Do-It-Yourself Retail Racks

Wooden retail racks can also be moved around easily for store rearrangement.

Retail racks are used in clothing stores for displaying a variety of clothes. There are many different kinds of retail racks made from a wide range of materials. Stores selling dress clothes, for example, will often use wood for their retail racks. Hardwood often accompanies the beauty of the clothes as well as the décor of an upscale business. Oak retail racks are strong, durable and easy to construct for the experienced carpenter. They will be able to hold shirts, suits and pants hung from hangers.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• 2 oak boards, 2-by-2-by-48 inches
• 2 oak boards, 1-by-4-by-28 inches
• 2 oak boards, 1-by-4-by-30 inches
• 2 oak dowels, 1-by-30 inches
• Drill
• Drill bit, 3/32 inch
• Drill bit, 1 inch
• Counter-sink, 3/8 inch
• Screw gun
• 18 wood screws, 3 inch
• Wood putty
• Sand paper, medium-grade, fine-grade
• Tack cloth
• Wood stain
• 4 brass end caps, 1 inch
• Rubber mallet

Instructions

1. Lay the two 48-inch boards parallel and 44 inches apart. Lay a 28-inch board perpendicularly on top of the boards so its edge is flush with the ends of the boards. The ends of the 28-inch board should be flush with the sides of the 48-inch boards. Drill four pilot holes through the 28-inch board so two enter each 48-inch board. Drill a 1/4-inch-deep countersunk hole in each of the pilot holes and screw the boards together. Drill pilot and countersunk holes for every screwing application in this project.

2. Turn the 48-inch boards over so they are resting on the 28-inch board. Lay the last 28-inch board on top of the 48-inch board so it is aligned with the other 28-inch board below it. Screw the 28-inch board to the 48-inch board using the same process as you did in the first step.

3. Position the 48-inch boards on end so the 28-inch boards are resting on edge. Position a 30-inch board flat against the ends of the 28-inch board. The edges of the 30-inch boards should be flush with the edges of the 28-inch boards. The ends of the 30-inch boards should each be 13 inches away from the sides of the 28-inch boards. Screw four screws through each 30-inch board so two screws enter each end of both 28-inch boards. There should be a 30-inch board on each side of the retail rack. These are the feet to your retail rack.

4. Drill a 1-inch hole through the top end of each 48-inch board. The holes should be 1 1/2 inch away from the ends, 1 inch away from either side of the board and parallel with the feet on the rack. Insert a dowel through each hole so their ends are 13 inches away from the sides of the 48-inch board. Screw one screw through the top of each 48-inch board and into the dowel.

5. Apply wood putty to the holes surrounding the screw heads and let dry. Sand the rack using your medium-grade and fine-grade sandpaper. Wipe it clean with the tack and apply your wood stain. Let it dry according to product instructions.

6. Place the end caps on each end of both dowels using your rubber mallet. These will keep your clothes hangers from sliding off the rack.

References

• Free Patents Online: Retailing Display Rack With Adjustable Display Arm
• "Step by Step Basic Carpentry"; Ben Allen; 1997