How to Attach Old Door Knobs for a Coat Rack

Clean the doorknobs before attaching them to the wood you're using for the coat rack. Use a damp, soft cloth to remove any dust. Use an old toothbrush to get rid of any dirt that has settled in the cracks.

Use a ruler and pencil to mark the points on your wood where you intend to place the door knobs. Use wood that enhances the look of your house -- unfinished, painted and varnished wood are all options. For a funky look, consider placing the doorknobs at differing heights. Position the knobs in either a vertical or horizontal layout. If you choose to hang your coat rack vertically, make sure that the doorknobs are positioned far enough away from one another to effectively hang coats and other objects.

Using a screwdriver, attach a dummy spindle to each point where you want to place a doorknob. Dummy spindles are the hardware used for doorknobs that will remain in a fixed position. They cost a few dollars each, at the time of publication, and can be found in many hardware stores. Screws are typically included.

Screw doorknob rosettes over each dummy spindle or use antique faceplates. Skip this step if you prefer the look of the doorknobs without the rosette or faceplate.

Use a hot glue gun to affix the doorknobs to the coat rack. Place the hot glue at the tip of the dummy spindle and press the doorknob down until it is flush with the wood.