DIY Over the Door Hook /Hanger

I got hold of a leftover piece of aluminum window panel so I figured, why not make something useful out of it? And since my bedroom door has a protruding edge that overlaps the door frame, and most standard hangers aren't suitable for it, I decided to make myself a cute over-the-door hook.

• Non-ferrous metal sheet - I used about 30 x 8 cm for this flower design (2mm thick)
• Bench vise
• Jewelry saw
• Marker & ruler
• Metal primer & paint

Since this is a custom-made DIY hanger, I suggest you measure your door before making yours. The most important things you need to find out are: how thick is your door, and how much space you have in between its upper edge and the door frame (maybe 2mm is too thick to fit in?). In my particular case, because I had a tighter / more complex shape to support my hanger, I repurposed a piece of aluminum tray, folding it on top of the edge and using it as a template for my hanger.

Taking advantage of the soft surface of my (once aluminum tray) template sheet, I sketched on it with a skewer, and then cut it out, which allowed me to easily visualize what my hook would look.

Then, I outlined my template on the aluminum panel, clamped it on the bench vise and sawed it (This step took my a while... 2mm is harder to saw by hand than I imagined. But you can use a scroll saw for that - just make sure to use an appropriate blade for metals.).

Now it's time for the hook to take shape. For that, I used a wooden broom handle, which I found to be the perfect size. Secure the lower end and fold the top over the broom handle.

Turn it upside down, secure the other end (matching the folding line -according to your measurements- to the edge of the clamps) and fold carefully the first part, and then the second.

I actually had a problem with this step. Because my support bracket is meant to be so narrow, I didn't have enough room to fold the second part. In the end, I managed to do it with a pair of pliers. 

2 important notes re this step:

1- After folding your metal sheet, there's no turning back! If you try to unfold /refold it, it will most likely break.

2- I suggest making your brace slightly larger than your template, so if your door is 3cm thick, for example, then fold you brace to be 3.2cm wide (its inner gap). This will prevent chagrins due to measurement or folding errors, and will allow you an extra space to glue a piece of felt on the back of your hanger, so it won't scratch your door.

I think this step is self-explanatory ;)

If you got to this step, congrats: Go find yourself a coat, jacket, hat or purse, and try it out!

I chose a flower design because I wanted something simple yet pretty, but you can adapt this into whatever shape you want - a monkey, a mermaid, a sloth, a cactus, a yeti... just go wild and hang away.