DIY Paint Rack - Updating my paint rack to a larger size

With my hobby growing and growing, it was inevitable that I would eventually outgrow my paint rack and need a larger one.  I think a lot of you out there have run into the same situation I am in now, and this is just an alternative to buying a ready-made product.  I'm a big fan of DIY stuff.

Last year I have made the one I currently have by scratch after watching a YouTube video from someone that created one.  Here is the link to that video where I got the idea from: "How to make Cheap and Easy Miniature Paint Racks!".  That rack was nice, but it could only hold so many paint pots.


Below are the steps I did to create this paint rack if you are a minor please get adult supervision before attempting one of your own (please be safe).

Items needed:

• Cardboard - I find that shipping boxes are about the right thickness.
• Toilet Paper Rolls - 6 or more
• Hot Glue Gun (and Glue sticks)
• Tape measure and ruler
• Pencil/Pen to marking lines, etc.
• Box cutter or other appropriate cutting instruments.

Step 1

Cut 5 strips of cardboard - 1.5" x 18"
Cut 5 strips of cardboard - 2" x 18"
Cut 1 strip 1" x 18"

The length of the strips does not really matter, but for my purposes, I created then 18 inches long.

Step 2

Cut the toilet paper rolls down to the correct sizes. My rolls were 4" long.

2 rolls leave full length, cut 2 rolls down to 3" long, cut 1 roll in half, making 2 - 2" lengths, cut 1 roll into quarters, make 4 - 1" lengths.

Step 3

I forgot to take a picture of step 3

Glue the smaller 1-1/2" strip to the base of the 2" strip as shown in the image to the left.

Do this 5 times to make the 5 shelves.

Step 4

Take one of the glued shelves, and glue 3 of the 1" cut rolls to the bottom of the self as shown.

The position does not have to be exact, as they are just used for support.

Step 5

Take one shelf, and placing it with the small side down on the table.

Put a bead of hot glue onto the front surface of the shelf you just glued the 1" rings on, then glue it to the back of the lower shelf.

Step 6

With each of the next shelves, repeat the earlier steps,  gluing the next size larger tubes to the bottom of the smaller side of each of the remaining shelves, and then gluing to the back of lower shelves.

Stagger the rolls for he supports.

Step 7

When they are all glued together, it will look similar to the image on the left.

You will then want to cut out sides for the shelves.  I just place the shelves on their side and cut out a section large enough to glue to each side.

Step 8

When you glue the sides of the shelves, you can use a bowl, or something else round to cut the corners to make them look a little better.

Glue the 1" x 18" strip for the front lip to the bottom shelf and the sides.

When it's complete, it will look similar to the image on the left.

I included the original one I built on the left to compare the two.

With this version, I added another row and made it a lot wider.

Last step

Use a cheap craft or spray paint to paint the cardboard whatever color you like.  I choose a light grey, using cheap Wal-Mart spray paint.

Here is the finished rack with my paints and a few models thrown in for the heck of it.




This project took me about an hour or so to complete, and as you can see does not look that bad.  It is pretty sturdy and holds a good number of paint pots.  You can change the size/width of the bottom pieces of the shelves to fit bigger paint pots if needed, and the width of the shelves can be any length you want to make them, as long as they are all the same length.  As far as the height/number of shelves, that is also up to you, you can continue to add shelves in the same manner, you just may need to use another material to use as supports under the 6th or higher shelves.

I hope you like my little DIY project, and let me know in the comments below if you end up making one for yourself.

Until next time, stay safe, and always try to have fun.