How to Make a Collapsible Clothes Hanger

Collapsible clothes hangers are handy for hanging up jackets, coats and spare changes of clothing in gyms, offices and cubicles. All it takes to make it are a few items from the hardware store. Plus, you don't need any special tools or skills to make a collapsible hanger. You can get your local hardware store to pre-cut all of the items you will need. Overall, the project takes around 15 minutes to complete after the components are gathered. When you are done, you will have a triangular hanger that will look just like the metal or plastic hangers you use in your closet.

Things You'll Need

• 1 ½ inch U bend copper pipe
• 1 ½ inch brass nipple
• 1 6-inch length of ½ inch copper pipe
• 2 5-inch lengths of ½ inch copper pipe
• 6 inches of 12 gauge chain
• 19 inches of 12 gauge chain
• 2 large carabineers

Instructions

1. Thread the U bend copper pipe to the brass nipple (a small pipe with threading on the outside on both ends). Find the threading, or the etched lines on the ends of the pipes, to do this. You will want to put the male end (the part of the pipe that has threads on the outside) of the pipe into the female end (the part of the pipe that has treads on the inside) and twist the two together until they cannot be hand tightened any more.

2. Put the 6-inch length of chain through the hole in the middle of the the pipes you just threaded together. Attach a carabineer to each end of the chain. This will be the hook of the hanger.

3. Attach one end of the 19-inch length of chain to the carabineer that is at the end of the brass nipple.

4. Put the other end of the chain through the 5-inch long pipe, the 6-inch long pipe and the other 5-inch long pipe.

5. Put the carabineer that is by the brass nipple through the end of the chain to complete the hanger. Since the hanger is constructed with chain, it will collapse when it is not hung up. To hang it up, loop the "hook" made by the U bend and the nipple over a hanging bar or hook just like you would a hanger from your closet.

Tips & Warnings

• You may want to tighten the U bend and the brass nipple with a pair of pliers or a pipe wrench for extra durability.

• Sometimes the edges of pipes are sharp right after cutting, so watch your fingers.

References

• Common Pipe Sizes
• Types of Pipe
• A Variation of Design

Resources

• Where to Buy Copper Pipe Fittings