I needed a pot rack here at the lodge. I couldn’t have one hanging overhead with cathedral ceilings in the kitchen and even if I could I didn’t want to interrupt the space.
I use my copper pots and pans. What is the point of having them if you don’t use them?
I have seen iron pot racks, wood pot racks, stainless steel pot racks and an assortment of others but I didn’t care for the designs nor the cost. I wanted a simple pot rack that I could mount on the sidewall. The pot rack needed to be simple, about 5 to 6 feet long and tight to the wall.
Not finding that which I sought I decided to make my own using copper. Copper mellows to a rich patina that would fit right in with the kitchen and of course my pots and pans. Design-wise, making my own pot rack gave me full control over the end result. I could make something that was compact - something that didn’t protrude into the room, something that hugged the wall but provided ample space.
My materials included about 6 feet of type M copper 1/4 ” pipe, various copper elbows and fittings, copper nails and a wooden dowel.
Placing the copper pot rack on an angle gave me more room. I could make the rack longer and hang more items on it. The angle was more visually appealing as well.
After cutting both the wood dowel and the copper pipe to length, I drilled small holes along the top of the pipe every two inches. (The wood dowel provides additional strength) These would serve as the pilots for placing small copper nails which would be the stops for the copper wire hangers.
I used various copper pipe fittings on the ends to finish them but also to provide for the brass fitting which mounts the rack to the wall.
I may change the mounting bracket in the future as I have been experimenting with creating copper strapping by hammering type m copper flat.
For the actual hangers I simply used copper pipe hangers. These thick wire hangers are usually hammered into joists when hanging plumbing. - Careful handling these as the ends are very sharp.
They drape perfectly over the copper pipe and provide two ‘hooks’ for hanging a pot and its top.
The cost of making the pot rack was less than $15. The cost of purchasing a designer rack can reach into the hundreds of dollars. There have been many occasions when guests have commented on the pot rack — they love it and ask where I got it. As a result I have a few of them on the work bench now.
It is just a simple rustic pot rack.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Interested // May 28, 2008 at 4:54 pm
nice rack! how did you get what was new pipe (bright shine) to look rustic but not green?
2 Bearfort // May 28, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Hey Thanks Interested…. - I used M type copper to begin with — this is fairly standard stuff - strong. You can get this at any of the big box stores or local building supply. I inserted a dowel into the pipe for additional strength.
The copper pipe was bright and shiny - and had red ink marking on it when new. To tone it down I simply polished it with Brasso - Yes this makes it very shiny but it removes the coating as well as the red ink printing.
I let it sit outside for a while exposed to the elements and it tarnished up pretty quickly. In addition just handing the pipe while making it helped speed up the tarnishing.
As you can see from my copper pots and pans — I use them - I dont polish my copper - I see no need for it.
After you initially polish off the coating on the copper - just let it be - it will tarnish up to a nice patina on its own in a very short period of time.
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