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How to Hang a Coat Rack on a Metal Door

Coat racks come in many styles and sizes, with some smaller versions, such as peg racks, mounting directly to a vertical surface. While mounting a coat rack to a wall or a wooden door requires only a screwdriver, mounting one to a metal door is more challenging. A drill is required to create the initial pilot hole, and accurate alignment prevents unsightly holes after installation. Once installed, the coat rack is a permanent fixture on the door that provides extra storage space.

Things You'll Need

  • Pencil
  • Tape measure
  • Safety glasses
  • 1/4-inch cobalt drill bit
  • Drill
  • Nail set
  • Screwdriver (optional)
  • Sawhorses
  • Nail (optional)
  • Hammer
  • Sheet metal screws
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay the coat rack on a work table and draw two pencil marks to indicate the locations of the hanging holes. The best locations are on the inside of the pegs on either end. Use a tape measure to determine the center point between the pegs for aesthetic purposes. If the coat rack already has holes, skip this step.

    • 2

      Don safety glasses and drill holes in the coat rack using a 1/4-inch bit and a drill. Use a standard wood bit for wood racks and a cobalt bit for metal coat racks.

    • 3

      Locate the hinges on the metal door and insert a nail set or a screwdriver shaft in the bottom to dislodge the hinge pins. Set the pins aside and lift the door free from the frame. Place the door on top of two sawhorses.

    • 4

      Hold the coat rack up to the metal door until it is in the desired position. Insert a pencil through each hanging hole to transfer a mark to the door. Set the coat rack aside.

    • 5

      Insert a nail set tool or the tip of a metal nail on one pencil mark. Tap the head of the nail firmly with a hammer to create a dent in the door. Repeat the process on the other pencil mark. These indentations help prevent the drill bit from sliding.

    • 6

      Insert a 1/4-inch-diameter cobalt drill bit into a drill if one is not not already installed. Place the tip of the bit in one of the indentations and squeeze the trigger to drill a hole until you penetrate the door or puncture the inner hollow cavity. Repeat the process on the other indention.

    • 7

      Place the coat rack back on the door and align the holes with those in the metal door. Insert a 1/4-inch sheet metal screw through each hole using a power drill.

    • 8

      Rehang the metal door in the jamb by aligning the hinges and inserting the pins in each.