Saw of your choice: mitre saw, circular saw, jigsaw or handsaw
Orbital sander with 120 grit sandpaper disc
Power drill
Paintbrush, measuring tape and pencil
Speed square
Safety gear, gloves and glasses
3mm wood drill bit
COL pine timber 3 x 32mm x 32mm x 2.4m bars
Wood glue and 2 x clamps
Wood stain and clear sealer
4 x 45mm wood/chipboard wood screws and driver bit
Cutting list
2 x 32mm x 32mm x 1200mm (sides of longest wood towel bar)
2 x 32mm x 32mm x 800mm (sides of shorter wood towel bar)
2 x 32mm x 32mm x 700mm (length of cross towel bar)
2 x 32mm x 32mm x 220mm (base of the towel rack)
2 x 32mm x 32mm x 156mm (support braces between the two size towel bars)
PREP WORK befor your start making your Free-standing Towel Rack
How to build your DIY Free-standing Towel Rack
Step 1
Measure the lengths.
Use a pencil and measuring tape to mark the various lengths listed in the cutting list, and to draw a straight marked pencil line at the cutting points using a speed square. Mark and cut sections of the wood one at a time.
Step 2 :
Cut
Use a compound saw, make straight cuts to cut all the lengths to size. Wear all appropriate safety gear when operating this power tool.
Step 3 :
Sand
Lightly sand down the surfaces and edges of each length of pine on all sides, and wipe off excess sawdust.
Step 4
Mark Pilot holes
Mark out drill guide lines on either side of the 1200mm and 800mm pine lengths, at the ends, using the width of another piece of 32mm x 32mm timber. Mark the centre-point of the drill guide line with a pencil, to drill a hole through later.
Step 5
Drill.
With the 3mm wood drill bit, drill a hole in each marked out point on the guide lines. Place a scrap piece of wood under the timber you are drilling into, and make sure to wear all appropriate safety gear when operating this power tool.
Step 6
Secure
Apply wood glue to the joins of the towel rack side at the ends (1200mm
and 800mm lengths) to secure to the 700mm cross bars, creating an “athletics hurdle” shape.
Use a clamp to position all joints at a 90-degree angle and make sure all pine pieces are lying straight. Once secure, insert a driver bit into the power drill, and drive a wood screw into the pilot hole, joining the two pine wood lengths together.
Continue to do this to all joins, until you’ve created two “hurdle” shaped towel rods, one 1200mm high, the other 800mm high.
Join the ends of these secured towel rods to the 2 x 220mm base in the same fashion.
Optional step: For more stability, asecure two 156mm pine lengths in between the two differently sized towel rods with wood glue and screws.
TIP: Use the power drill to drive the wood screw heads slightly under the surface of the wood, to countersink them and conceal them with wood filler later. You can also use a countersink drill bit to do this.
Step 7
Stain, paint and seal.
Before painting, apply wood filler to all the countersunk wood screws. Once dry, sand lightly to conceal the screw heads for a neater overall look.
Lay out your project on a drop sheet, and apply a stain or paint colour of your choice. In this project, two coats of natural wood stain were applied for a rich finish.
Once the stain or paint is dry, apply a coat of clear, waterproof or water-resistant sealer, so that the free-standing rack can be used in the bathroom or outside by the pool.
