Home & Garden
DIY magazine rack
Build your own magazine rack and transform your unruly magazine pile into an impressive showpiece. This quick and easy guide will impress your family, friends and even yourself once it’s complete!
The rack can sit neatly against the wall or it can be hung like a feature piece of art displaying your favourite titles.
You will need:
- Pine timber – With dimensions of 70mm by 35mm and a length of 1760mm (1.76m)
- Wire or Electrical Cord – 3m
- Galvanised plumber’s tape
- Paint
- Brush
- Newspaper/drop sheet
- Sandpaper
- Screws – 65mm Chipboard Screws x4
- Screws – 15 mm Chipboard Screws x 2
- Trojan Long Nose Pliers
- Trojan Claw Hammer
- Trojan Phillips Screwdriver
- Trojan Tape Measure
- Trojan Ruler
- Electric Drill
- Circular Saw (optional). Alternatively visit a hardware store to have the timber pre-cut by a professional
How to:
- Cut the timber into four individual pieces using a circular saw. The two vertical lengths need to be 500mm and the two horizontal lengths need to be 380mm. Use sandpaper to sand back any rough edges. Lay the timber pieces out on their side and create the rectangular frame. Pre-drill the holes with an electric drill to ensure the wood doesn’t crack. Use the screws and an electric drill to secure the frame and finish the process with the Trojan Phillips Screwdriver.
- There is the option to paint the timber using desired paint colours now or once the frame is secured. We have used two shades for maximum impact. Mark the outside of the vertical lengths to indicate where the holes are going to be for the thread lines. Decide which end is going to be the top of your magazine rack and start from there. Measure and mark the middle of the vertical timber pieces using a ruler. Then measure 100mm down from the top of the vertical piece of timber to mark the first of the six holes used for string lines. Measure 50mm down from the first hole and continue in 50mm increments until six holes in total have been marked. Drill holes as marked with six across each vertical length.
- Replicate this process for the other vertical piece of timber and make sure each side is even. Based on the size of the frame, you will need the length of wire to be 3m so it can be threaded in and out of the frame and tied off at the end. If you would like to paint the frame, now is the best time to do so before the wire is used. After the paint has dried, thread the wire through the first hole and tie a large knot to prevent the wire from slipping through.
- Once secured at the top, proceed to snake the wire in and out of the holes until you reach the bottom, pull tight with the Trojan Long Nose Pliers and finish with a large knot at the bottom. To cut the excess wire, use the inside jaw of the Trojan Long Nose Pliers.
- Lightly hammer the wire down onto the timber frame using the Trojan Claw Hammer to flatten and make wiring on the outside of the frame neater.
- Secure the end wire using the galvanised plumber’s tape and screw in place using the 15 mm chipboard screws. Tighten all screws so they remain in place. Once the wire is secured, apply touch up paint if pre-painted. Paint around the plumber’s tape or you can paint over it. At least two coats will be required. Allow to dry overnight. Now you are ready to start organising your magazines.
Courtesy of Trojan Tools.
Related links:
How to make a floating bookshelf
DIY stepping stone for your garden
How to stamp and stencil napkins