DIY Boot Glove Dryer
Sopping wet boots and gloves take a long time to dry on their own and there is nothing worse than starting your day outside with a pair of cold, wet feet and hands. A boot and glove dryer is essential, if you come home soaking wet often. Instead of purchasing an expensive commercial dryer, build your own low energy, low cost boot and glove dryer -- saving yourself a considerable amount of money.
Things You'll Need
- Large sheet of 1/2-inch plywood
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Jig saw
- 18 inch length of 1.5-inch PVC pipe
- Hack saw
- Sandpaper
- Drill
- 3/4-inch and 1/2-inch drill bits
- 1.5-inch core drill bit
- 12 volt computer fan
- Philips drill bit
- 12 volt AC adapter plug
- Wire tape
- 1-inch deck screws
- 1.5-inch PVC coupling
- 1.5-inch PVC caps
Instructions
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1
Measure four 15-by-6 inch side walls on the large sheet of plywood with a measuring tape. Mark the measurements with a pencil.
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2
Next, measure one 15-by-15 inch cover on the large sheet of plywood with measuring tape. Mark the measurements with a pencil
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3
Cut the plywood sheets along the markings with a jig saw.
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4
Measure two 6-inch lengths and two 3-inch lengths on the PVC pipe with a measuring tape and mark each measurement with a pencil.
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5
Cut the pipe along the markings with a hack saw. Smooth out the jagged edges with sandpaper.
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6
Drill several 1/2-inch and 3/4-inch holes into the PVC pipe pieces. Leave roughly 2.5-inches from the bottom intact.
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7
Drill four 3/4-inch holes through the 15-by-15 inch plywood cover. Leave roughly 4 inches between each hole and space the holes roughly 2 inches away from the edges.
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8
Place the 12 volt computer fan against the center of one of the side panels. Mark the cut line by tracing the fan with a pencil. Cut along the markings with a jig saw.
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9
Fit the fan through the hole in the side panel. Fasten the fan mount to the panel using the provided mounting screws.
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10
Drill a 3/4-inch hole 2 inches to the right of the computer fan with the drill and 3/4 inch drill bit. Fit the wire of the 12 volt AC adapter through the hole.
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11
Wire the 12 volt adapter to the fan leads. Seal the exposed wire with a coat of wire tape. Pull the wire flat against the inside of the panel.
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12
Screw all four side panels together using two 1-inch deck screws roughly one inch from the top and bottom corners with the drill and Philips drill bit.
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13
Place the 15-by-15 inch lid onto the connected side panels. Line up the edges and fasten the lid to the panels with nine 1-inch deck screws evenly spaced around the edge, leaving one inch space from each corner.
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14
Fit the PVC couplings onto the ends of the PVC pipe lengths. Slide each coupling up each PVC pipe until roughly one inch of pipe is sticking out.
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15
Firmly push the 1-inch length of the PVC sticking out of each coupling through the four holes in the lid, until the coupling is flush against the plywood.
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16
Firmly press a 1.5-inch cap onto the top of each PVC pipe.
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17
Plug in the 12 volt AC adapter into an outlet to turn the dryer on. Fit your boots over the longer PVC pipes and the gloves over the shorter ones.
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Tips & Warnings
This dryer is designed for low power consumption and will dry a pair of boots in roughly 30 minutes and a pair of gloves in 20 minutes.
The pipes will fit into the lid quite snugly, but for an improved seal, add a thin layer of caulking or hot glue around each coupling, where it meets the plywood.
