How to Rebuild an Old Shoe Rack

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Tools Needed:

  • Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane
  • Pine wood panels
  • Birch plywood sheet
  • Wood glue
  • Hammer
  • Nails

Collapsed particle board shoe rack in need of repairs

I know it wasn’t all that long ago when my sons gave me this shoe rack as a gift, since particleboard shoe racks don’t last very long. While they meant well, my sons just hadn’t learned yet how quickly particleboard sags and falls apart.

Preglued pine sheets to replace old particle board sheets

So, I decided it was time to make a new one, this time building it using these pre-glued pine panels now available in many home improvement stores.

1. Cut two pine cleats and construct a frame

After cutting the two sides each 24-inches high to fit under my shirts in my closet, I glued and nailed pine cleats to support the three shelves.

Attaching new pine sheets form the improved shoe rack structure2. Attach the shelves to the frame

I dropped the lower shelf in first, and secured it to the cleats with both glue and finish nails, then did the same for the other two shelves. To make it even more secure, I also added a thin sheet of inexpensive birch plywood across the back.

Applying Minwax polyurethane to seal and protect shoe rack surface

3. Apply two coats of polyurethane

As you may already know, knotty pine does not accept a stain very evenly, so instead of staining I generally opt for two coats of clear Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane to seal, protect, and bring out the beauty of the pine boards.

The new shoe rack is now complete and ready to hold shoes

Certainly nothing fancy, but this pine shoe rack will last many, many years, which is more than you can expect from anything made of particleboard.

Until next time,

Thanks for stopping by!

Bruce