Custom Luggage Rack - Hauling The Goods With Class

Using a straight edge and a level, the bar stock end was checked for placement in the mill to assure a perfectly balanced C-notch.

To complete the C-notch, a 3/4-inch Roto-Kut hole cutter was used in the mill to finish the process. The rod stock was then cleaned and deburred to prepare it for the next step.

The center crossbar was then located in place using a square and ruler at 12 inches from either side to the bar center.

Alexander then followed-up with a square to each side of the bar to confirm its exact placement to the rack.

The side cross bars were then located at 8 1/2 inches from the center of the middle bar to the center of each end bar.

Here you can see the rack laid out in its final form ready for welding. Note how perfectly everything fits.

A master of his craft, Alexander got busy laying down the TIG welds to bring the rack to life.

Here is a close-up of the finished TIG welds. Perfectly balanced and executed. Note however due to the heat dissipated, that the stainless will need a thorough polishing to regain its original luster.

To bring back all the sparkle to the completed luggage rack a call was placed to the Eastwood Company for their Deluxe Automotive Polishing Kit PN 50341, which included all the felt bobs, buffs, and rouge’s you see here.

Starting with a multi-stitched sewn felt wheel attached to an air-driven drill topped with somewhat coarse grey rouge, Alexander worked all of the areas affected by the welding to remove the heat transfer.

The entire rack was then final buffed using a felt conical bob topped with white rouge to allow every crevice and corner a proper polishing.

Looking like a fine piece of jewelry, the rack was brought back to show-finish appearance thanks to the Eastwood kit. Check-out just how nice the TIG welds are.