I’ve now had a few requests for additional information about the drying rack I built for our studio. I’m happy to share this information because I know how expensive the metal drying racks can be. Below you will find the material list for its construction.
MATERIALS (we bought everything from Home Depot)
– Birch plywood (can be any form or plywood or melamine)
– Veneer edging (put on myself, its really easy)
– Window screen mesh
– 2″ Swivel casters, 2 locking and 2 non locking
– #8 1″1/4 screws for attaching the rails to the walls
– #8 2″1/2 screws for attaching the frame together
– Minwax Polyurethane (at least 3 coats on the counter, 2 on the other parts)
– Spruce 2″ x 2″ x 8′ for the frame of the structure
– Spruce 1″ x 2″ for the racks and rails
*When you are picking out the spruce wood, keep in mind that it is primarily used as strapping or rough carpentry work, take the time and make sure to find good, straight pieces of wood.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
The whole project was completed with basic hand tools– heavy duty stapler, drill and impact driver, skill saw, chop saw and an iron (for attaching the veneer edging). Because you are building a frame for the plywood to attach to you don’t need to be amazingly accurate when cutting the plywood and thus don’t need to own a table saw.
This cabinet was the first one I designed in a series of cabinets for our studio, which means there are a few things I would change when I build the next one. For instance, the spacing between the rails can be reduced slightly so it can accommodate another shelf or two. Also, the screen frames can be routered out slightly so the staples that hold the mesh to the frame could be recessed into the wood. If given the time and equipment I would have used an electric planer to make every piece of wood a perfect dimension.
For our studio it functions well, being able to move the cabinet around to the station you are working at improves workflow and efficiency in the studio. When full it can hold 250 postcard sized prints, or a dozen full sized prints (22″x30″).
Enjoy.
Our new handmade drying rack.
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Thank you for sharing, I have been looking to buy a solution for awhile now and it dawned on me someone probably has a nice DIY version online. Very nice work and can’t wait to give it a try!
Great idea. Thanks!
This looks amazing! What was an approximate cost for building this? Thanks!
Hi Renee,
Thanks so much! We love it.
I can’t remember the exact price but it was probably around $300 CAD.
Great idea! Glad I found this- a friend has something similar and I’ve wanted to make one for myself. Thanks so much for sharing 😊
Any chance you are willing to share step by step instructions and a cut list? I don’t have access to a saw, so had hoped I could go to Home Depot with a cut list and have them cut everything so I can assemble at home. Thanks in advance – this is wonderful and would be amazing for my classroom!
Hi Kelly,
I have passed your comment onto Kyle and he is going to look into putting something together. We will send you an email when we have a resource prepared. So glad that you are thinking about creating a drying rack for your classroom!
Chrissy
Willing to share the cut list if you have it still? Looking to build one of these as well
Great question. We have been thinking about going through our studio builds and making PDF’s of the building process, including cut lists. I think we will just not sure exactly when but if you want to be contacted when we do send me an email chrissy@sparkboxstudio.com and I will make sure to let you know.