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I've got a nice piece of oak board and plan to build a shoe rack and bench similar to those below:
[img] http://johnlewis.scene7.com/is/image/JohnLewis/234194441?$prod_lrg$ [/img]
[img] http://johnlewis.scene7.com/is/image/JohnLewis/234015564alt1?$prod_lrg$ [/img]
What wood should I use for the white support bits and also how can I best achieve a smooth white finish on the wood? I think metal bars would be best for the rails but it needs to be something that won't easily corrode when wet shoes are placed on them
You could always use plastic pipe for the bars but it would probably be obvious and look a bit naff.
Other than that I just use normal plained softwood, do lots of sanding and a use decent outdoor grade wood primer and top coat and spray it on for the best finish.
Would Douglas Fir do?
For the top one, instead of using dowels which are expensive, go down to your local pound/discount hardware shop, and get some broom handles. I think it's a 24mm diameter so that size drill bit will work fine.
If you're painting it, some copper or ally pipe might be better as broom handles will sag in time...
B&Q do a range of wardrobe rails and fittings in a variety of colours - ideal for your purposes.
Would Douglas Fir do?
Oh yes, but it would be criminal to paint it!
For the top one, instead of using dowels which are expensive, go down to your local pound/discount hardware shop, and get some broom handles. I think it's a 24mm diameter so that size drill bit will work fine.
Screwfix do packs of 5 handles for about £8-9 and they'll be more that stiff enough to support shoes. If you wanted to use metal then if you have a steel stockholder local to you some lengths of ERW tube would be best -thin walled steel tube, a bit more ridged and cheaper than copper plumbing pipe or wardrobe rails. Nice and smooth finish, prime it and paint it properly its not going to rust.
For the white painted bit regular Dressed Red Pine would from a bog standard timber merchant would be fine for the top picture.
For the bottom picture chunky bits of MDF would suffice so long as you sealed the edges well. Not all places stock it but Moisture Resistant MDF (which is tinted green) or exterior grade MDF (which sometimes has a grey tint or grey core) both take paint better on the edges than regular MDF. The moisture resistant stuff is usually about the same price as standard, exterior grade probably costs about double but routes and cuts much more crisply. (and some how manages to weight even more than standard MDF)
As above, mdf for the painted bits, maybe chrome hanging rails for the shoe rack and if you don't want to spray paint then 'flock' mini rollers with a satin/eggshell oil based paint give a really good finish .