Creating a wooden wall-mounted guitar rack is a practical and stylish way to display and store your guitars while keeping them safe and easily accessible. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you build your own.
Materials Needed:
- Wood: You can use hardwood like oak, maple, or walnut for durability and aesthetics. For the rack itself, around 1 inch thick is ideal.
- Wood glue: For bonding parts securely.
- Screws: 2-3 inch screws for attaching the rack to the wall and securing the wooden pieces.
- Saw: A miter saw or circular saw for cutting the wood to size.
- Drill: For making holes for screws.
- Sandpaper: To smooth out edges and surfaces.
- Wood finish: Clear wood finish, polyurethane, or oil-based finish to protect and enhance the wood.
- Rubber padding: To line the areas where the guitars will rest, preventing scratches.
Tools Needed:
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Saw (miter or circular)
- Drill with bit set
- Sandpaper or power sander
- Screwdriver
- Level
- Stud finder (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Step 1: Measure and Plan the Rack Design
Decide how many guitars you want to store and determine the size of the rack accordingly. A typical wall-mounted guitar rack can hold anywhere from 2 to 5 guitars, depending on how much space you have.
- Width: Ensure each guitar has enough space, allowing at least 6-8 inches per guitar for a snug fit.
- Height: Make sure the rack is at a comfortable height for easy access.
- Depth: The arms that hold the guitar should stick out far enough to support the body of the guitar without the neck or headstock touching the wall.
Step 2: Cut the Wood to Size
Using your measurements, cut the wood to the following pieces:
- Main horizontal piece (the base of the rack): This will hold all the guitars. Its length depends on how many guitars you plan to hold.
- Vertical supports: These will be placed on the ends of the horizontal piece to hold the arms.
- Arms for the guitars: These can be simple 3-4 inch long blocks of wood attached at an angle to hold the guitar neck.
Use a saw to cut the pieces carefully and then sand the edges to make them smooth.
Step 3: Assemble the Rack
- Attach the vertical supports to both ends of the main horizontal piece using wood glue and screws for extra security. The vertical supports should be positioned so that the rack holds the guitars at an appropriate angle, with the necks slanting upward.
- Attach the guitar arms at intervals along the horizontal piece. You can either screw them directly into the wood or use wood glue and a small screw to ensure they stay in place.
Step 4: Add Padding
To prevent the guitars from getting scratched, line the arms of the rack with rubber padding or felt. This will cushion the guitars and protect the finish.
Step 5: Finish the Wood
Sand the rack thoroughly to remove rough edges and make the surface smooth. After sanding, apply your preferred wood finish to protect the wood and enhance its appearance. Let the finish dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Step 6: Mount the Rack
- Determine the ideal position for the rack on your wall. Use a stud finder to locate wall studs, as it’s crucial to mount the rack on a stud for stability.
- Once you’ve located the studs, use a level to ensure the rack is perfectly straight, then mark the drill points.
- Drill pilot holes for the screws and mount the rack securely to the wall, ensuring that it’s firmly attached.
Step 7: Hang the Guitars
Once your rack is mounted, you can begin hanging your guitars. Place the neck of the guitar onto the arms, ensuring the body rests securely against the wall.
Tips for a Perfect Wall-Mounted Guitar Rack:
- Customization: Add some design elements, like decorative carvings or personalized engravings, to make your rack unique.
- Space Optimization: If you have limited wall space, consider creating a vertical rack to hold multiple guitars in a smaller area.
- Support for Different Guitars: Adjust the arm length or width based on the size of your guitars (acoustic, electric, bass, etc.).
- Optional Features: You can also incorporate hooks or shelves on the rack for holding picks, tuners, or other accessories.
Conclusion
Building a wall-mounted guitar rack is a great DIY project that not only adds functionality to your space but also showcases your guitar collection in style. With some basic woodworking skills, you can create a custom rack that fits your needs and protects your instruments.
For further woodworking inspiration and detailed plans, check out Teds Woodworking Course here: Teds Woodworking Course.