How to Build a Boot Scraper
Building a boot scraper is a fun project that serves a purpose. A conveniently placed boot scraper will remind visitors and residents to wipe their boots before coming in so you will not have to worry about dirt being tracked inside. You can create a scraper by making a wood frame and combining it with ready-made products. You can build a boot scraper that will last for years in one afternoon.
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Things You'll Need
- 3/4-inch plywood
- Table saw
- 2 tile trowels, 4-inch x 9-inch
- Screwdriver
- Reciprocal saw with metal blade
- 5 steel bristle utility brushes, 2 1/2-inch x 7-inch
- Drill
- 3/8-inch drill bit
- 20 deck screws, 1 1/2-inch
- 10 deck screws, 2-inch
- 4 45-degree gussets, 3/4-inch x 1 1/2-inch
- 8 1/2-inch x 10 3/4-inch piece of indoor outdoor carpet
- Multipurpose adhesive
Instructions
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1
Use a table saw to cut one 8 1/2-inch x 10 3/4-inch piece of plywood for the floor of the boot scraper.
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2
Cut two 6-inch x 8 1/2-inch pieces of plywood for the sides.
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3
Take off the screws that hold the tile trowel handles on and remove the handles.
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4
Cut 1 inch from both 9-inch sides of each trowel. Use a reciprocal saw with a metal cutting blade installed to reduce them from 9 inches to 7 inches in length.
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5
Place the two 6-inch by 8 1/2-inch wooden sides flat on your work area and place one trowel on each. Center the trowels on the 8 1/2-inch length sides of the wood, a 1/2 inch above the top of the side, so a 1/2 inch of the trowels will be above the wood frame.
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6
Place a brush on top of each trowel. It should be flush with the top of the wooden side.
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7
Use a drill equipped with a 3/8th drill bit to drill four pilot holes through each brush and trowel. Place a pilot hole on each side and equally spaced along the brushes.
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8
Fasten the brushes and trowels to the sides by screwing 1 1/2-inch deck screws through each of the pilot holes into the wood sides.
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9
Set the 8 1/2-inch X 10 1/2-inch bottom piece flat on your work area. Line up one side piece against it with the trowel and brush to the top. Screw five 2-inch screws through the side into the bottom, 1 inch from each end and evenly spaced along the base, to fasten the side to the bottom. Attach the other side piece in the same manner.
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10
Install two 45-degree gussets at the front and back of each side to reinforce the sides to the bottom.
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11
Fasten the three remaining brushes to the top of the bottom piece of wood, 1 5/8 inches from each side, and evenly spaced front to rear, with the remaining 1 1/2-inch screws.
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12
Turn the assembled piece upside down. Use the multipurpose adhesive to glue the carpet to the bottom of the boot brush.
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Tips & Warnings
Your boot scraper will last longer if you apply two coats of polyurethane to the wood parts before assembly.
