| Project by Dadoo | posted 624 days ago | 804 views | 2 times favorited | 14 comments |  |
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The third picture shows the humble beginnings of this project. A pile of silverware in a cheap plastic keeper, with our expensive knives tossed in for an added risk…”Hey kids! Step right up! Reach right in and maybe you’ll pull back a bloody finger!” My wife inherited her mother’s silverware (which matched ours) so now we have well, a lot! So much in fact that she has the other half still stored in the attic. She also likes to entertain occasionally and I’ve seen where she sets out handfuls of silverware in little baskets with ribbons and flowers! (Wives are just so cutesy aren’t they?) So this unit is designed to be removed (handles) just for that purpose. I also designed it to accommodate our good knives, keeping them separated and to protect the edge from little fingers.
There were no plans as I designed the whole unit in my head using only occasional measurements. The wood is 100% reclaimed (100+ year old), 7/8” thick hard maple flooring that I planed to 1/2” thick. Planing that stuff is interesting as every now and then you sense the aroma of old spilled beer, or apple pie, or something. It definately does not smell like fresh maple! I wonder if I’ll someday smell a turkey dinner, but apparently the turkey never hit the floor. They must’ve never owned a house dog or cat either! The wood is also very hard on the planer blades as well.
The corners are joined with a simple rabbet, glue and 18ga nails. The bottom is a sheet of Luann. I know it’s a blasphemy to paint hardwood, but I wanted it to match her cabinets. And it’s really not painted…It’s pickled! I was surprised that it did match the first time! I also left the interior natural as kind of a contrast, ya know? It’s all a big experiment. The interior corners were an experimental attempt to add a little flair to the butt joint. I dunno…it’s different.
Anyhow, she came out to the (lab) last night and guessed at the surprise (I’m not tellin’ ya what I’m making.) unit. I tried to tell her that it was a tray for storeing my sockets and ratchet handles but I accidently paused to think, and that gave it away. Anyhow, she loves it and I guess that’s all that matters right?
-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!
14 comments so far
TomFran
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2514 posts in 889 days
posted 624 days ago
Nice solution, Dadoo. I’m sure it will be apprecitated every day. Those are some of my favorite projects – the practical ones.
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
GaryK
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9530 posts in 883 days
posted 624 days ago
Pretty cool, Dadoo! Something familiar about that last picture.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
kjwoodworking
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202 posts in 782 days
posted 624 days ago
Excellent work. I like the handles for easy removal. I agree with Tom and Gary as some of my favorite projects are the practical ones too and that last pic does look familiar as well.
Good Job.
-- Kirk H. -- http://www.kjwoodworking.com
Scott Bryan
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20668 posts in 717 days
posted 624 days ago
very nice Dadoo. It not only gives you a chance to spend some time in the “lab” but it lets you make mama happy as well. And that is what is important. Thanks for the story as well. It adds a nice element to the post.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Dominic Vanacora
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504 posts in 764 days
posted 624 days ago
Nice idea. Also nice to hear you reused 100 year old flooring. Thats funny about the smells. I wouldn’t think it wood smell after a few weeks never mine years. Thanks for sharing your great idea.
-- Dominic, Trinity, Florida...Lets be safe out there.
darryl
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1392 posts in 1221 days
posted 624 days ago
That came out nice. I really need to work on something like this for our kitchen drawer.
I like the contrast as well as the raised corners, keeps it from being boring.
good job.
-- www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.darrylmasterson.etsy.com
Dadoo
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1723 posts in 885 days
posted 624 days ago
The unit is 2 7/8” high fitting into a 3” high drawer. So I had to recess where the handles go just so they would fit! Another one of those “build as you go” things!
The smells generated by the planer are there. I picked up on an odor that smelled like the inside of an old beer keg while planing this. The only thing I can think of is that someone spilled his beer and it soaked into the boards. Which is also why I figure they never owned a dog or cat. Thank God!
-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!
rikkor
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11335 posts in 769 days
posted 624 days ago
Great way to organize the drawer, and to up the safety level for the young ‘uns.
teenagewoodworker
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2481 posts in 663 days
posted 624 days ago
great job. that sure makes your drawer more organized.
CharlieM1958
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7638 posts in 1113 days
posted 624 days ago
So much nicer than mine….I’m still a member of the cheap plastic club. :-)
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
mrtrim
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1698 posts in 775 days
posted 624 days ago
great job dadoo ! if i had that many kitchen tools id only wash the dishes twice a year ! looks good .
grovemadman
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558 posts in 667 days
posted 624 days ago
Nice job and a great thing to do for your wife.
-- --Chuck
clieb91
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681 posts in 830 days
posted 624 days ago
Dadoo, That look great. We have a few drawers in our kitchen that look like that last one. Do need to make something like this. Is the knife block out of the same wood?
CtL
-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."
cajunpen
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5968 posts in 961 days
posted 624 days ago
Dadoo those drawers look like every drawer in America. Of course you’ve got one of the neater drawers now – nice job. Now we will all be building similar inserts for our kitchens.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/