Whether or not you’re organization obsessed when it comes to your garage, shed, or basement, it’s always a good idea to keep your tools up off the ground. String trimmers are no exception. They can be particularly hard to store because of their weird shape, so it typically works best to hang them on a wall.
Luckily it’s actually not too hard to build your own trimmer rack. As is the case with most DIY projects, there are a bunch of different methods and opinions regarding the best approach. The design I like is easy enough for anybody to put together and sturdy enough to support your trimmer.
Building Your Own Trimmer Rack – An Overview
To build your own trimmer rack you basically just need to design something that will hang the tool vertically from the engine or battery side. There is debate over trimmer storage – horizontal or vertical – but I would encourage you to go vertical to save space and prevent any accidental leaking or damage to your weed eater.
Why Make Your Own String Trimmer Storage Rack?
Storing your string trimmer properly is a great way to increase its life expectancy, but buying a specialized hanger costs more than most people would find reasonable. If you’re anything like me and you’ve got a bucket full of wood scraps, you can easily make one yourself for next to nothing.
Setting a string trimmer on the ground and leaning it up against something gets old fast and always ends up being in the way of whatever else you want to get at. Putting your trimmer up on the wall will save space and also make sure that the tool doesn’t get damaged over time. There are a bunch of fragile parts at the bottom/cutting end of trimmers that can easily get cracked or bent out of shape. Storing your trimmer by hanging it from the engine or battery end is a great way to protect it. If you go horizontal or hang it from the cutting side you could end up with a nasty fuel leak or even break the guard or spool on the trimmer.
What You Will Need to Build Your Own Trimmer Rack
I’ve found a good design for a string trimmer storage rack that provides plenty of support, and is simple enough to make with what you have at hand. Let’s take a look at the materials and tools you’ll need.
- Plywood (3/4 inch works best)
- One 10” x 8” piece
- One 7½” x 8” piece
- Two 4” x 4” triangle pieces
- Twelve 1½ inch screws
- Tape measure
- Drill
- Pencil or pen
- Band saw, coping saw, scroll saw or jigsaw
- Wood glue and clamps (optional)
- Drawing compass (optional and can be substituted using a round object with a diameter close to what you need)
How to Build Your Own Trimmer Rack – Step By Step
1. Measure your Trimmer’s Dimensions
This trimmer rack will involve a wooden slot that the trimmer is inserted into and a round cutout at the end of the slot that forms the seat for the tool. So, what you need to do first is measure the diameter of the handle or shaft of your trimmer just below where you want it to sit. You will probably be looking at a number around two inches here. This will be the width of the throat of the rack.
Now, measure the diameter at the base of the engine or bottom of the handle where you want the trimmer to actually sit once it is on the rack. This measurement will be for the saddle of the rack. The idea is to be able to insert the trimmer at a thinner part of the handle or shaft, and then lower it into a wider slot so that it can’t wiggle loose.
Lastly, measure the distance from the backside of the engine to the center of the handle or shaft where the tool will be seated on the rack. You’ll want to do this so that the trimmer sits straight up and down when it’s on the rack.
2. Lay Out Pieces and Drill Pilot Holes
First, take the 10″ x 8″ piece and lay it flat on your workbench. Then, measure 5″ to the middle of the 10″ side and mark center. Now, set the 7½” x 8″ piece on its 8″ side at the center so that it forms an upside-down T-shape. This 7½” x 8″ piece will eventually be sticking out from the wall with a slot to hold the trimmer and the 10” x 8” piece will be the back of the rack that gets screwed to the wall.
Once you have the two pieces arranged as you’d like, double-check the triangular support pieces fit, and then trace each side of the 7½” x 8” piece on the 10” x 8” piece. Drawing this rectangle will show you where to drill your pilot holes.
Once you have the rectangle marked, remove the other wood pieces and put three dots inside the rectangle where you’ll drill holes. I would measure about an inch in from either edge for two of the screws, and put the third one at center. These will be where you screw the 7½” x 8” piece to the 10” x 8” piece. If you have a wood clamp and glue, it would be helpful to use them here to secure both pieces together while drilling. If you don’t have a clamp, you can just make the same measurements on the 7½” x 8” piece and drill holes where it will be fastened.
3. Repeat Step 2 with the Triangular Support Pieces
With the triangular supports, you will want to lay them out, measure in from each edge about an inch again, and mark for two holes on each. Secure the pieces and drill the pilot holes. Be sure that they will lay flat against the 7½” x 8” piece when everything is assembled.
4. Mark and Cut a Slot and Saddle to Hold the Trimmer
Grab the 7½” x 8” piece and your pencil or pen and mark the center of it. This is where the saddle for the trimmer will be. Once you find the center, use a compass or a round object to trace a circle around it. Use the width measurement of where you want the trimmer to be sitting here. Though it depends on your own measurements, this should be a circle of about three inches or so in diameter.
Now, you will need to trace a slot that will connect the edge to the center hole. Use the measurement for the handle or shaft just below where you want your trimmer to sit here. Again, it will likely be around two inches wide. The edge you trace to the center from should be the 8″ edge opposite of the one that screws into the back of the rack. This edge will be sticking out perpendicular to the wall and needs a slot to insert the trimmer into.
Once you have everything marked, go ahead and cut out the slot and center hole.
5. Screw Everything Together
Now your pieces are all ready to be put together. Start by fastening the piece with the slot onto the largest piece using the three pre-drilled holes along the center. This will form the upside-down T-shape again with the slot sticking out.
Then, attach each of the triangular supports from the back with the other pre-drilled holes. Once they are in place, put two more screws in each of the supports from the top of the slotted board. Be sure to find center and pre-drill before screwing these into place so that the wood doesn’t split.
Now your rack is completely assembled. All that’s left is to find a good stud on your garage or shed wall to hang it.
Hopefully, these steps should give you a good idea of how to throw this rack together, but here’s a good video to follow if you’d like a visualization as well.
Conclusion
This design works great if you are going to try to build your own trimmer rack. Using what you have on hand should make it super inexpensive and is a good way to use up some scraps. Even if you don’t have the exact same materials as me, you could always make a couple of small changes and still use the same design.
Whatever the case is, I’m sure that you’ll be glad to have your trimmer out of the way and well secured. Best of luck!
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