Metal Coat Rack with Jimmy DiResta | Build It | Ask This Old House

Maker Jimmy DiResta invites Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva to his shop for a welding lesson and to build a metal coat rack.
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Time: 3-4 hours
Cost: $50
Skill Level: Difficult
Tools List for Building a Metal Coat Rack:
MIG welder [amzn.to/2NatRFf]
Grinder [amzn.to/2Na5Des]
Welding mask [amzn.to/36BsqYo]
Welding gloves [amzn.to/37QZ1tj]
Welding jacket [amzn.to/2NcnfXb]
Bandsaw [amzn.to/2T6hmyj] or jigsaw [amzn.to/2T9bN2m]
Paintbrush [amzn.to/2N7GIrJ]
Shopping List:
2x2” stock steel [amzn.to/2tKfsbY]
Railroad spikes [amzn.to/37MRg7N]
Wood for top [amzn.to/37SJI38]
Boiled linseed oil [amzn.to/35y7T5y]
Steps:
1. Start by measuring and cutting the steel to the correct dimensions. For the legs of the coat rack, line each cut leg up with the steel to ensure they’re all the same length.
2. Weld the frame of the coat rack together. Jimmy shares with Tom a few tips on how to ensure a good weld:
a. ALWAYS wear protective gear. The welding process creates UV light, which can burn your skin, hands, and even blind your eyes. Never look directly at a weld unless it’s through a welding mask.
b. Placement of the weld is the most challenging part, since the welding mask makes it hard to see. Jimmy suggests resting your hand on the table to support the hand holding on to the welder to keep the movements steady.
c. Pull the trigger to release the gas around the welder and to feed more of the wire through.
d. Hold the welder about ½” away from the seam at about a 30 degree angle and move the wire in small loops to ensure the wire is bridging the seam.
e. Listen for a consistent welding sound. Jimmy describes it as sizzling bacon.
f. Before putting the mask down, hold the welder in place and practice the movements so that you get a little muscle memory before going for the weld.
3. Cut the ends of the railroad spikes at the angle you’d like them on the coat rack using the grinder.
4. Weld the railroad spikes to the frame of the coat rack.
5. Cut the wood for the top of the coat rack using a bandsaw or a jigsaw.
6. Screw the wood top onto the top of the coat rack.
7. Apply a boiled linseed oil finish to both the wood top and the metal frame.
Resources:
To weld the frame together, Jimmy used a MIG welder, which is manufactured by Lincoln Electric [amzn.to/2tNKYWz]. The light generated from welding is harmful, so be sure to wear protective clothing and a welding mask. Never look directly at the light from welding.
The structure of the coat rack was made using 2x2 square stock 16 gauge steel, which can be purchased from a metal shop. The coat hooks were made using salvaged railroad ties.
The top of the coat rack was made using a piece of 2” thick sapele, but any thick piece of wood would work.
Jimmy used boiled linseed oil as a finish on both the metal and the wood.
Expert assistance with this project was provided by Jimmy DiResta (www.jimmydirest....
Build It:
This Old House general contractor Tom Silva, This Old House host Kevin O’Connor, and special guests including Jimmy DiResta, take you through step-by-step DIY projects in this popular video series. From end-tables to cutting boards to wine racks to chicken coops and more, learn how to build from the best pros in the game. Segments include mention of all tools and materials needed to get the job done.
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Metal Coat Rack with Jimmy DiResta | Build It | Ask This Old House
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[@lipevolcom2]

First time seeing Tom Silva learning a skill

[@jmfia2391]

Took the words out my mouth...i thought he knew it all🤣

[@ZoneOne2150]

Bro, it’s a coat rack.

[@JackmanWorks]

More Jimmy! He's such an awesome teacher.

[@jimmydiresta]

xoxoxo

[@pareshpanchal91]

Feels weird seeing Tom as the apprentice!

[@ecrusch]

Tom & Jimmy. Man, that's a lot of combined talent right there.

[@johanlaurasia]

Jimmy is the absolute best, I totally love it when my favorite maker is showcased on my favorite TV show... you guys are the best !

[@PatrickPoet]

Who else thinks Tommy will have a mig welder in his home shop before the end of the month?

[@MatanuskaHIGH]

This is cool to see this old house and diresta in one video. I’ve watched this old house since I was a kid and found diresta a half dozen years ago and enjoy watching both.

[@nat8843]

FABULOUS!! more of Jimmy DiResta with Tom Silva!!

