How to Make a Guitar Rack

If your guitar collection is getting out of hand, this is the project for you.

Materials and Tools:

1-by-3-inch and 1-by-8-inch pine or poplar lumber
miter saw
router with chamfer and round-over bit
spackle
wood glue
finish nails
hammer
drill
drywall screws
sandpaper
primer
paint
paintbrushes

Steps:

1. Cut the 1-by-8 board to 45 inches in length with a miter saw. Bevel the edges with a router with a chamfer bit.

2. The guitar supports are made up of three pieces: two arms that extend from the backboard and a spacer in between that keeps the neck away from the wall so that the guitar hangs straight. When the supports are attached to the backboard, they need to be on a slight upward angle so that gravity keeps the guitar in place against the spacer. So cut six arms from the 1-by-3's to 6½ inches, and then cut them to 6 inches with the miter saw so that both ends have a 7-degree angle. Soften the inside edge of each arm with a round-over bit in a router.

3. Glue two 1-by-3's together for the center spacers. Once dry, use a miter saw with the blade set at a 7-degree angle to cut three blocks to 2 1/8 inches, creating a parallelogram shape as seen from the side. Put the supports together by centering the spacer on each arm with the angled ends in alignment. Drill small countersink pilot holes through the arm and into the spacer to attach them, and then tack them together with finish nails. Fill the holes with spackle.

4. To attach the brackets to the backboard, determine their location by finding the center, and place the first holder there. Measure 3 inches from each end of the board for the other two brackets. Drill two pilot holes in the brackets and temporarily tack them in place with wood glue and finish nails. Drill pilot holes from the back and a countersink hole, and secure each bracket with drywall screws.

5. Sand any rough spots and remove the dust. Prime and paint as desired.