Expert: Jamie Yocono - 10/2/2006

Question
Hello Jamie

i was wondering if you could help me with a small project. I would like to create a lattice type wine rack insert in of my kitchen cabinets. They look relatively easy to make but I can't find any patterns or instructions on how to make it. I am not that handy, so any simplified version would be best for me.

Thanks so much in advance!
-Susan

Answer
Hi Susan,

I looked in a few of my supplier's catalogs to see what you're talking about. I've never really paid that much attention to a lattice wine storage unit, but I found some information to share.

First, I found a place that sells the lattice panels online. Cut and paste this link in your browser and you should be able to pull up a page that gives you a lot of information, as well as a price.

http://www.thehardwarehut.com/catalog-product.php?p_ref=3851

I just called my supplier about a different matter and while I was on the phone, I inquired about this lattice, asking what my wholesale price would be. Here's the kicker- they just quoted me $68.41 for the same thing that this page shows at $63.18, so this site is offering pretty decent prices for these lattice panels. You might be able to find them in your area, they're manufactured by a company called Omega National Products.

Now, I know you inquired about building you own, and I looked at a few of the websites I use for plans, but couldn't find anything that would help you.  But if you have a few tools and some basic skills, this really should be too difficult. If I were making a lattice panel, I would use some solid wood stock, and cut some interlocking half-lap joints in the wood, so that the lattice all fits together like a big 3-D puzzle.  The easiest thing to do would be to rout a dado every 4 inches in a wide board, and then rip the board into thinner strips, and all your dados will match. I suspect you will have to make a couple of practice pieces, to test out your joints, but that shouldn't be too hard. You'll need a tablesaw, and possibly a router to build this. So if you have those two tools, you probably can make this just fine.

But.....I think if you price out the cost of materials, and figure out how long it's going to take you to make something like this, you might be better off just buying the lattice panels already made, like off this website. I think that's a very decent price to pay, and if you're lucky, you might find even less expensive in your area. If you're near a big city, look up woodworking stores in your area. Woodworker's Supply (woodworker.com) carries these lattice panels, I just looked that up in their catalog. Try this link:

http://www.woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=917-480

And the price is even better than the other link I sent you above.

Anyway, the lattice panels are out there, and as far as I can tell, the prices vary. So do a little Internet search and you'll probably find it's better to buy them, than make them. At least, that's what I would do.

OK, Good luck, I hope this helps. Please feel free to write back if you have any further questions after reading this. And if this answer was helpful... please take a minute and rate my service. Thanks!

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com