[@CygnusRising]

As a wise man often says, "A grinder and paint makes me the welder I ain't." Doesn't have to be pretty, just has to hold.

[@DadBurl]

That wise man = AvE

[@Guardducks]

That wise man also once said , it don't have to be pretty just effective.

[@anthonym612]

I was waiting for him to spraypaint "DIRESTA" on there somewhere lol

[@noisybarinavalon]

Tommy would have covered it with 'Silva Brothers' in yellow

[@machinist7230]

And it wasnt at 4x speed either!😂

[@apexracoon6595]

Even masters learn something new now and then

[@JeffGloverArts]

WHOA! Jimmy taught Tommy something?!? I thought Tommy knew how to do EVERYTHING!

[@wabashstudio]

Its cute that Tom pretended to not know how to weld... We all know that he knows all :-)

[@Trashie01]

Exactly! If he can stick weld I'm more than confident he can Mig weld. Only difference is you're pulling a trigger instead of burning rod

[@RegulareoldNorseBoy]

No. He's a noob. Shines through Tom is a woodworker Not a metalworker

[@TheLoneGingerShow]

That was a really great video. Fun to see Tommy working on a slightly different kind of project, and learning a new skill in the process. Really impressed he picked up welding so quickly, but Jimmy is a really great teacher... Thanks for the video TOH team!

[@tomarnold5426]

Diresta’s finishing touch with the 2” piece of wood at the top. So awesome. Also letting Tom put in the last screw. This is a combination of the two best makers on the internet!!!

[@richhubert1260]

The man has a thousand skills! Master of all them.

[@rootvalue]

Love it. Jimmy has a no BS communication style just like Tom and they work together well.

[@TheWoodLab]

So much to like here! Obviously having Jimmy on again - he's such a great teacher. And love seeing Tom, with all his knowledge, learning a skill. - Jim

[@lalarobert]

Tom " I could go either way" Silva.

[@askurmom1]

We all knew that, bout time he came out. Lol.

[@dougprentice1363]

Jimmy is a great guest. Hope to see more of him.

[@Stretch1931]

Jimmy Diresta to the rescue! Love all you do, and love TOH! Always been a fan of both, and love to see the honest good hard work all those wonderful professionals can do. Jimmy, you always make it look so easy!

[@DadBurl]

More of this content please. A lot of us enjoy metal working

[@justinwoods240]

Omg tommy used a welder instead of pocket screws

[@Nill757]

Silva and Diresta! Great pair.

[@pb3033]

WOW ! M. Silva ! Tradesmen with no limit !

[@RichardC5568]

Great teaching and good learning, right before our eyes. Now Tommy's a pro of another creature, metal.

[@FrancoNoce]

Every time Jim makes a video I learn something I didn't know before!

[@nw6gmp]

Awesome instruction Jimmy; Tommy is also an awesome teacher, but he is also an awesome student too...

[@adshwartz]

This is the secret of the master... In order to be the best teacher, you have to be the best student. The will to learn and the inspiration to share knowledge has the same root values

[@kobelcofan]

Imagine if this was the first video someone saw ever saw of Tommy. They would totally get the wrong impression of Tommy.

[@george8873]

Jimmy is pretty good at teaching an old carpenter new tricks.

[@joeduffy9764]

brilliant as ever!! nice to see Tom Silva in the shop!

[@jayholt2101]

I made something just like that about 10years ago. The only difference is that I used huge lag bolts for the hooks. I still have it to this day.

[@karl_alan]

I sure did like mig. Oxy-acetaline was my favorite though...stick in one hand, torch in the other...love it

[@aamaya13]

Wow, seeing my teacher learn humbly brings it full circle. Great Video! Thank you TOL & DIRESTA, good stuff!

[@fitter70]

Much respect to Tommy for learning a new skill on camera.

[@andrewfisher1051]

Two of my favorite channels at once, awesome!

[@core8967]

This week on TOH: How to build the world's largest stool

[@kathymorrison2772]

Jimmy is an excellent teacher. Let the student do, observe, give key teaching points, observe, demonstrate, and again let the student do! Great job. Yah the rack is ugly and would scratch the floor but the teaching was excellent!

[@darrellwalton6967]

Jimmy you should join the This old house team !

[@weldmandingo]

thats funny I just welded a steel coat rack. Looks good Tom

[@rayleder3705]

Tommy and Jimmy. Two legends.

