Introduction: Space Hanger

About: retired chemist trying to stay out of trouble

Do you have wet clothes? Would you like to dry them quickly using free gravity and thermodynamics instead of fossil fuels? Then this fun project may be useful for you. Space hangers cost lest than $2 and you can make them while watching TV.

Step 1: Procurement

You will need 2 super-cheap clothes hanger @10¢ from Walmart, a foot of plastic tubing and 6 screws from any home supply center. A ¼ inch drill, ruler, and screwdriver are nice to have, but you could get by with just a knife.

Trick #1 is buying these cheesy hangers. There is so little material in them they couldn't hold their shape without webs in the corners. Happily these webs make ideal fastening surfaces.

Trick #2 is consulting the experts at the home center. After getting some tubing you like, go to the hardware department and have an attendant find screws that will easily thread into the tubing. I happened to get some ¼ inch i.d. tubing that works perfectly with #14 machine screws. Smaller, more flexible tubing can be useful just so long as you get screws to fit. Get the shortest available screws to save effort and expense; they will be plenty strong if they fit well.

Step 2: Fabrication

Drill the 3 webs of each hanger for a total of 6 holes. Then use a knife to cut away plastic burrs around the holes.

Cut 3 pieces of tubing the same length, from 2 to 3 inches.

Thread the screws through the hanger holes into the tubing. Stay on your toes: There is a 50% chance your project can go completely wrong at this point.

Step 3: Done

Except I suggest securing materials for several space hangers. They are so easy to make, so useful, and so gentle with your garments, you will want to use them all the time. And your friends will attempt to steal them. We have 6. They are constantly rotated into service because we swim a lot. I think we need more.

Even with a 100% plastic wardrobe, water clings between layers of fabric. Opening the layers with these hangers lets most of water just fall out. Plus, drying is related to surface area. These hangers double the evaporative surfaces. Why argue with Science?

Cheers from Sarasota