How to install WiiRacks

WiiRack Installation Instructions

The following are basic instructions for mounting your rack to the wall or other vertical surfaces. You will need a few basic tools but nothing you shouldn't have already. If worse comes to worse, you can follow these instructions with nothing but a hammer and Phillips screwdriver.

Mounting Location
The ideal location is on the wall near your Wii console with enough room below to allow the Nunchuk cords to hang freely. Drywall makes a good mounting surface, especially if you bought the larger rack and can locate the wooden studs. Most residential studs are spaced 16" on center and the larger, 4-gang WiiRack can snag both those studs through it's outer mounting holes.

Wood, whether it's some sort of panelling or the end of a cabinet, is another ideal mounting surface. Included with your WiiRack are fasteners for both applications. Let's start with drywall first.

Drywall Procedure

Step 1- Masking Tape
For a cleaner installation, it's best to put down a layer of wide masking tape over the area where you are mounting the rack. Then you can mark hole locations and level lines onto the tape without marking up the walls. Blue and Purple tapes are best in that they will lift cleanly off your painted walls. Painter's masking tape usually works well but General Purpose masking tape usually leaves an adhesive residue behind if it doesn't lift off your paint.

Stretch your tape out wider than you anticipate and throw down a couple extra strips if there is a question about whether your tape is wide enough.

Step 2 - Level Line
Preferably with a small level, strike a line on the masking tape about where you want your WiiRack. If you don't have a level, you can use a long straightedge and measure down from the ceiling, which should get you reasonable close.

Step 3 - Locate Studs
It is strongly suggested that at least one of the screws holding your rack go into a stud. There are many ways to find studs. A stud finder is the first choice. Barring that, you can usually find studs by knocking on the walls and listening for a higher pitched reverberation. I sometimes look down the wall in hopes of spotting where the screws are patched over. A magnet on a string will often grab a screw or nail head.

You can also drill a small hole into your level line and fish a coat hanger into the wall cavity to either side until you hit something hard. Lastly, you can drill a series of small holes along the level line until you find a stud, but be careful not to drill farther than the length of your WiiRack.

Word of CAUTION!: Drill gently into wall cavities. If your wall backs up to a bathroom or kitchen, pressurized water pipes could be just underneath the wall surface.

Step 4 - Attaching Your WiiRack
Once you have found a stud, mount the rack using one of the two 1 3/4" tapping screws. This length is ideal for 1/2" drywall. If you have thicker drywall or multiple layers, you will need a longer screw. As you are tightening the screw, double-check for level. When you are confident of the rack's position, insert the other tapping screw into the other mounting hole and tap it gently into the drywall using the Phillips screwdriver and hammer. Once the second hole is marked, loosen the first screw, let the rack hang free and remove the masking tape.

If you are mounting the 4-gang WiiRack, the second hole should fall on a stud if your studs are 16" on center. If not, you will need to use one of the two Molly bolts included in the hardware kit. Gently drill a 5/16" hole where you rapped in the tapping screw, insert the Molly bolt until it is flush, run down the Molly's screw until it tightens behind the drywall, and then remove the screw. Swing the Rack back into level position, re-insert the Molly screw and tighten down both screws, and you're done.

Hard Wooden Surface Instructions

The procedure for mounting WiiRacks to wooden surfaces is essentially the same as that for drywall, except you can skip the hunt for wood studs buried in the wall.

If the surface is really hard like particleboard or solid hardwood, a 7/64" pilot hole should be drilled before attempting to screw the WiiRack to the surface.

If the surface is the side of a cabinet, shorter screws may be needed to prevent them from penetrating and showing on the inside.

If the surface is thinner than 1/2" (12mm) you might need to use the Molly bolts included in the hardware kit for drywall.

If the mounting surface is really thin, a shorter Molly bolt is available upon request during ordering or afterwards at your local hardware store.

Care of Your WiiRack

Your WiiRack has a durable wood finish which should only require an occasional light dusting. At most, a damp cloth will handle any cleaning chores.

Thanks again for purchasing one of my WiiRacks. It may be returned for any reason within the first 30 days and is warranted forever against defects in material and especially workmanship.