An easy-to-build tool rack that will organise your garden life!
I adore gardening – there’s nothing I’d rather do more. Alas, like many others, I also have a day job, which is why it’s so important that when I do get a spare hour or two in the garden, I don’t waste it hunting for my gardening tools. Enter, the best piece of garden infrastructure I’ve ever built – my simple tool rack. It holds up to 15 garden implements, fits onto a small space on the garage or garden shed wall (or even under the eaves of the house), and is so easy to construct.
Materials1170mm length of 100mm x 50mm (4" x 2") recycled wood 1800mm length of 15mm-diameter metal pipe 3 x 100mm nails Paint (optional)
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ToolsSaw Tape measure Marker pen Drill and bit Hacksaw Hammer Paintbrush (optional) |
Step 1
Make six marks along the centre of the widest side of your piece of wood. Make the first mark 180mm from one end of the piece of wood. Make the second mark 70mm along from the first mark. Make the third mark 300mm along from the second mark. Repeat these last two steps until you have six marks.
Step 2
Using your marks as guides, drill six holes through the wood (use a bit that will make a hole about 1mm less in diameter than your metal pipe). Hold your drill on a slight angle so each hole slopes slightly up towards what will be the top edge of your tool rack.
Step 3
Use your hacksaw to cut the metal pipe into 6 x 300mm lengths.
Step 4
Use your hammer to tap each length of pipe into a hole.
Step 5
Paint your tool rack (optional).
Step 6
Position your tool rack where you want it to go, and nail it into place.
Step 7
The pairs of pipes allow you to hang tools by their handles or blades.
Step 8
Your tool rack will hold up to 15 implements.
Top Tip
I drilled my holes with an old-fashioned brace and bit, but if you don’t have this handy tool, or even a modern drill, take your length of marked wood into a joiner, who will have the job done for you in minutes (and probably swap the labour for a batch of scones!).
Tool treat
Treat your hard-working garden tools to a manicure. Mix some old car oil into a bucket of river sand or sieved builders’ mix. Keep the bucket below your tool rack. Each time you’ve finished using an implement, dip its blade into the bucket two or three times before hanging it up. The metal will shine, and your tools with thank you for the treat!
