We did a raid with some copains on a plant in the South of France, which was liquidating its stock of exotic veneers. I indulged myself, only to discover that I could not properly store my little treasure. You need something that is not too heavy, but you need many trays, as well as easy access. Plus, the veneers are best kept flat.

Veneer Rack 9

After a few sleepless nights, I found a solution. I would use rebar, reinforced steel, that is normally used for concrete.
I used three diameters – 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, and cut them to lengths of respectively 25 cm, 45 cm, and 65 cm.Then, I rounded one of the ends with an angle grinder.

Veneer Rack 1

Two sheets of plywood were stacked one upon the other, and I drilled holes through both sheets, 5 cm between each hole vertically and 20 cm horizontally, with diameters of – you guessed right- 6, 8 and 10 mm for the bottom, middle and top rows.

Veneer Rack 4

The two sheets were fixed to the wall, perfectly aligned, with in between them a space of approx 6 cm by way of wooden beams. These beams were first screwed to the back sheet before this one was hung to the wall.

Veneer Rack 3

Once the two sheets in place, it was only a matter of hammering the rebar pieces through the holes. I then took some scrap irrigation PE piping of 16 mm diameter, and slid these on the rebars to avoid having rusty veneer in a few years.

Veneer Rack 2

Stack and label everything, the smallest veneers at the bottom, and you’re done:

Veneer Rack 5

Veneer Rack 8

The two vertical sheets of plywood with a space in between