How to Make a Vertical Gun Rack

Safe storage of your guns is an essential part of gun ownership. You can build a simple vertical gun rack in your own home at a minimal expense while providing a safe and effective place to keep your shotguns or rifles. Follow these steps to build your own custom five-gun vertical gun rack.

• 1

  Measure and cut the plywood for the following pieces: 1) the back panel of the rack, 2) the two sides of the rack, 3) the shelf for the bottom of the rack and 4) a horizontal strut to hold the guns in place. For a five-gun rack, use the following dimensions:

  1) back panel - 24 inches long, 24 inches wide, 1 inches thick

  2) side panels - 24 inches long, 6 inches wide, 1 inches thick

  3) bottom shelf - 24 inches long, 7 inches wide, 1 inches thick

  4) horizontal strut - 24 inches long, 2 inches wide, 1 inches thick.

• 2

  Lay the back panel on a flat surface and position the side panels perpendicularly on each side of the back panel. Position the bottom shelf perpendicularly on the bottom of the back panel and the horizontal strut at the top of the rack, resting on the back panel. This horizontal strut will keep the guns from falling out of the rack.

• 3

  Apply wood glue to the edges of the side panels, bottom shelf and horizontal strut, one piece at a time. Press each piece against the back panel until it dries. Glue the horizontal strut to the back panel after you have glued the side panels to the back panel.

• 4

  Insert three evenly spaced screws into the side panels and bottom shelf after the glue has dried. These screws will secure the pieces to the back panel. For the horizontal strut, use only two screws, one at each end of the strut.

• 5

  Carve five evenly-spaced grooves into the horizontal strut. You can use a chisel, a Dremel tool or an electronic carver to do this. When carving the grooves, make sure to leave some extra room for the barrels of each respective gun.