[@leorodriguezzz]

No one’s to old or to good to learn ☝️👨‍🎓

[@vampyrew0lf]

Love seeing the Skull and Spade in the background. Sad to know Brett isn't in the shop anymore. Good luck fella 🤜🤛

[@WoodenCreationz]

Jimmy is such a great teacher!!!!! Excellent video guys!!!! Love content like this!!!!! -Brian

[@Skammerd]

Ask Jimmy to frame a roof with two guys and a skillsaw Tommy. Put him in his place! 😂 Great job guys. These two could teach each other the world.

[@TwistedTwineWoodworking]

Always enjoy a DiResta & TOH collaboration!!

[@KF7AIK]

MORE JIMMY! MORE JIMMY! MORE JIMMY!

[@ChampionCorner]

Jimmy is an awesome creator.

[@nerdalert-y3t]

You go Tommy. Reminds me of when I was first welding. Though he was way faster to pick it up lol.

[@BruceAUlrich]

Another great episode with Jimmy! Can't let Kevin have all of the fun, right?

[@k9elli]

Was waiting for Tom to attach the top wooden shelf with 16 penny nails

[@cliffp.8396]

Great teaching skills

[@daleecross3329]

geniuses ; a person who is exceptionally intelligent or creative, either generally or in some particular respect. Here are a couple .

[@the_jonathan_o]

Bobby Duke Arts should be on the show one day!

[@r.j.sworkshop7883]

So was Jimmy giving props to the Podcast, or the TV show? Great video, thanks for another.

[@5fiftyshack-272]

Tommy was out of his comfort zone because that mig welder wasn't a Festool😁 Turned out great!

[@johnroberts9560]

Hi TOH , I love the coat rack that Jimmy built , I wish I knew how to weld , I would try to build something , nice job !!! 👍😃🛠

[@mattsprayberry0]

John wire welding, mig(metal inert gas welding)is the easiest type/ form of welding to learn and master you can pick up a decent 120 volt wire welder at any Harbor freight or you could get a Eastwood for about $600 offline but if you really want to learn how to weld and you don't have time to go to school for it or the money to buy a cheap welder get on KZbin and look up welding tips and tricks.com and Jody will pretty much teach you the basics of welding and what you need to do a good job and be happy and safe while working that being said he doesn't know everything about welding but he does know a good deal.

[@johnroberts9560]

@@mattsprayberry0 Thanks for the information Matt , I really appreciate it ! 👍😃

[@gitarplayer229]

More Jimmy!

[@Joshua.McNabb]

Though he may not be an expert, there’s no way Tom Silva doesn’t know how to weld. Still good content for those of who aren’t that familiar with it!

[@Hans.Lavoie]

Diresta, the best

[@Wroom90]

Interesting how people in American use leather jackets for weldig. I have never seen this in Europe. The dewalt grinder is definitely powerful when you see how the sparks are flying

[@fadetounforgiven]

I wouldn't have cut the spikes but made holes wide enough to introduce their points and then weld them in place. If that coat hanger is ever dismantled, they could be easily reused. Nice to see Tommy learning something, though it's quite clear he is just adjusting, not learning from scratch.

[@Stillnapie]

Because there is a shortage of railroad spikes...?????

[@fadetounforgiven]

@@Stillnapie rather because I prefer to be "non-destructive" if possible. And also, the way I see it, doing it my way it's a stronger connection as you do not depend only on the welding but being the spike in the hole adds some strength to it. Not that it should be that important in coat hanger, but I think it's a good practice.

[@Stillnapie]

@@fadetounforgiven So.. destroying the tubing is fine but common RR spikes not so much? As to the strength of the connection, you answered your own question. You are really making sense.... Make a lot of stuff do ya??

[@fadetounforgiven]

@@Stillnapie you wouldn't be destroying the tubing, just making one hole for each spike. It's easier to fill that hole than to re-weld the spike with pieces that you wouldn't actually have anymore or having to re-make the point of the spike. Also, I'm not in nor from the US, we don't have RR spikes around here. I don't know what you think I answered, but I'll say it again: the way I would do it is stronger. Not that the difference may matter in this particular case, but it's a way of thinking. Moreover, making the holes (and assuming the spikes have a relative uniform size among them, which is a bit of an assumption but...) in the tubing allows you to know you are placing them in the exact place you want them to. It also helps you as you won't probably need anything to keep them in place while you're welding or, at least, you don't have to worry that much about filling what, as it's mentioned in the video, you may need from not cutting the spike at the right angle. As for me doing many things, not actually, but my father, two uncles and grandfather were all blacksmiths, and back in the day I used to help my father and one of my uncles, as they worked together, every now and then. But there is no need for that, just a bit of thinking. It's not that the way it's done in the video is wrong or anything, of course not, it's just that I would prefer my way because I think it's a bit better in terms of reusability, strength and easiness.

