Dual Rod Towel Holder Using 3D Printed Brackets + Metal Pipes

I needed a towel holder that could carry two towels at once and match the exact spacing on my wall. Store-bought holders were either weak, overpriced, or didn’t fit the layout I wanted. So I designed and 3D printed my own mounting brackets and used metal rods for strength.

This build uses simple printed parts and standard rods, but the final result is strong enough for daily use and easy to customize for any wall width.

This guide shows the full process from slicing to mounting.

Materials

1.PLA or PETG filament (PETG recommended for humid bathrooms)

2 metal rods or pipes (same diameter, cut to your wall width)( I USED 12.85MM AS DIAMETER IN MY DESIGN FEEL FREE TO CHANGE )

3.Wall screws (4 to 6 pieces)

4.Wall plugs/anchors

5.Optional: paint or clear coat for rods

Tools

1. 3D printer
2. Cura or similar slicer
3. Drill
4. Screwdriver
5. Measuring tape
6. Sandpaper (optional)

------ YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE 3D FILE SCROLL LAST AND DOWNLOAD.---------

Before printing anything, measure:

1. Distance between the two wall mount points
2. Desired towel width
3. Rod diameter

Do not guess rod diameter. Measure it. Add about 0.4 to 0.6 mm tolerance in your model hole size so the rod slides in without forcing.

My rods are metal and slightly rough, so extra tolerance helped.

The bracket is designed with:

1. Thick screw mounting area
2. Circular rod seat
3. Hook style end support
4. Reinforced neck between mount and rod support

Critical detail most people ignore: layer direction matters. The force from the towel pulls downward. So the part must be printed flat so layers run across the arm, not stacked vertically along it. Otherwise it can snap at the neck.

If your design has a thin neck, increase thickness. Don’t try to save filament there.

These settings matter if you want this to last.

1. Layer height: 0.2 mm
2. Nozzle: 0.4 mm
3. Infill: 40 to 60 percent (don’t go low here)
4. Wall lines: at least 4
5. Top/bottom layers: 6+
6. Supports: On (for hook overhang areas)
7. Print orientation: flat on the back face
8. Material: PETG preferred, PLA acceptable in dry areas

If you print this at 10 percent infill, it will eventually crack.

Print two mirrored brackets.

Watch the first layers carefully:

1. Make sure bed adhesion is good
2. No corner lifting
3. No under-extrusion

These parts take load, so don’t run a “draft” print profile.

After printing:

1. Remove supports cleanly
2. Lightly sand rod holes if needed

Test fit the rod before mounting.

I used metal rods.

Steps:

1. Cut to length if needed
2. Clean rust or dust
3. Light sanding improves look
4. Optional: paint or clear coat

Dry fit into the printed brackets. The rod should slide in without hammering but not wobble.

If it’s tight, sand the hole slightly. Don’t force it or you’ll crack the print.

Hold the brackets against the wall and mark screw points.

1. Use a level
2. Check rod alignment
3. Double check spacing before drilling

Drill holes and insert wall plugs/anchors.

Do not screw directly into plaster without anchors unless you like surprise failures.😁

Screw both brackets to the wall but don’t fully tighten at first.

Insert rods.

Adjust alignment so rods sit level and parallel.

Then tighten all screws fully.

Test by pulling downward with your hand before hanging towels.

Before calling it done:

1. Hang a wet towel
2. Add weight by pulling down
3. Check for flex or cracking sounds

If you see bending at the printed arm, your infill or wall count was too low. Reprint stronger instead of hoping.

You now have:

1. Dual towel capacity
2. Custom width
3. Replaceable printed mounts
4. Strong metal rod support

If a bracket ever breaks, you only reprint that part, not the whole system.

1. Too low infill
2. Wrong print orientation
3. No wall anchors
4. Rod hole modeled with zero tolerance
5. PLA used in very hot, humid bathroom

Add snap caps to hide screws

Use PETG or ABS for higher heat resistance

Add rod locking notch so rods can’t slide sideways

Make parametric model for different rod diameters

DOWNLOAD DESIGN FROM HERE