Make a pallet wine rack

You’ll need…

• 1 pallet
• 20 Surefix 6g 34mm square-head wood screws
• 150 grit sand paper
• 2-4 10g 40mm Surefix screws for mounting on the wall

Optional extras

• 1 litre raw linseed oil and 1 litre mineral turps OR 1 litre wood stain
• Shur-line Eco Brush (100% recycled materials)
• Tools required
• Drill
• 2mm drill bit for wood
• Holesaw bits
• Tape measure
• 2 x clamps
• Pencil
• Skillsaw, earmuffs and eye protection (or a handsaw)
• Jigsaw – optional

Step-by-step guide

Step 1 Find your pallets

Source a pallet from your local hardware store (always ask before taking) or from The Pallet Warehouse in Auckland (www.pallets.co.nz). I used eight half palings so be sure to count the usable palings so you have enough

Step 2 Remove the palings

The wood used for pallet palings is often low-grade which means it is prone to splitting and crumbling. For this reason I prefer to cut the palings from the cross bars as opposed to prying them off. It also means there are no rogue nails in your usable wood. Remove the palings by cutting along each side with the skill saw, as close as possible to each of the three cross bars. Repeat until you have eight usable pieces of paling.

(NOTE: When using a skill saw, always make sure you wear the appropriate safety gear – earmuffs and safety glasses at a minimum – and clamp the timber to a solid surface so you minimise the risk of kickback.)

Step 3 Measure up and cut

Each of my palings was approximately 500mm long, 80mm wide and 12mm thick, but these may vary depending on your pallet choice. You will need to cut the following lengths (or if your pallet is a different size use the measurements in brackets):

• 4 x 500mm long
• 2 x 476mm long (length less thickness of two pieces)
• 2 x 360mm long (height of a wine bottle plus 20mm plus thickness of two pieces)

Step 4 Drill holes for glasses

On one of the 476mm long palings measure out 5 intervals – marking with your pencil every 95mm, halfway through the width – this is to evenly space out the holders for each of your four glasses. With a 15mm hole saw bit, drill out each of the four holes.

Step 5 Finish the glass holder

With your pencil mark a straight line from the outer edge of each of the four holes to the front of the paling. This will be a guideline for cutting with your skill saw. If you don’t feel confident cutting this with a skill saw then a hand saw is almost as fast and very easy. Cut each of the eight lines, freeing the piece of wood between the hole and the front edge of your paling. Sand the edges until they are smooth.

Optional step: If you want to round off or shape the top of the side palings – the 360mm long ones – with a jigsaw then now is the time to do this

Step 6 Connect the pieces

It is imperative that you pre-drill all the screw holes with the 2mm drill bit or the palings will split when you screw them together. With this in mind, screw the glass rack piece on to the bottom of the two 360mm long side palings so they are square and you have a U-shape. The glass rack openings that you have just cut should be facing the front.

Now screw in the second 476mm long paling to the two 360mm long side palings. Place it about 20mm above the glass rack.

Screw the nicest of the 500mm long palings to the front, lining it up square on top of the second 476mm long paling.

Now flip the rack over and screw the remaining three 500mm long palings on to the back. Make sure you space them evenly and line up the bottom one with the front paling.

Step 7 Finishing touches

Give the rack a quick sand to take off any rough edges and then apply a couple of coats of wood stain, or linseed oil mixed 50:50 with mineral turpentine. Mount to the wall (making sure you affix to a stud) with some 10g 40mm Surefix screws, fill with wine, pour yourself a glass, hang the remaining three, and admire your handiwork.