[@Stillnapie]

@@fadetounforgiven Really? Just how would you go about filling a hole in 16 ga. tubing?? What method would you suggest?

[@DavidBishopinc]

Go jimmy, go jimmy, go jimmy...

[@justinwoods240]

My flux harbor freight welder doesn't give that clay stuff to chip off is that bad?

[@joeduffy9764]

would be fun to see Mr Diresta learn something on TOH!?

[@MattLitkeRacing]

I’d like to see one of these DiResta videos edited by Jimmy

[@AJ-bj2ec]

I miss welding it was fun and hot lol

[@jairomauris259]

☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️🤗 he did weld

[@GTL77]

Nice video

[@maxthrust976]

Does the linseed oil cure on the steel? I’d have thought you’d just wind up with oily coats

[@dlamarsobotor4573]

My dad relied heavily on linseed oil. Heaven knows why.

[@Davey768]

@@dlamarsobotor4573 That can't be healthy.

[@matthewhall5571]

BLO air dries. A bit slow. But it does.

[@davidnord1979]

👍👍

[@mattsprayberry0]

3:56 he forgot to yell REDEYE

[@dlamarsobotor4573]

Really enjoy reading the comments. Actually flamed out on this segment early. Welders are much needed but mostly boring.

[@justanotherguy8791]

Great video but I wish they tried to tip it

[@BethGrantDeRoos]

Do people still use free standing coat racks?

[@davcot3675]

Tom u have mad carpentry skills Welding not so much

[@sk0nz]

I've always been told that 3legs work better than 4.... 4legs makes it wiggle and 3legs, dont....any truth in that?

[@tubeonline629]

Definitely, there is no way with three legs it could rock, only lean.

[@Stillnapie]

A triangle lies flat on any plane.

[@matthewhall5571]

Actually 4 is also stable on the vast majority of real-world plane surfaces if you allow for a bit of rotation: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3TNZKSchptro5I Proven by a group of mathematics professors.

[@FredMcIntyre]

😃👍🏻👨🏻‍🏭👊🏻

[@frankhagar4651]

Not to often someone can teach Tom something

[@Juan.Melendez]

I learned to weld in under 9 minutes

[@jayhitek]

Thin Jimmy and no glasses. Thought Tom was with a GQ model at first.

[@justinwoods240]

How do a 14 yr old have more experience on welding then a 71 yr old

[@askurmom1]

Lol, I made something just like that in high school.

[@jimmydiresta]

if this is a comment on the simplicity of the project you are correct we shot this in 50 minutes. all the time we had. time often dictates the project in tv land.

[@askurmom1]

@@jimmydiresta I understand. I'm sure you could make much better with more time, and I doubt it was easy to teach him how to mig. I was just expecting more from TOH, not you. Thx for the reply BTW.

[@spice2110]

Tom starting to talk slower... We saw this in Roger...

[@dalesworld1308]

Next week - Tom sews some curtains.

[@freedomsjohnson3241]

Tommy seems very low energy. Hope he’s okay. Difficult seeing your idols grow older

[@mitchdenner9743]

Tommy needs a set of cheaters

[@RainbowMedicine2000]

Great skills,but that is ugly

[@TFPadmin]

I am less and less impressed by Jimmy DiResta each time I see one of his projects. As a career flooring guy, I would never recommend placing that coat rack on any floor covering. The legs will damage the flooring.

[@jimmydiresta]

we did put felt on the bottom but it was edited out. 😉

[@TFPadmin]

@@jimmydiresta Editing that out doesn't help your case. This is not the first time you have omitted important information. I know you're not the editor and not in charge, but you have your own voice/channel where you are.

[@Stillnapie]

@@TFPadmin Well then.. how about you set up your own KZbin channel since you know so much...

[@TFPadmin]

@@Stillnapie What are you, 10?

[@Stillnapie]

@@TFPadmin Says the "flooring guy"... From what I can tell you are just envious. And no not ten, retired, quite successfully.

[@danh2134]

He forgot to paint it white and put his name on it