CD Rack From Old CDs

This CD rack looks really good (if somewhat kitsch) and is not rocket science to make. You just have to measure stuff properly and be careful while you work, or, like me, you will have to start again three times.

15 CDs
1 5mm threaded rob (usually sold in 1m lengths)
8 5mm hex nuts
5 5mm lock nuts
100 5mm rivet washers (usually sold in packets of 100)
1 20mm dowel stick
Permanent marker

Take one CD and mark a dot on either side of the centre hole, midway between the centre hole and the edge of the CD. Make sure one dot is about 1cm above the other one (take a look at the image to see how to mark it out).

With a 5mm drill-bit, drill two holes where you’ve put the marks. This is the template for the rest CDs.

Take a stack of about three CDs at a time and, using the template, carefully drill out the holes. Make sure to set the drill on the slowest setting and drill very slowly.

Once you’ve drilled all the holes, cut the threaded rod into two 25cm long pieces with a hacksaw. File the ends of the pieces smooth with a file or some rough sandpaper.

Now assemble the rack. Put the rods through once CD and put a hex nut on the one end. Now put 7 washers on each rod and then another CD. Every 5 CDs you can put a hex nut on and tighten the whole lot up, but be careful not to crack the CDs, like I did, twice. A hex nut is as wide as 2 washers, so you only need to put 5 washers and a hex nut on for every fifth CD.

Once you’ve put all the CDs on, tighten it all up so that there’s no play in the CDs or threaded rod.

Now cut two 7cm and two 6cm pieces of dowel. Drill a 5mm hole 1cm from the top of each. These are the legs of the rack. You can paint them if you like.

Now attach the longer legs to the rods higher above the centre hole, using lock nuts. Do the same with the shorter legs. Now just make sure the whole thing stands straight and tighten the lock nuts.