So my mother has asked for a rack where she can hang her purses in her closet. The dilemma I have come across is this: If the purses will be hung on 2" diameter maple dowel, what will be the strongest most indestructible way to fastener the dowels to the board that will be mounted on the closet wall? So far, I am planning to drill a hole the size of the dowel to recess it slightly, but obviously I am going to need a very strong fastener or adhesive to hold the dowels in place long term. Since it is maple dowel, I'm not loving the idea of large screws. So far, these are the ideas I have come up with:
-Cams
-Super glue (CA glue)
-JB Weld or other epoxy
-threaded insert
If the board is 3/4" I would think a hole drilled all the way through and the dowel being 2.75" total with .75" mortised into the board, a glue like TBII should work.
the thing you did not indicate is the diameter of the dowel…this is an important factor in overall strength.
Rocky, I think he mentioned it was a 2" dowel. I agree that if you fully recess it into 3/4" stock on both sides, it will be plenty secure. Am I misunderstanding something?
I dont know how this would work with your design but I would try and find a way to wedge the dowel from the back side that way the glue is not the structural support. The wedge would tighten any slop in the drilled hole and use glue to keep the wedge in place
I would drill a recessed hole in a 3/4" board for the 2" dowel to sit in, than a thru hole in the center for a screw. On the back I would also make a very slight recessed 3/8" hole for screw head to sit in. Won't need much. Brush glue all around the inside and bottom of the recessed hole and insert the Dowel, than use one of my 1 1/4" self drilling pocket hole screws to permanantly attach the dowel in the hole. That should be more than adequate to hold purses. To Mount check your stud centers and mark position on your board, drill 3/8" hole about 3/8" deep, and small pilot hole in center. Mount to studs with 2 1/2" pocket hole screws, than put 3/8" plugs over the mounting hole. Mushroom plugs would be perfect so you could take it down in the future if you wanted to move it or paint behind it in the future.
Since I have a drill press, When I drilled the 2" holes I would tilt the table slightly and use Forstner bits, That way the dowels would have a slight upward angle.
Glue and a hole drilled all the way through will be fine. If your mom has some extremely heavy purses you can cut a kerf in the back of the peg and drive a wedge in it…..that coupled with glue should pretty much make it like one piece of wood..
Just thought I would add something, I made a rack of similiar design for holding levels and long edge clamps like you use for clamping across plywood and using as a cutting guide. Instead of using Wood for the dowels though I bought some 1/4" round steel stock and cut it into small pieces. Than I drilled a hole thru the 3/4" board and glued the rods in. Was extremely sturdy. Painted everything including the metal with ordinary house paint.
You're overthinking it; drill a through hole in the wood the dowels will go into (backpiece), regular woodworking glue.
Angle the holes in the back piece if you want. Not by more than 5*.
And 2" dowels are probably overkill. 1" would work fine, but if 2" is all you got…
Thanks for all the replies! I realized I left out an important detail. She wants to be able to hang 2 purses on each peg. So they will each be protruding 8" from the back board. The purses aren't terribly heavy but with the dowel being out that far it will put more stress on the joint. Lots of good ideas here thanks guys
Ah, much clearer picture in my head now. I would suggest a slight angle to the holes, as some others have said. A wedge also sounds like a great idea. I would think a screw through the top or bottom would give you some reassurance if you felt it was necessary.
Ever with two purses, everything I previously posted still applies.
Through hole, wood glue, a slight angle of you're feeling saucy.
It'll hold up just fine.
Unless your mother is going to be doing pull-ups on it, 2" is completely unnecessary. I have my Besseys hanging from a 3' board with 3/4" dowels. Each 3/4" dowel holds 4 clamps ( 40 or 48ish" is the longest I believe). The board is screwed into the wall (and as luck would have it only catches 1 stud). I drilled 3/4" holes in the board, put some glue on the end of the dowel and banged it down flush with the back.
But I was under the impression that a foxtail wedge was in a blind hole that was made wider at the bottom of the hole creating a wedge that wont pull out ever…
Maybe it is, maybe that's a variation, I just googled it and looked at the pictures it showed and immediately thought of a axe or hammer, if that not correct I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will correct us soon.
Cutting and fitting a properly fitting Foxtail wedge/mortice makes hand cut dovetails look like childs play
If it isn't perfection, it'll be too loose, or too tight, and it's not a joint that you pull apart swearing, wiping glue off.
By the time you realize it ISN'T perfect…it's garbage. Even too loose….it ain't comin' apart! Couple of wacks with a hammer….instant firewood!
Notice any disdain or hatred for the foxtail in my typing? It's something I've never been able to master.
Hmm I have never seen that joint before..interesting! I like the idea of a wedge I think I will give it a shot. Also, the reason I am using 2" dowel is not for strength..its supposed to keep the straps from stretching/changing their shape. I would have used 3" dowel if I could find it. Its supposed to mimic the curve of the shoulder.
I like whiskers idea with the recessed hole and a pocket hole screw run in from the rear. The glue joint won't break, the back board will break off the wall first!
You mentioned you would like to go even larger than 2" to prevent straps from stretching or getting misshaped, I don't know the technical term for it, but look in the stores for one of those stair parts that runs tween the floor and hand rail. One of those wouldn't break the bank and you might find something thicker than 2". Not a dowel, but you might be able to cut the ends off and get the center part out, which would than be a dowel.
I read about the foxtail wedge in the seventy's and never forgot because it looked hard to do and never heard of it again but I did remember it looked like a nightmare to get right…
I've never tried it mainly because I really haven't built anything worth crap but I really want to build some furniture with that joint and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna struggle using the type of joint.
I used a similar design to hang tools in my shed. Slightly angled dowels drill through a piece of 3/4" stock. it held shovels and similar tools with no problem (multiple on each peg). I don't imagine her purses would weigh more than that
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