How to Make a Yard Tool Rack

This project was a creation that came about when I was visiting my best friend last week. Maryann and I have been best friends since kindergarten. When we found ourselves with some time to spare, she went out with me to gather some good trash to use for a craft project. She wanted to make a rack to hang her yard tools from her fence. I was sure we could find what we needed with very little effort.

We made our way up one city alley and managed to find all we would need to make a yard tool rack. Maryann has a nice privacy fence and she wanted to make a rack that we could hang on her fence. We found a piece of exercise equipment that had metal bike fenders. The fenders along with some old broom handles would be perfect for making our tool rack.

It took us about a half hour to totally complete this project. As you can see in the photo featured with this article, the fenders give the rack a wide area that allows for large yard tools to easily slip in to place. Here is all you will need and all you need to know to make your own yard tool rack.

Items Needed To Make The Rack
1. 2 equally sized bike fenders
2. 2 broom handles
3. 4 screws
4. 4 bolts
5. A saw
6. A power drill
7. Sandpaper

Getting Started On The Yard Tool Rack
The first thing you will want to do is to cut your broom handles to an equal length. You will want to use a good sharp saw to make clean cuts on both ends. You can make the broom handles any length you want for this project but for the most commonly used yard tools, two feet is a good measurement.

After you make the cuts on your broom handles, you will want to use your sandpaper to go over both ends of each of them. Use a fairy rough grade of sandpaper to smooth off the ends. You might also want to use your sandpaper to go over the bike fenders you are using. If there are any sharp and rusty areas, be sure to go over them till they are smooth.

Assembling The Tool Rack
You will want to use your power drill to drill your screws fully through your broom handles and fenders. Start by drilling through the bottom of the broom handle and go all the way through the inside of your bike fender. Screw a bolt on to the screw before moving on to your next hole.

You can go about making your second hole by either attaching the bar to the other fender or by attaching the second bar to the fender you are already working on. The bike fenders are a little bulky and hard to work with. It is a good idea to have someone to help in holding things steady for you as you drill.

Keep adding bolts to the back of your screws every time you finish making your way fully through the handle and the fender. This will keep you from having to deal with sharp screws. Once you have all four screws in, you are finished assembling your yard tool rack.

All that is left to do is to slip the top end of the rack over the top edge of your fence. Side tools in to the rack sideways to allow them to drip clean. You will find that you can fit almost any yard tool into this rack from rakes to shovels. It is also perfect for hanging snow shovels and brooms.

You can decorate this yard rack with some paint or any other items you have around the house. You could easily attach beads or other gems with just a little hot glue. Use your imagination to make your rack uniquely your own. The rack that Maryann and I worked on was made out of items that were discarded as trash. That makes it one of my very favorite craft projects.