How to Build a Clothes Dryer Rack for Outside

Preparation

• 1

  With a stud finder, mark the three stud locations for your rack: two on the bottom for the hinges (spaced 32 inches apart) and one centered at the top for the swing catch (36 inches from the hinges).

• 2

  Cut the pine boards into two sides measuring 36 inches in length. Cut the second pine board, so the top/bottom pieces measure 30.5 inches in length.

• 3

  Use the leftover wood to cut two 3-by-3-inch horizontal and vertical top supports.

• 4

  With a pencil, mark eight center holes spaced 4 inches apart on the sides.

• 5

  Lay the two sides face to face. With a Forstner drill bit, drill the holes through the two sides at once.

Assembly

• 6

  Apply wood glue to the holes in the sides. Insert a dowel for each corresponding hole in the sides.

• 7

  Apply glue to the ends of the top/bottom wood pieces, as well as the ends of the sides. Press the sides to the top and bottom tightly. The frame of the dryer rack is now complete. Wait for the glue to dry.

• 8

  Drive two nails into each of the sides where the top/bottom pieces meet. The nails act as double the reinforcement.

• 9

  For a clean finish, sand the rack and paint the rack with semigloss wood finish. Allow time to dry.

Installation

• 10

  Take the vertical top support and attach it to the horizontal top support with wood glue. Drive a pair of nails through the horizontal top support into the vertical top support. The attached pieces should form an L shape.

• 11

  Drill another set of holes through the vertical top support into the wall.

• 12

  Screw the turn button into the front edge of the horizontal top support.

• 13

  Position the rack on the wall, aligning it with the newly installed top support. Mark the locations of the two hinges on the wall and bottom wood piece. The hinges must line up with the outside face of the sides.

• 14

  Remove the rack.

• 15

  Attach the hinge to the bottom piece of the wood. Then attach the hinge/rack to the wall.

• 16

  Rotate the turn button to catch the rack.

• 17

  Drill two pan head screws into the outer sides, between the top two dowels. Attach the chains to the sides using the pan head screws and washers.

• 18

  Attach the chains to the wall by driving two wall anchors into the wall. Drive the eye bolts into the wall anchor. Slip the chain onto the eye bolts.