If you haven't already learned the benefits of line drying your clothes, you'll definitely want to read up on it! From getting you outdoors to saving you money in the long run, it is worth the investment. To read the many more benefits, you can click here, but in this blog post, we'll be walking you through actually building your clothesline - for under $70!
Tools:
Post-hole diggers or shovel
Circular saw
Measuring tape
Speed square
Level
Drill (bits for pilot holes and for screws)
Ratchet or wrench
Supplies:
50lb bag concrete mix ($6)
2 - 1/2"x6" lag bolt screw with 3/4" washer ($7)
16 - 3" screws ($10 for a 1lb box)
8 - screw eye hooks ($8)
Vinyl coated wire clothesline ($8)
Lumber-
3 - 4"x4"x6' ($24)
1 - 2"x4"x8' ($4)
*All our items were purchased at Home Depot in September 2021. It is not guaranteed you will find these items with the exact prices listed, they are just estimates to give you an idea of how much you'll be spending.
Steps:
- Measure out where you would like your 2 posts to go and mark those on center (you can use a random object laying around like we did)! We chose to do our posts 20ft. apart.
- Using post-hole diggers or shovel, dig a hole 1 ft. deep at each of the marked spots.
- Cut one of the 4"x4"x6' in half (each should be 36", this will be your crossbeam on the top)
- Using a 1/2 in. bit, drill a hole through the center of both crossbeams. The hole should be centered at 18" if your 4"x4" was 6' true.
- Using the same bit, drill a pilot hole in the center of the top of the other two 4"x4"x6's (the 4"x4" end). Do not drill too deep, just enough so that the lag bolt can begin to draw the two boards together.
- Slide the washer onto the lag bolt and, using the appropriate wrench or ratchet, tighten the lag bolt to connect the crossbeams to each post.
- Cut braces to size with ends being cut at 45 degrees. The length will vary depending on how you want your finished product to look.
- Using the 3" wood screws and a drill with the appropriate bit, screw 4 screws into each brace to connect to post. We chose to use self-tapping screws and an impact driver to avoid drilling pilot holes.
- While the posts remain on the ground, drill 4 pilot holes, evenly spaced on each crossbeam (8 holes total) and screw in the screw eye hooks (a wrench or ratchet can be used to speed up the process of twisting in the screw eye hooks).
- Set the completed post in one of the previously dug holes. Tap it a few times to make sure the dirt at the bottom of the hole is well-compacted. Level on all sides and secure using cement mix. Repeat for other post.
- Once cement is fully set, run the wire through the screw eye hook on one crossbeam (pulling it tight) and attach it straight across to the screw eye hook on the opposite crossbeam. Repeat for the remaining lines.