How to Make a Doorknob Coatrack

Skill

EasyGathering the materials is probably the most challenging part of the project, though it’s great fun, too.

Cost

Between $5 and $50 per knob, depending on pattern. Trim boards cost about $35, dummy spindles about $6.

Estimated Time

1 to 2 hours

Tape measure
combination square
Pencil
Screwdriver
hot glue gun

At my house, coats pile up on dining room chairs and get put away only when dinner guests actually need to sit. I have a coat closet—two, in fact—but after a long day at work, I hate messing with hangers. So for a project using vintage metal doorknobs, a toss-and-go coatrack seemed just the antidote for my lazy ways. I had six knobs and their matching rosette backplates; all I needed was a nice old board to mount them on. Lucky for me, my boss, This Old House editor Scott Omelianuk, was willing to part with some chestnut trim he salvaged after taking down a wall during his house renovation. Here’s the step-by-step for how to build the rack.

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Step 1

Determine Knob Placement

Start by lightly sanding the board to create a smooth working surface. Then arrange the doorknobs across the board’s face to see how they’ll look after they’re attached. Once you’ve determined their rough placement, remove the knobs.

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Step 2

Mark the Placement

Use a pencil and the straightedge of a combination square, lightly draw a horizontal line across the center of the board.

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Step 3

Calculate Spacing

Use the ruler on your combination square or a tape measure to calculate the exact distance between each knob, and then mark evenly spaced vertical lines through the horizontal line to indicate their placement.

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Step 4

Attach the Dummy Spindles

Position a dummy spindle over each cross-hatch marking and attach the spindle with screws. (Note: For knobs with insignias or letters, you may need to position the spindles on the diagonal so their patterns can be properly viewed.)

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