Old Wooden Shutter CD Rack

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Salvage Style: Old Wooden Shutter CD Rack

More Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Solutions

Adapted from Salvage Style In Your Home, by Moira and Nicholas

Hankinson.

The authors of Salvage Style know from personal experience that this

shutter CD rack is a good idea because it has their teenager's seal

of approval. Teenagers usually buy CDs more frequently than the rest

of us, and as a collection of CDs expands, storage can become a

problem.

 

 

 

Simple Solution:

printer friendly version

 

Of the innumerable CD storage systems that are commercially

available, most take up valuable surface space, and few can be

described as well-designed. If, however, you are re able to find an

old wooden louvered shutter, we are sure you will agree that, once

wall mounted at eye level with the CD titles on view, it provides an

ideal storage solution.

 

When selecting an old wooden shutter for conversion into a CD rack,

make sure to measure the width of the slats and their distance apart

to ensure that the finished rack will comfortably hold boxed CDs. If

you wish, you can use the shutter in its original condition and not

repaint it, but if you want it to fit into an existing interior

decorating scheme, it is probably best to paint it in the color or

colors of your choice.

 

EQUIPMENT

Screwdriver

Electric sander

Sandpaper

1 1/2-inch paintbrush

soft cotton rags

Electric hammer drill

Masonry drill bit

 

MATERIALS

Old wooden louvered shutter

Wood filler (if necessary)

Two contrasting colors matte acrylic paint (low VOC, less toxic

brand)

Hardboard or thin plywood to fit the back of the shutter

Matte black acrylic paint (low VOC, least toxic brand)

Small wood screws

Two mirrors

Rawlplugs

Screws to fit mirrors

 

METHOD

Editor's note: Be very careful of scraping paint off old shutters,

as the paint could contain lead. Wear a mask, and work outside.

 

1. Remove any hinges or other metal hardware, sand down any flaked

and loose paint from the shutter, and fill any holes or damage with

wood filler, wait for the filler to set, and then sand it down to

match the surrounding wood. Sand the entire shutter to provide a

smooth surface for the new paint. It is not necessary to remove all

the old paint, but pay particular attention to revealing the

underlying wood on the edges of the frame and slats, where natural

wear would occur.

 

2. When you are satisfied with the finish, paint the shutter frame

in the darker of your selected colors of matte acrylic paint and let

them dry.

 

3. When the shutter is completely dry, sand through the surface of

the paint to reveal the underlying wood on all the outside edges of

the frame and the exposed edges of the slats. You can either use an

electric sander or, for a more subtle effect, sand by hand. The

sanding is designed to simulate natural wear; if you do make a

mistake, it is very simple to repaint and start again.

 

4. When the shutter frame looks suitably distressed, clean off any

dust without he cotton rag and apply two coats of the satin finish

interior wood varnish to the entire shutter, letting it dry between

coats.

 

Cut the sheet of hardboard or thin plywood to fit approximately 1/2

inch inside the back of the shutter. Paint one side of the hardboard

or thin plywood with the matte black acrylic paint and, when dry,

attach it to the back of the shutter with the small wood screws. Fit

two mirror hangers to the rear of the shutter and decide where you

want to hang it. Drill the holes and insert rawplugs before screwing

the DC rack to the wall.

 

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