Peg rails are small and convenient items to have in your home. They are useful for hanging various items such as hats, jackets, towels, and anything else that can be hung or draped on a peg.
Materials needed: – 1″ x 3″ piece of lumber* according to your desired length / 1″ x 3″ x 2′ priced at $3 – 1″ x 4″ piece of lumber* according to your desired length / 1″ x 4″ x 2′ priced at $4 – dowel rod according to your desired diameter* priced at $2.50 – circular pieces of wood or wood plugs slightly larger than the dowel diameter— purchase one for each peg at $1 each – Kreg screws for connecting the rail to the shelf— a pack costs $4, but you will only need a few – screws for mounting the rail— I only used two screws from a pack that costs $1.50 – drywall anchors if you are not drilling into a stud— a pack costs $2 – button plugs (size depends on your countersink bit)— a pack costs $2.50 – 180 grit sandpaper (not shown) priced at $3 – stain, primer, and paint as desired— the total cost should not exceed $8 – wood glue priced at $4.
If you do not already have any of these materials, the total cost will be $35. However, if you only purchase the wood and mounting screws, the DIY cost will be $13.
In order to complete the project, you will need the following tools: a power drill, a Kreg Jig for connecting the rail to the shelf, a hole saw, Forstner bit, regular drill, or spade bit that matches the size of your dowel rod, a regular drill bit for the mounting screws, a countersink drill bit (which is not shown), clamps, a hammer, a ruler or a t-square, and a pencil.
For our lumber selection, we opted for poplar pieces measuring 24 inches in length. It is not advisable to purchase softwood for this particular project as it may result in loose pegs in the future. We specifically selected poplar because it has a higher density compared to the less expensive whitewoods typically found at Lowes or Home Depot. Although poplar usually does not stain nicely, unless you come across a piece without yellowy grain throughout, it does accept paint very well.
When selecting a dowel and cap, we opted for a 5/8″ diameter dowel which we attached to a 1″ wood circle. However, this size may not be suitable for a variety of mugs as it is not narrow enough. Before choosing the diameter of your dowel and wood circle, consider what you will be hanging on the pegs. It is possible that your pegs may need to be narrower than the ones we used.
To start this project, cut the rail and shelf lumber to your preferred size. If you don’t have a saw at home, the lumber yard will be glad to assist you with this task. The boards we utilized were cut to a length of 23 inches.
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