Boot and Shoe Rack
€12,00
Boot and Shoe Rack
€12,00
The old book describes "a rack of very simple construction": two oak ends, each with a hand slot, and four round rails glued into blind holes. Ours is a mudroom rack for adult boots and shoes, 33 1/2" (851 mm) long, with two tiers whose open rails let water drip through.
At a glance
- Size: 33 1/2" (851 mm) wide, 10" (254 mm) deep, 12" (305 mm) high
- Skill: Beginner
- Build time: Two weekends, plus 3 weeks for the oil to cure
- Materials: approx. US$70–115
- In the plan: 16-page PDF, US Letter, 13 illustrated steps, imperial, with metric in the lists and steps
Inside the 16-page plan
- The original article and its drawings, restored and reproduced in full
- An exploded drawing that shows how every part goes together
- Dimensioned views of the finished build, in feet and inches
- Materials list and hardware schedule, with today's actual lumber sizes and metric equivalents
- Cut list, so you can cut everything before you start assembling
- Clear illustrated step-by-step assembly drawings: one job per step, every part drawn, fastener positions marked
Safety: Not a step, seat or toy: do not stand, sit or climb on it. Pulling a boot off tips it toward you: empty, at about 4 1/4 lb (1.9 kg) at the top rail; with 40 lb (18 kg) of boots toed forward, about 19 lb (8.6 kg). A wall behind does not stop that: tie it to wall studs with its two cords (steps 12, 13), which hold a 40 lb (18 kg) pull (our estimate, not a test). Load 20 lb (9 kg) a tier at most. Carry it by both hand slots, never by one.
The PDF plan is a digital download; nothing ships. Adapted from "Simple Boot and Shoe Rack", The Practical Woodworker, vol. 1, pp. 376-378, with Figs. 19 and 20, an unsigned public-domain article. Restored, redrawn and edited by Square & Furrow, produced with AI-assisted tools and checked against the original article. Not affiliated with the original publisher.
Illustrated step by step
Imperial + metric
Cut list & checklist
Instant PDF download
Built to work
Boot and Shoe Rack
Built in home workshops more than a century ago, and redrawn for the way you build today.
RenderingFrom the workshop archive
Restored from the original article
From the archive
“Simple Boot and Shoe Rack”
Public domain · restored by Square & Furrow
This is the public-domain how-to article home craftsmen built from more than a century ago. We restore its drawings and reproduce the article in full inside your plan, then rebuild it as a modern edition: today's lumber sizes, metric measurements, a cut list and illustrated steps. Every dimension is checked against the original.
Step by step
Every part drawn. Every fastener marked.
Each step is one job with its own clear drawing: the parts it adds are shaded, every nail and screw position is marked, and the hardware and tools sit right beside it. An exploded view shows how the whole build goes together before you make a single cut.
Before you build
Your tools & materials checklist
Tick what you already have. Whatever is left is your shopping list. Your ticks are saved on this device, so you can come back to it from the lumber yard.
0 of 0 on hand
Tools
Materials
Cutting layout: Fig. 1. Measure each dowel in the shop with the calipers: take 0.995 to 1.010" (25.3 to 25.7 mm). Pick oak with straight grain at the slot.
Questions about this plan
What are the finished dimensions?
33 1/2" (851 mm) wide, 10" (254 mm) deep, 12" (305 mm) high. The drawings are dimensioned in feet and inches; the materials list, cut list and steps give metric sizes alongside.
What skill level do I need, and how long does it take?
It's rated beginner. Expected build time: Two weekends, plus 3 weeks for the oil to cure. Each step names the tools it uses, so it's written for first-time builders.
How much does it cost to build?
Roughly US$70–115 in materials at typical US lumber-yard prices. Prices vary a lot by region, so price the materials list at your local yard before you start.
What tools do I need?
Pencil; Try square; Awl; Dial or digital calipers; Scissors; Printer (pattern at 100%, 2 sheets); Masking tape; Crosscut saw; Rip saw; Jigsaw with a 10 TPI wood blade; Rasp; File; Sanding block; Sandpaper 80, 120 and 150 grit; Lint-free rags; Mallet; Drill press with a 1" (25 mm) Forstner bit and a depth stop; 2 bar clamps, 40" (1 m) opening or more; 2 C-clamps, 4" (100 mm) opening or more; Glue brush; Scrap board and 4 cauls; Damp cloth; No drill press: hand drill with a depth-stop collar and a guide block, or a brace and 1" bit; Hand drill or drill/driver with a 1/8" (3 mm) bit (wall-eye pilots); Screwdriver; Stud finder; Level; Lighter (seals the cord ends); Toggle bolts with an eye, rated 80 lb or more (only if no two studs); Disposable brushes, mixing cups and sticks; Paper towels; Nitrile gloves; Wood veneer strip; Scrap block about 2" (51 mm) high for the rails (stacked scrap, taped); plus a tape, pencil, safety glasses, hearing protection and gloves. The interactive checklist on this page lets you tick off what you already own.
Where does this plan come from?
It is restored from "Simple Boot and Shoe Rack", The Practical Woodworker, vol. 1, pp. 376-378, with Figs. 19 and 20, an unsigned how-to article from that is now in the public domain. We redrew it as a modern build guide with a materials list, metric sizes, a cut list and clear illustrated step-by-step assembly drawings, every part drawn. Every dimension follows the original article, and the article is reproduced inside. This edition is our own; it is not affiliated with or endorsed by the original publisher.
Can a beginner follow it?
Yes. Each step is a single job with its own drawing: the parts that step adds are shaded, the nails, screws and bolts it drives are marked where they go, and the hardware for that step is listed beside it. An exploded drawing at the front shows how the whole build goes together before you cut anything.
What do I get?
A 16-page print-ready PDF (US Letter) to download after purchase. It prints well at home or at a copy shop, and reads fine on a tablet in the workshop.