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Fold-in rack
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This fold-in rack makes a great resting spot for damp swimwear
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By Rick Campbell, photos by Kathryn Hollinrake, illustration by Len Churchill
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The lower aluminum rod rides in a slot milled into the side of the rack. When open, the rod locks into place in an L-shaped notch
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By the pool, dock or deck, create the perfect place for wet bathing suits and towels to dry on this summer. When it's time to head back into the water, simply fold the arms back against the wall and the rack is out of the way. I used teak and aluminum rods for a long-lasting project but you can substitute other materials of your choice.
At Arms Length
Start by cutting the long and short segments for the arm assemblies. Make a template to lay out the curve and hole locations on each end for the pivot bolts and aluminum rods.
Drill 1/4"-dia. pivot bolt holes with a spiral bit then switch to a 1/2"-dia. Forstner bit and bore the flat-bottomed rod holes. Enlarge the rod holes using sandpaper wrapped around a dowel. This helps the segments move freely. Cut the curved ends on the arm segments and sand down to the layout lines.
Mounting Frame
Cut the vertical supports and cross braces for the mounting frame. Connect the arms to the mounting frame with pivot bolts on the top and an aluminum connecting rod on the bottom. The rod travels in a pair of 1/2" deep slots milled on the inside of the vertical supports and locks into an L-shaped pocket when the arms are extended.
Mill the slot on a router table with a 1/2"-dia. straight bit. Make reference lines on the outside face of the vertical supports to mark the leading and trailing edge of the bit. Mill the groove with multiple passes, raising the bit 1/8" for each pass. Once the slot is complete, reposition the fence and widen the slot 1/16". The widened slot prevents the rod from binding.
To make the L-shaped pocket, drill a 9/16"-dia. hole with a Forstner bit, and clean out the opening between the hole and the groove with a chisel.
Switch to a 1/4" spiral bit and drill pivot bolt holes in the top of the vertical pieces.
Attach the cross braces with notches in the back of the vertical frame. Cut these out with a bandsaw or use a tablesaw to nibble away the material.
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