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Stacking fishing rods in the corner of the garage is no way to treat expensive tackle. They can get tangled, fall over, and end up damaged. And they look messy, too.

This easy plan for a horizontal rod rack is your remedy. The rack accommodates four large rods and reels and is designed for wall mounting. This is a quick project–it might take you two hours–but can save many future headaches and broken rods.

  1. MAKE THE PIECES Cut two 3×30-inch backing strips and two 4½×24-inch rod support strips out of a 1×12-inch, No. 2 pine board. Round their corners using a saber or band saw.

  2. SAW THE SLOTS Stack the two support strips together. Starting 2½ inches from the bottom, drill four centered holes 5½ inches apart using a 1-inch Forstner bit. Be sure to put a backer block under the bottom strip to prevent splintering when the bit breaks through. Then, with a saber or band saw, cut angled slots to meet the holes.

  3. BORE THE BACKS Using a countersink bit, drill three ¼-inch-deep depressions into one of your backing strips: one at 6, one at 15, and one at 24 inches from the top of the strip. Using a 1/8-inch bit, bore holes through the center of these depressions. Repeat with the other backing strip. Finally, bore a centered hole 1½ inches from each end of the strips. You’ll use these last holes to mount the rack on your wall.

  4. ASSEMBLE THE RACK Sand all the pieces well. Then fasten them together by drilling self-starting wood screws through the countersunk holes in the backing strips and into the edges of the rod supports.

  5. FINISH AND MOUNT IT Touch up with paint, stain, or polyurethane, and glue felt to the insides of the rod slots. Mount the pieces on the wall of your garage.

TOOLS: • Electric drill • 1-inch Forstner bit, ¼-inch countersink bit, 1/8-inch standard bit • Band or saber saw • Paintbrush MATERIALS • One 6-foot-long No. 2 pine sheet, 1×12-inch: $9 • One box selfstarting brass wood screws: $4 • 4-ounce bottle Tacky Glue: $1 • 1 yard of felt: $5 WORK TIME • 1-2 hours TOTAL COST • $19

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