How to build a coat rack

This step by step diy article is about how to build a coat rack. If you want to build a nice coat rack for your entryway with a classy design, we recommend you to pay attention to the instructions described in the article. Although there are many designs you could choose from, in this article we will show you all you have to know about making a coat rack out of common materials. If you have worked with lumber before, the carpentry techniques should be familiar to you.

Buy quality lumber, made for building lumber, if you want to get a durable coat rack. Nevertheless, you could save some money if you purchase lumber with knots, which could even enhance the look of project, giving it a rustic appearance. Select the slats with great attention, checking if they are in a good condition (the lumber has to be straight and without chips, dents or cracks).

Always aligned the components before locking them together with screws. In addition, we recommend you to pre-drill the lumber, otherwise the wood might easily split. Add glue to the joints, if you want to enhance their bond. Smooth the cut edges with fine grit sandpaper and remove the residues using a vacuum cleaner. Make sure you take a look over the related plans to get an idea about what you can build for your home. See all my Premium Plans in the Shop.

Building a coat rack

Materials

A – 2 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 13 1/2” long, 1 piece – 30 1/2″ long BASE
B – 4 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 3 1/2″ long LEGS
C – 1 piece of 4×4 lumber – 70″ long POST
D – 4 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 13″ long BRACES
E – 1 piece of 2×6 lumber – 5 1/2″ long PLATFORM
F – 1 piece of 4×4 post finial FINIAL

1 piece of 4×4 lumber – 6 ft
1 piece of 2×4 lumber – 12 ft
1 piece of 1×4 lumber – 2 ft
1 piece of 2×6 lumber – 1 ft
post finial
2 1/2″ screws
1 1/4″ screws
glue, stain
wood filler
coat hooks

Tools

Safety gloves, glasses
Miter saw, jigsaw
Chalk line, tape measure, spirit level, carpentry pencil
Drill machinery and drill bits

Tips

Pre-drill holes in the wooden components, before driving in the screws
Smooth the exposed edges, by using a router with a 1/4” bit

Time

One day

Building a coat rack

Building the base

First of all, you need to assemble the base for the coat rack. Therefore, you need to build the components out of 2×4 lumber. Cut the ends of the components at 45 degrees, by using a miter saw. Drill pocket holes along the uncut end of the short components and secure them to the main component with 2 1/2′ screws.

Attaching the legs

Next, attach the 1×4 pieces of lumber to the back of the base, in order to raise it 3/4″ from the ground. In this manner, the base will be more stable and it will have more character. Use finishing nails and waterproof glue to create rigid joints.

Fitting the vertical post

Build the main component of the coat rack out of 4×4 lumber. Smooth the cut ends with fine-grit sandpaper, after making sure the cuts are perfectly straight. Drill pocket holes along the bottom edges of the post and secure it to the base with 2 1/2″ screws. Add glue to the joint and make sure the corners are right-angled. In addition, we recommend you to use a spirit level when plumbing the post.

Installing the braces

Build 2×4 braces to enhance the support of the coat rack. Cut both ends of the braces at 45 degrees and secure them to the structure, by using galvanized screws. Add glue to the joints and remove the excess with a damp cloth.

Fitting the decorative post finial

If you really want to make your coat rack stand out, you need to attach a beautiful finial to the top. As you can easily notice in the diagram, we recommend you to cut a piece of 2×6 lumber to 5 1/2″ and to secure it to the top of the post, by using finishing nails and waterproof glue. Afterwards, install the finial to the platform, leaving no gaps between the components.

Fitting the hangers

One of the last steps is to fit the hangers to the top of the post, as described in the diagram. Choose hangers that suit your needs and match the design of the rest of the furniture in the room.

How to build a coat rack

Last but not least, you need to take care of the final touches. Therefore, you need fill all the holes with a good filler and let the compound to dry out properly, before sanding the wooden surface with 120-grit sandpaper.

Thank you for reading our article about how to build a coat rack and we recommend you to check out the rest of our home improvement projects. Don’t forget to share this projects to your friends, using the social media widgets, if you’ve found it useful.

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