Unbreakable Quilt Rack

This project came about because we were tired of buying quilt racks that fell apart under the weight of the quilts. We had bought several that were made with 1/2" pine doweling. Usually the glue joints failed in a short time, and repeated glueing only postponed the inevitable. Eventually, they just fell apart. We live in Michigan, and quilts and throws get used 6 months of the year.

The rack was made from air cured 3/4" red oak that I had gotten from my father's farm in Kentucky. All joints are mortise and tenon, and the rounded top was cut on the bandsaw using a pivot jig. The decorative edge was done with a cove bit on a router. I finished it with chestnut stain followed by a hand rubbed tung oil finish.

The design works well. It remains sturdy despite children climbing and pulling up on it from time to time. The finish has held up well to the cats that use it as a way to get to their favorite sunny window sill. This amazes me since I have other furniture with supposedly tougher finishes that do show scratches from the cats. There is very little that I would do differently. The simple clean lines go well with our other furniture. I considered getting a little more fancy with the side pieces, but in the end, I am glad that I let the woodgrain be emphasized on the sides.