How to Build a Dish Storage Rack

Dish storage racks are often constructed in plastic. These plastic racks often break, as they are not solid or strong enough to hold many dishes at one time. Wooden storage racks that have been treated to prevent water damage can be more expensive than plastic, but they provide more stability when holding your dishes. To save money, build your own dish storage rack using common woodworking supplies and tools from your local hardware store.

• 1

  Place the 1/2-inch plywood on a flat surface. Use the ruler, measuring tape and pencil to draw two side pieces for the dish storage rack that both measure 4 inches by 16 inches. Draw two end pieces that each measure 12 inches by 4 inches. Lastly, draw 6 longer grill pieces for the bottom that each measure 1 inch by 17 inches.

• 2

  Cut out the 10 pieces with the jigsaw. Smooth each piece with the sandpaper, so splinters and uneven cracks are removed.

• 3

  Place the two side pieces and the two end pieces on their 1/2-inch sides to create a rectangular box frame. The two longer side pieces should be placed in between the two end pieces when creating the box, rather than the two end pieces in between the two side pieces.

• 4

  Connect the pieces using the hammer and two nails per corner. Hammer the nails into the end pieces, so the nails extend into the side pieces.

• 5

  Use your measuring tape to make marks both end pieces. Start from one side of one end piece and measure one inch and make a mark. Continue this one inch pattern until the 12-inch end piece has 11 marks on it. Repeat this step with the opposite 12-inch end piece.

• 6

  Take the 17-inch long pieces and line them up so they connect the two 12-inch end pieces perpendicularly. The 17-inch pieces go along the bottom of the rack to create a raised base of the dish rack. These long pieces should be lined up in the 1-inch spacings made in the previous step, leaving 1 inch of space in between each piece so water can drain. This pattern of one-inch wooden piece and one-inch space should be repeated until all 6 pieces have been used. Attach the pieces to the wooden frame using nails and a hammer.

• 7

  Place the dish rack in front of you, so the 12-inch side is facing you. From one of the 16-inch sides, measure 3 inches inward and 1 inch upward from you and make a mark with a pencil on one of the wooden bottom pieces. From that mark, measure another 2 inches across and make a mark. Repeat these two marks 1 inch further away from you. Continue until you have 10 inches of paired marks that are separated by 1-inch increments.

• 8

  Drill a hole using each of the 20 marks as guidance. When each hole has been created, add some adhesive glue to the holes and place a wooden dowel in each hole. Allow the holes and dowels to dry. These dowels will hold the plates, as you place them upright to dry.

• 9

  Apply a sealant treatment to the wood dish storage rack using a paintbrush. This will ensure that the dish storage rack remains waterproof and does not sustain any damage while the dishes are drying on the rack.