How to Build a Pool Towel Rack

Use PVC water pipe to make a towel rack for your pool.

In the summer when you're in and out of a pool, it can be difficult to keep a dry towel handy for each time you come out, ready to dry off. Laying your towel flat on the ground may help keep it dry, but it won't keep it clean. One alternative is to build a portable towel rack for your pool area that will help your towel dry between uses and still keep it clean and fresh.

Things You'll Need

• 2 plastic umbrella base stands
• 3 8-foot sections of 1 and 1/2-inch PVC pipe
• Saw box
• Hack saw
• 2 Three-way fittings
• 2 90-degree corners
• 5 Four-way fittings
• PVC glue
• 10 End caps

Instructions

1. Cut four pieces of 1 and 1/2-inch PVC pipe 24 inches long. Apply PVC glue around the outside edge of one pipe section and the inside edge of one three-way connector piece on the inline section. Slide the pipe into the connector. Glue the outside of a second pipe end and the inside of the opposing inline section of the same three-way connector. Insert the pipe into the connector. Repeat with the second set of pipes. These will form the legs of your towel rack.

2. Glue a 90-degree corner to the top of each leg so that the corner and the cross portion of the three-way connector face the same direction. Set these legs aside.

3. Cut 16 sections of PVC pipe 6 inches long. Position a four-way connector flat on the work table. Glue a 6 inch pipe into three of the four openings. Glue the last pipe into the fourth opening on one end and to a new four-way connector on the other end. The connectors should be flat on the table. Add your top and bottom pipe to the second four-way connector. Glue your fourth pipe for that connector in place and glue the other end to the next four-way connector. You should end up with five four-way connectors all connected in a line with pipes radiating to each side. This will be the top bar of your towel rack.

4. Fill the plastic umbrella base stands with water. Insert a PVC leg in each base's hole and tighten. Line up the legs so that the elbow openings are facing each other. Pre-fit the top bar into the 90-degree connectors of the rack's legs. The four-way connectors should be perpendicular to the legs and level with the ground. Glue the top bar and the 90-degree connectors together. Glue 10 end caps on your exposed 6-inch pipes.

5. Measure the distance between the legs at the three-way connectors half way down the legs. Add 1 inch to your measurement to allow for the pipe sliding inside the three-way connector. Cut and glue your lower cross bar into place. This gives you 10 top towel hooks and a lower continuous towel bar.

Tips & Warnings

• The beauty of this project is that you can modify your dimensions to fit your exact needs. You can add PVC feet to the bottom if you don't want to use umbrella stands and the stands are light enough to store easily during the winter.

References

• PVC Plans: Banner Frame Plan