Here's a way to recycle your prunings into handy hooks that are easy to make. Mounted on a weathered board, the hooks work great in the potting shed for hanging tools and gardening gear. Or, put them up on the porch for your hat and raincoat.
TOOLS AND MATERIALS
- Pruning saw (or crosscut handsaw)
- Tape measure
- Small C-clamp
- Drill and bits
- 10 3/4-inch No. 6 stainless steel screws with oval heads
- Screwdriver
- Safety glasses
- Pocketknife
- Weathered board
ASSEMBLY
1.
Choose three stout branches for your hooks. The main branches should be at least 1 inch in diameter, but the offshoot can be smaller. Use a hardwood such as cherry, maple or apple. Cut the main branch to leave about 2 inches above and below the offshoot. Cut the offshoot so that it's 2 or 3 inches long.
2.
Clamp the branch securely to a work surface. Use the handsaw to cut each main branch in half vertically, which forms the wall side of the hook.
3.
Round all cut edges with pocketknife.
4.
Drill holes about 1 inch from both ends of each main branch with a countersink bit one size smaller in diameter than your screws. Screw the three hooks to a weathered board.
5.
Drill holes in each corner of the board and attach to wood wall with screws. (Use wall anchors if attaching to drywall.) Now, just put your new hanger to work.
-- Homes & Gardens staff
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