Why I Ditched Store-Bought Stands for This Simple Scrap Wood Project
I've always believed that the things we display in our homes should tell a story. When my daughter started getting into vinyl, her first favorite band was CAAMP. I wanted to give her a way to display that "Now Playing" album art that felt as special as the music itself.
I looked online, but everything was either cheap plastic or generic metal wire. None of it had soul.
""I didn't want just a stand; I wanted a piece of furniture that honored the ritual of listening to a record.""
So, I headed to my scrap pile. I had a beautiful piece of off-cut walnut from a floating shelf project just waiting for a purpose. In about an afternoon, I turned that "trash" into a custom display stand that now sits proudly on my hidden doorway bookcase. Best of all? It's one of the simplest woodworking projects you can make—perfect for beginners looking to create something real.
The Build: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Choose Your Wood
Choose whatever wood type you prefer. It should be at least 1" in height by 2" wide. I had some walnut left over from the floating shelf project, so I decided to use that. Woods like walnut, spalted maple, and oak work well with polyurethane finish.
Step 2: Mark and Cut the Slot
Stand your record up where you want it to be able to sit and mark the center with a pencil. Remove the record and measure 3.5" from center in each direction (total length 7"). Using a Dremel with a wood cutting wheel, cut along the 7" line as deep as your cutting wheel will allow. It doesn't really matter if you cut through the other side, just be careful not to damage your work surface.
Step 3: Create Character with Sanding
I wanted the edges of the record holder to have lots of character. To do this, I flipped my belt sander over and ran the wood in random patterns using 80-grit sandpaper. I kept the motions slow enough to give the wood a cool set of contours. Once I got the look I wanted, I used a random orbital sander with 120-grit. I popped the grain and hand sanded a second time with 120 grit.
Step 4: Apply Finish
Walnut has lots of natural color and beauty. I decided to skip the stain and go straight to applying a semi-gloss oil-based polyurethane. Polyurethane gives the wood a nice glow and semi-gloss avoids making the wood look like plastic. As with most projects, I applied three coats of polyurethane.
Step 5: Check the Fit
Once the polyurethane has fully dried, check the fit by placing the record in the newly created slit. Make any adjustments if needed to ensure the record sits securely but can be easily removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Hardwoods like walnut, oak, or maple are excellent choices because they are durable and heavy enough to provide stability for the record. They also finish beautifully. However, you can use any scrap wood you have on hand, even pine, if you like the look.
This specific design is meant for a single 'Now Playing' display. If you want to hold multiple records, you would need to cut a much wider slot or multiple parallel slots. Just ensure the base is wide enough to prevent tipping if you add more weight.
The slot cut by the Dremel wheel should be narrow enough to hold the record upright without it sliding too much. If you find it's too loose, you can line the inside of the slot with a thin strip of felt, which also helps protect the record sleeve.
A Dremel with a wood cutting wheel makes it very easy to cut a stopped slot (one that doesn't go all the way to the ends). You could also use a router with a straight bit, or even a table saw if you are comfortable cutting a stopped dado (though that is more advanced and requires safety precautions).