How to Build Clothesline Poles
- 1). Lay a 4-by-4 post on a flat surface. Measure and note the actual width of a 2-by-6-inch plank (approximately 5 1/2 inches, due to shrinkage when drying the lumber). Mark one end of the post at that distance and use a carpenter's square to make a perpendicular line across the face of the post. The 2-by-6 plank will later be mounted above the line so the tops of the post and plank are flush.
- 2). Drill four pilot holes in the 2-by-4 planks, approximately 3/4 inch from the corners. Place a 2-by-4 support on the post so its edges are flush with the sides of the post, and the upper edge of the support plank is on the lower side of the line marked on the post. Screw the support onto the post through each pilot hole. This will provide extra support for the vertical load of the 2-by-6 plank.
- 3). Measure and mark the centers of the support piece and the 2-by-6 plank. Lay the 2-by-6 across the end of the post, aligning its center to the center of the support, and in direct contact with it. Support one end of the plank with another 4-by-4 for added stability while attaching the 2-by-6 to the post. Use a carpenter's square to ensure the plank and post are perpendicular.
- 4). Drill four pilot holes through the 2-by-6 plank and into the post in a square configuration, approximately 1 inch from the corners where the post meets the plank. Drive screws through each pilot hole, securely attaching the plank to the post. Repeat with the second 2-by-6 and support piece to make the second clothesline support.
- 5). Turn the clothesline support over so the 2-by-6 plank is resting on a flat surface. Measure and mark positions for the eye screws for attaching the clothesline. Three eye screws, evenly spaced, will be 20 inches apart if the first and last eye screws are mounted 4 inches from the ends of the plank. This spacing will ensure adequate ventilation for drying clothes. Drill pilot holes for the eye screws in the center of the post and through the lateral centers of the planks. Screw the eye screws into the pilot holes until each eye is touching the plank or post.
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