How to create a wooden towel rack with individual bars

To create a wooden towel rack with individual bars, you’ll need basic woodworking tools and materials. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Materials:

• Wood (e.g., pine, oak, or any wood of your choice)
  • For the back panel: 1 piece (around 2×6 inches, depending on the desired length of the rack)
  • For the bars: 3-4 pieces (around 1×1 inch, depending on the number of towel bars you want)
• Wood screws or nails
• Wood glue (optional for extra support)
• Sandpaper (to smooth the wood)
• Stain or paint (optional, for finishing)
• Wall mounting hardware (brackets or screws for wall attachment)

Tools:

• Measuring tape
• Saw (for cutting wood to the desired size)
• Drill (with a drill bit to match your screws)
• Level (to ensure your towel rack is straight)
• Screwdriver

Instructions:

Step 1: Plan and Measure

1. Determine the size of your towel rack. Decide how long and tall you want it to be based on the space available.
   • The back panel should be as wide as you need to fit all your towel bars comfortably.
   • For the individual bars, decide how far apart you want them (typically 4-6 inches apart).

Step 2: Cut the Wood

1. Cut the back panel to the desired length. For example, if you want a 24-inch rack, cut the back piece to 24 inches.
2. Cut the towel bars. Each bar should be slightly shorter than the width of the back panel (about 1 inch shorter on each side to leave space for the end supports). So for a 24-inch panel, each bar might be 22 inches long.
3. Sand all the edges to smooth out any rough spots.

Step 3: Attach the Bars to the Back Panel

1. Mark where you want each towel bar to go on the back panel, ensuring they’re evenly spaced.
2. Drill pilot holes for the screws at the marks you’ve made for each towel bar.
3. Apply wood glue to the ends of the towel bars (optional for extra strength).
4. Attach the towel bars to the back panel using screws or nails. You can also drill through the back panel into the bars for additional stability.

Step 4: Attach the Wall Brackets (Optional)

1. If you’re using brackets to hold the rack on the wall, measure and mark where the brackets will attach to the back panel.
2. Secure the brackets with screws.
   • Alternatively, you can drill directly into the back panel for wall screws if you’re mounting the rack directly to the wall.

Step 5: Sand and Finish

1. Sand the entire rack until it’s smooth, removing any rough areas.
2. Finish with wood stain or paint to protect the wood and match your room’s decor. Allow it to dry completely.

Step 6: Mount the Towel Rack

1. Find the studs in your wall and mark their positions.
2. Using a level, attach the towel rack to the wall by drilling screws into the studs through the mounting brackets or directly into the back panel.

And that’s it! You now have a stylish and functional wooden towel rack with individual bars.

For more woodworking projects, check out Teds Woodworking Course here.