Making your own closet rod is a task that anyone with some basic building knowledge will tackle without problems. All that is needed for this job is available at a lumber yard or home improvement store. Closet rods provide space for hanging clothes such as pants, shirts and jackets. Since they hold several garments at one time, the rod must be thick enough to handle their weight. You also need some brackets to hang them. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the inner width of the closet where the closet rod is going with a tape measure. Write down the measurement. Subtract half an inch for the width of the two brackets you will use to hang the rod. Each takes up about a quarter inch.
2. Buy a wood dowel that is at least 1 1/4 inches in diameter. These dowels are available at lumber yards and home improvement centers and are sold by the foot in different diameters. Have the dowel cut to your measurement. Or bring the dowel home, measure and cut it with a handsaw.
3. Purchase a metal pole made of aluminum or steel from a home improvement center or contractor supply store. Steel and aluminum pipe come in many diameters, including 1-inch widths suited for making closet rods. Cut the pipe with a pipe cutter or pipe saw to the length of your closet.
4. Find the studs at each end and in the center of the back closet wall by knocking on the walls with your knuckles. Where the sound does not echo or sound hollow, there is a stud. Make marks at these points with a pencil, 45 1/4 inches up the wall.
5. Place closet mounting brackets, which are available at home improvement stores, at the marks and mount them to the wall with provided screws and a screwdriver.
6. Lay the new closet rod into the brackets to hang the rod.
Tags: home improvement, available lumber, brackets hang, your closet