mark the locations of the studs at the height of the plate rack, with a pencil.
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4
Hold the 1-by-6-by-48-inch board with the 6-by-48-inch side flat against the wall and the top edge of the board at the marked height. This is the backer board.
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5
Drive flush trim wood screws through the center width of the backer board into the wall using a screw gun at each marked stud location.
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6
Place the 1-by-8-by-48-inch board with the 8-by-48-inch side flat on a work surface. This is the shelf. Align the 1-by-2-by-48-inch board on one lengthwise edge of the shelf with the 1-by-48-inch side flat on the surface of the shelf. This is the shelf lip. Drive flush trim wood screws through the top edge of the lip into the shelf board every 2 inches.
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7
Align one hinge in the center of one 1-by-4-inch end of the two 1-by-4-by-6-inch boards so half of the hinge is along the edge of the 1-by-6-inch side. Drive the provided screws through the holes in the hinge half into the boards.
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Position the piano hinge on the lengthwise edge opposite the lip of on the shelf. Drive the provided screws through the holes into the shelf.
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Hold the shelf against the top edge of the backer board with the hinge opened and aligned with the 3/4-by-48-inch edge. Drive the provided screws through the hinge's holes into the backer board edge.
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Fold the shelf down to the open position. Align a shelf support on each end underneath the shelf. Position the hinge on the back end and open it against the backer board. Drive the provided screws through the hinge's holes into the backer board, to fasten the hinges on the shelf supports to the backer board.
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Fold the supports against the wall and lift the shelf up flush against the wall. Position an eye hook in the center of the shelf and wall. Screw the eye into the edge of the shelf and the hook into the wall. Hook the shelf to hold it in place. Unhook the shelf, fold out the supports and rest the shelf on the supports to use the rack. The plates lean against the wall with the top side facing out, supported on the bottom by the lip.
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Tips & Warnings
Paint the rack the color of the wall so it blends in.
Wear eye protection when working with wood. Apply paint in a well-ventilated area.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit willow plates image by Edsweb from Fotolia.com
