How to Build a Coatrack
Everyone needs a place to hang his or her hat ‘ and coat. This project is so easy, you’ll want to make more than one.
Steps:
- Cut one end of a 6-foot decorative porch post so that the squared part is 5 inches long – this will be the top of your coatrack.
- Cut the other end so that the coatrack is the height you want it to be when finished.
- Sand the entire post, filling any cracks with wood putty.
- For the stand on the bottom, cut four 6-1/2-inch pieces of trim from a piece of 1-by-3 pine board.
- Glue one piece of trim flat on each side of the bottom of the coatrack. They should be vertical, and the bottoms should be flush with the bottom of the pole.
- Hold a 6-1/4-inch-by-8-1/2-inch gingerbread bracket over one of the trim pieces, with the longer side sticking out. Again, it should be flush with the bottom of the pole.
- Apply a liberal layer of glue to the bracket and stick it to the trim. Screw in three or four 1-1/2-inch-long wood screws to give it extra holding power.
- Attach the other gingerbread brackets the same way to the remaining sides of the bottom of the pole.
- Cut a 1-by-4 pine board into two 10-inch pieces and one 24-inch piece. These are the feet.
- Lay the post so that it’s on its side and apply glue to the bottoms of opposite brackets.
- Center the 24-inch foot piece across the bottom of the post and the glued brackets.
- Drive through a 1-1/2-inch wood screw at the center and every few inches out from it.
- Apply glue to the bottoms of the other two brackets and attach the 10-inch feet the same way.
- Center a wooden fence-post finial on the top of the post and screw it in.
- Paint or stain and allow it to dry completely.
- Fasten a metal coat hook to each flat side at the top of your new coatrack.
Tips:
Give the coatrack a nice shine by applying a final coat of clear polyurethane before attaching the hooks.