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By
PAUL LEWIS
Photography by ROGER YIP
Illustration by PAUL LEWIS |
RAISING THE BAR |
| Quality
materials make a simple design stylish |
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| Easy
walnut and aluminum towel bar |
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To build
this project you'll need some 1/2"-thick hardwood; I used some
scrap walnut and a length of 3/8" aluminum rod. The tools required
are a good handsaw (I used a small Japanese pull-saw), a drill
with a 1/2" Forstner bit, a #6 countersinking bit and a hacksaw.
Start
by laying out the pieces on the wood. Use a carpenter's square
to make sure all the corners are 90°. Cut out the rectangles
for the backs and sides of the brackets first then make the
diagonal cuts that complete the sides.
 Next, drill the
holes and countersinks to receive the screws that hold the project
to the wall.
The aluminum rod that eventually holds the towels sits in two
flat-bottomed holes on the inside of the brackets. Mark and
drill these now. Use a piece of masking tape wrapped around
the bit to act as a depth gauge. The tape prevents you from
drilling too far into the sides.
Sand all the pieces before assembly using some 100-grit paper.
Knock the sharp edges down as well. Attach the sides to the
back with screws driven in through the back: hold the side to
the back with a clamp to drill the pilot holes and countersinks.
Finish the brackets by wiping on a coat of stain with a soft
lint-free cloth followed by two coats of satin polyurethane.
To install the towel bar, screw one bracket to the wall first,
then fit the aluminum rod--cut to length with a hacksaw--into
the hole. Capture the other end of the rod in the second bracket,
level and install the screws.
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