DIY Rustic Coat Rack
Step-by-step guide made from Kathartic Studios's YouTube video.
A simple guide to building a rustic coat rack using a single plank of wood and cast iron hooks. The project covers sanding and finishing the wood, attaching the hardware, and securely mounting the rack to a wall.
- Difficulty: beginner
- Finished size: 3.5 feet long
Must know before you build
- Align hook spacing with 16-inch wall studs to use hook holes for hidden, secure mounting.
Tools
- Orbital Sander (Random orbital sander, DeWalt)
- Saw
- Lint-free cloth
- Tape Measure
- Drill/Driver (Cordless drill/driver, DeWalt, 20V MAX)
- Stud Finder (Electronic stud finder)
- Level
Materials
- Wood Plank (1, Pallet wood or Pine, approx. 1x6 x 3.5ft)
- Stainable Wood Filler
- Wood Stain (Varathane, Early American)
- Furniture Wax (Clear, Jolie)
- Cast Iron Coat Hooks (6)
- Mounting Screws (Wood screws, 2.5 inches)
Step by step
Step 1: Prepare the Wood Plank
A piece of scrap pallet wood is selected, sanded smooth on all sides with an orbital sander, and cut to its final length of 3.5 feet.
- Select and Cut the Wood. Choose a suitable piece of wood for the coat rack. You can use a piece of reclaimed pallet wood and cut it down to 3.5 feet long.
- Tip: If you don't have a saw, most lumber stores can cut a board to length for you.
- Sand the Surfaces. Using an orbital sander, sand all surfaces of the wood plank. This smooths the surface, removes splinters, evens out discoloration, and prepares the wood to accept stain.
- Tip: Sanding evens out the color, removes splinters, and helps the wood accept stain more evenly.
Step 2: Finish the Wood
Old nail holes are filled with wood filler, the plank is stained with two coats of "Early American" stain, and then sealed with clear furniture wax.
- Fill Nail Holes. Apply a stainable wood filler to any old nail holes or imperfections in the wood. Scrape off the excess and, once dry, sand the filled areas until they are smooth and flush with the surface.
- Apply Wood Stain. Using a lint-free cloth, wipe wood stain onto all surfaces of the plank. Use Varathane's "Early American" and apply a second coat to achieve a darker color.
- Tip: Applying a second coat of stain will darken the color.
- Seal with Furniture Wax. To protect the finish, apply a clear furniture wax with a lint-free cloth. Buff the wax into the wood to seal the stain and create a smooth, soft surface.
Step 3: Attach the Hooks
The positions for six cast iron hooks are measured and marked for even spacing, and then the hooks are screwed onto the finished plank.
- Measure and Mark Hook Placement. Measure the total length of the board and divide it by the number of hooks plus one (in this case, 7) to determine the spacing. Make small marks at each interval.
- Tip: Aim for 4 to 6 inches of space between each hook.
- Position and Adjust Hooks. Lay the hooks out on the board, centered on your marks. Since the reclaimed wood and cast hooks may not be perfectly uniform, adjust them by eye until the layout looks balanced and visually appealing.
- Screw Hooks to the Board. One by one, attach each hook to the board using a drill and the provided screws. Having a second person to hold the hook steady can be helpful.
- Common mistake: Using screws that are too long can poke through the back of the board.
- Tip: Having a second person to help hold the hooks in place can be very helpful.
Step 4: Mount the Coat Rack
The location for the coat rack is determined, wall studs are located, and the rack is mounted securely to the wall using long screws.
- Locate Wall Studs. Use a stud finder to locate and mark the studs in the wall where the coat rack will be installed. This is essential for a secure mount.
- Determine Mounting Height. Decide on the final height for the rack. A good starting point is about 5 feet from the floor, but you can test it by holding it up and seeing how a long coat hangs from it. In the video a height of 5'6" was chosen.
- Secure Rack to the Wall. Hold the coat rack in place, check that it's level, and drive 2.5-inch screws through the board and into the wall studs. Use the mounting holes on the outermost hooks for a clean, hidden installation.
- Tip: Use 2.5-inch screws to ensure they go through the board, the drywall, and deep into the stud.
- Tip: A clever trick is to align your hook placement with the wall studs (typically 16 inches apart) so you can use the hook's mounting holes to secure the entire rack to the wall for a hidden-fastener look.
- Watch out: If you can't hit studs, use high-capacity drywall anchors to ensure the rack is secure.