Modular Tiered Paint Rack

TLDR 

This is a modular paint rack system that has interlocking parts and allows for expansion to be as wide as you have space for. There are options for 3,4,5, or 6 tiers of trays for paint bottles as well as a brush holder. All parts are compatible with each other and you should be able to mix and match tiers though the back piece will not fit if they are different sizes. There are options for either Army Painter/Vallejo Bottles or Citadel Pots currently.

Description

I had previously used the linked model from Fuchsr as the paint rack for my hobby desk and had a few changes that I would have liked, so I remade the entire thing.

This system is based off the 24.5mm version of the previous model and I have no plans to remake the 36mm bottle version. This remodel should allow for much easier swapping of modules as instead of having to pull out a push click connector you can simply press up from below the tier and it will pop right out. The tolerances on this can be rather tight but my printer is only half calibrated and everything fit together fine. Tolerances should not be a big problem unless you have a major print error or have done zero calibration.

Please leave a comment if you find some major flaw with this design.

Key Features

• Changed connectors from a click in to dovetails

  • The click in connectors were nice but I personally did not care for them and had to do a lot of cutting and scraping to make everything fit. 

  • Depending on print orientation there may still be minor cutting involved in getting the dovetails to fit but it is greatly reduced from before.

  • Changing to dovetails makes the model much less filament dependent. Previously the click in connectors could become rather fragile if printing in materials like PLA.

• Added citadel bottle holders

  • Technically these already existed with the Tamiya bottle tiers and system but they were not compatible with the Army Painter/Vallejo system.

• Option for sides that will hook into the bottom of a U.S. General toolbox

  • Saw some other models that had a similar idea, made it myself since I also use one of those boxes in my hobby space.

  • The holes for optional magnets are sized for 5x2 mm magnets.

• Rounded the openings to everything

  • Previous model had straight walled slots for everything. Not a terrible inconvenience but I rounded the top of the openings to make it ever so slightly easier to insert bottles or brushes.

• Added cross bracing to the back piece

  • Probably not necessary but I was already making the whole thing again so why not.

UPDATES

08AUG2026 - added a couple of flat trays. One is a short tray that will fit all tiers, the other is a double tray that will fit any two adjacent tiers. Please use supports to keep the dovetails from failing.

Print Settings

Filament Used

I used Elegoo ABS but any reasonably rigid filament should work.

Print Orientation

All files are oriented in the best print orientation that I've found during testing. The only ones that I would change if you want to while printing are the sides. The sides default to standing up, which can require a little bit of scraping on the back dovetail to get a good fit. If you print them laying down it can fix that but may require much more work overall for the center pieces and the toolbox compatible sides. Depending on your printer/filament you should be able to press fit the magnets with your hands or a pair of pliers. I have not had any of the magnets fall or pull out and I press fit them with pliers.

Slicer Settings

Layer Height - 0.2 mm

Wall Loops- 3 (can do 2, just bump up the infil)

Sparse Infil - 15%

Ironing - Optional, but makes it look nicer.

Supports - Only absolutely necessary for the brush holder if not printed upside down. If desired for the sides to help with the back dovetails while printing standing supports will only generate at 25 degree threshold angle. As stated previously, should not be necessary for the sides and may cause more problems depending on your interface layers.