How do you build a rack?!?!

[JohnNJ]

I'll give you the secret to building racks by yourself and keeping them square.

Clamps - various sizes. The only other tool you need is a drill. Have the wood cut at the store.

[Rat160]

I'll give you the secret to building racks by yourself and keeping them square.

Clamps - various sizes. The only other tool you need is a drill. Have the wood cut at the store.

stores here dont do very good cuts, if they will even cut melamine at all. (most wont).

[JohnNJ]

stores here dont do very good cuts, if they will even cut melamine at all. (most wont).

You just need to find the right person. I get exceptional service and super accurate cuts at Home Depot and Lowes. I also heard that they charge for the cuts but I have never been charged. I had one guy make 60 cuts for me which took quite some time. I only paid for the wood.

If you walk in with a cut sheet and are very specific as to what you need they will cut the wood. I also get the same service at lumber yards.

Now I cannot speak for your area, only mine. NJ has more "rear end type" people per square mile than most other states and they cut the wood for me here. I would imagine you should be able to find someone to help you in your state.

[PitOnTheProwl]

You just need to find the right person. I get exceptional service and super accurate cuts at Home Depot and Lowes. I also heard that they charge for the cuts but I have never been charged. I had one guy make 60 cuts for me which took quite some time. I only paid for the wood.

You are very lucky!!!

[Rat160]

You just need to find the right person. I get exceptional service and super accurate cuts at Home Depot and Lowes. I also heard that they charge for the cuts but I have never been charged. I had one guy make 60 cuts for me which took quite some time. I only paid for the wood.

If you walk in with a cut sheet and are very specific as to what you need they will cut the wood. I also get the same service at lumber yards.

Now I cannot speak for your area, only mine. NJ has more "rear end type" people per square mile than most other states and they cut the wood for me here. I would imagine you should be able to find someone to help you in your state.

Home depot and lowes here told me that they wont cut the melamine anymore because they were burning through too many blades. Its a new policy they said. I found one place to cut it but only rough cuts. I like it that way anyway because I like to make my own final cuts..

[JohnNJ]

Home depot and lowes here told me that they wont cut the melamine anymore because they were burning through too many blades. Its a new policy they said. I found one place to cut it but only rough cuts. I like it that way anyway because I like to make my own final cuts..

That must be a local policy because I just had two sheets cut yesterday.

BTW, my advice was for the OP who was having trouble with a drill. My advice again is:

1) Find a place to make the cuts for you.
2) Use clamps to hold the wood steady and square.
3) Don't drill too fast, too deep and keep it straight - and use the right size bit.

By the time you finish your second rack you'll be a pro.

[Herpetology]

Wow, thank you all for such wonderful information. And so kindly given!

Anyways, I did get my wood cut at home depot, and it seemed uneven? But then again it could quite possibly be me.

This is what I tried doing (try not to laugh to hard):

1. I tried to lay the wood edges together to make a rectangle (like the rack without the shelves) so I could drill them in. Everything was lying horizontal and kept drifting off or falling. I finally managed to get it steady and found that predrilling worked better. But I sometimes made holes by missing it. And then it would get unsteady and just not line up properly no matter how hard I tried. I also tried lining it up like a rack then screwing it in, but I could keep it together. It kept falling.

2. I could not drill in the bottom edge because it was too close to the floor and my drill wouldn't fit. So I tried turning it over. The thing came apart because of the weight on one panel. So I redrilled it.

3. After redrilling and some more panels, I ended up with a piece of wormanship that looked very off center with big gaps on the top and bottom of the horziontal box. I decided not even to try to put shelves in.

I did attempt, believe it or not, to follow directions from the site, but the terminology is to hard for me, such as the words "drill" and "screws" (i'm joking a little here)

Overall, I decided to show up here and just ask for some advice. Because you guys are amazing builders