Draw a line down the center of one of the boards so it is ½-inch away from each edge. Draw 10 lines perpendicularly across the first line so they are spaced 1 inch apart and so the two outside lines are 1 inch away from the ends. Repeat this process on the other board.
Drill a 1/3-inch deep, 1/4-inch hole where the lines intersect on each board. Erase the remaining pencil marks.
Drill 2 ¼-inch holes through each board. The holes should be perpendicular to the first set of holes drilled, 1-½ inches away from each end and ½-inch away from each edge.
Lay the two boards flat, parallel, 5 inches apart and with the 10 holes on top. Place a dab of glue on each end of two dowels. Insert them into the ¼-inch holes that are drilled through the boards. These dowels will hold the sides of your plate rack together.
Place a dab of glue into each of the 3/8-inch deep holes and insert a dowel into each of the holes. Let the glue dry.
Sand the plate rack with your medium-grade sand paper and wipe it clean with your tack cloth.