Materials
- 6 horseshoes
- 4’ of rebar
- 6 large magnets (Forney ITEM# 70715)
- Welding machine (Forney 190 MP)
- Personal protective equipment
- Angle grinder with flap discs and a cutoff wheel (Forney ITEM# 1905 & 71923)
- Wood or a board for the base
- Nails
- Propane or MAPP torch
- Wire brush (Forney ITEM# 70520)
Step 1:
Prep the material. Clean up the horseshoes with an angle grinder and flap disc, especially at the toe which is where the welding will occur.
Step 2:
Create the hooks. Cut the rebar into 10-12” sections, depending on the length of your cowboy hat brims.
Step 3:
Align the horseshoe and rebar together with a magnet, then weld the rebar at an angle from the toe of the horseshoe. Repeat two more times for a total of 3 hooks.
Step 4:
Align the horseshoes using all six magnets to create a level platform. Then, weld the other end of the rebar perpendicularly to the second horseshoe. Repeat this process two more times.
Step 5:
Blacken wood for a rustic look if desired. Use a torch to completely blacken the piece of wood (ensure consistent application of heat for the best final effect).
Step 6:
Use a wire brush on the burnt wood to reveal a distressed look. The more you stay in one spot the lighter the wood will get, allowing for the creation of different patterns.
Step 7:
Nail your horseshoe hooks into the wood through the horseshoe nail holes. Angle the nails for a tighter hold.
Step 8:
Hang your cowboy hat, baseball cap or welding helmet!
This article was originally written for the Winter 2022 Issue of Modern Cowboy Magazine. (Previously known as Cowboy Lifestyle Magazine). Catch more stories from this issue below!
