How to make a simple magnetic soap holder

Hi folks,
 Welcome back to the blog.  Today I am back in my 'solutions mode', trying to solve some of my life's little annoyances  whenever I can.   Today's problem that I want to tackle is messy, melty, soap at the outdoor sink.

 I made this outdoor sink last year with an old sink we had hanging around after our kitchen remodel and some leftover oak wood pieces given to me by a friend when he built his little chapel on the hill.   Thank you Tom!   With all the vegetables and gourds we grow it has been nice being able to clean them, and our dirty hands outside.  But the soap in the soap dish melts and gets yucky when it rains.  😞
So today the solution is to make a "magnetic soap holder" that will be mounted under the drainboard next to the sink.  It's an easy fix for a messy problem.   Proxxon tools made this a really fun project.

Supplies

1" pine or plywood piece 3" x 4 "

1/4" plywood piece cut to 3" x 4"

 1/8" or 1/4" plexiglas piece 3" x 4 "  

4 tiny screws

4   1 1/2" wood screws

small but strong rare earth magnet

Plaid paints.

Equipment

Proxxon professional rotary tool 

bull nose carbide burr for rotary tool by Proxxon

small drill bit

Proxxon OZI/E delta sander 

 cutting blade for Proxxon OZI/E delta sander

Proxxon mini drill press (optional)

Kapro measure mate 313  (optional but very handy)

First thing to do was to cut all the pieces to size.   We are going to make a sandwich of the wood, magnet and plywood and plexiglas.   I used the Proxxon mini bandsaw to cut my pieces to size.   The Proxxon mini bandsaw cuts the plexiglas just as easily as it cuts the wood.

Using the kapro measure mate 313 it is easy to find the center of my piece of board.   I will center my magnet here.  

Using the cutting tool on the Proxxon OZI/E sander I cut out the rectangle (same size as my magnet on the thin piece of wood)   This is a nice hand tool.  The speed is adjustable which is really nice.   I got the lines started at a slower speed then cranked up the speed and cut right through the 1/4 piece of wood.     

My magnet was a little taller than 1/4" so I used Proxxon's bull nose burr on the Proxxon professional rotary tool to make a little extra room for my magnet.    I want the Plexiglas to sit flat on top of the 1/4" piece .

I used the Proxxon mini drill press to make some holes in the plexiglass.  I don't want it to crack when I screw my sandwich together.

Then we make a sandwich.
I used very small screws to attach the plexiglass to the wood and I glued the two wood pieces together using a good wood glue.

I attached it to the underside of my sink drainboard with screws from the top.   

Oops..... almost forgot something.   I used a bottle cap on the soap.  Have to have some metal for the magnet to work.   First step here is to punch a small hole in the bottle cap.  I used a nail and hammer.   I then painted the cap with some plaid metallic blue sparkle so it wont rust.  Then I just pushed it into the soap.   Don't worry it will stay there.  It holds better and better as you use it.

So there you have it.  No more messy melty soap.   When your soap gets small don't worry, just pop a top from a.....   let's say a soda bottle, get a new bar of soap push them together and you are all set.

Thank you all for visiting.   Thanks also to Proxxon, Plaid, and Kapro,   Check out these sites for awesome products.    

 Till next time, have fun, play safe   Carol

HOW TO BUILD A VINTAGE STYLE TOOL CADDY

    Hi everyone! I'm back out in my workshop getting ready to build my next project using Proxxon tools! I've found that even though these tools are small, I can still build almost anything. Today I'm making a vintage style tool caddy. Follow along with me and I'll show you how I did it.

Supplies:

• Proxxon Micro Band Saw
• Proxxon Bench Drill Press
• Proxxon Delta Sander
• 3/8' sanded birch plywood
• Waverly Inspirations Chalk Paint by Plaid (Crimson and Ink)
• Waverly Inspirations Wax by Plaid (Clear and Antique)
• 3/4" brad nails 
• Wood Glue
• Wood Putty
• Paper for pattern
• Paint brush 2"
• Waxing Brush

1. I drew my pattern pieces out on paper determining how big I wanted the caddy then transferred the pattern on some scrap 3/8" birch plywood I had left over from my last project.
   
   
   
2. Using the Proxxon Micro Band Saw I cut out my 6 pieces (1 base, 4 sides and a center divider). The 4 side pieces need to have a beveled edge on the bottom in order to set flat on the base. I set the table of the band saw at 15 degrees and trimmed the bottom edges.
   
   
3. Using a brad nailer, 3/4' brads and wood glue I put together the 4 side pieces. Before I attached them to the base I sanded all the edges except the bottom edges. I like to sand it in spots to make it look worn and old.
   
   
4. Using the 3/4' brads and wood glue I attached the sides to the bottom.
   
5. The center divider piece is also used as a handle so I drilled it out for finger grips. I used the Proxxon Bench Drill Press and a 1' hole saw bit. I sanded it to look worn. I positioned the divider in the center of the caddy and attached it with brads and wood glue.
   
   
6. At this time I now filled any nail holes or voids in the plywood with wood putty and let dry. After dry give the whole thing a good sanding.
   
   
7. Now I'm ready to paint! I chose to use the Waverly Inspirations Chalk Paint by Plaid in the Crimson color. I put on 2 coats. After completely dry I applied the Waverly Inspirations Chalk Paint in the Ink color using the dry brush method. putting a tiny amount on my brush and blotting off most on a paper towel then sparingly painting in spots that I want to look worn from age. let dry.
   
   
   
   
   
8. I then went over the entire piece with Waverly Inspirations Clear Wax by Plaid. Let it dry overnight and applied the antique wax.
   
   

   Here's my finished project! I cant wait to use it on my patio and fill it with flowers. Thanks for following along with me.

 Colleen

How To Create a Spring Sign

Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here to show you how to create a Spring sign.  With Spring finally on it's way, it's time to start thinking about Spring decorating.

I have had this wood panel in my stash for awhile and thought it would be a great idea to upcycle it.  Using the Delta Sander I sanded it before painting.

I painted the panel first with white gesso, and while still slightly wet, I painted on a layer of purple  Plaid Paint.  Mixing it with the gesso softened the color.

Once dry, I again used the Delta Sander  to lightly re-sand the panel so some of the wood texture would show.

Die cut a rabbit from cardstock.  Add her to the left side of the sign, adding a wiggly eye and a cottonball tail.   Die cut several butterflies and punch some Easter Eggs from assorted Rinea Foiled Papers.

Die cut SPRING from Rinea Foiled Papers.  Mat each letter with cardstock and place on the panel.  Used the Kapro Measure Mate to line up the letters on the panel.

 Create some grass and add over the Easter Eggs.

Finish by adding some tiny eggs amongst the strands of grass.

Thanks for stopping by.

How to Make a Wooden Bobbin Holder

In addition to being a wood worker, I am a bobbin lace maker. And, like any other art form it has its own tools and gadgets unique to lacemaking. I'm thrilled that I can make some of my own lace tools using my Proxxon tools.

Tools and Supplies for Making the Bobbin Holder

• Length of ¾" x 1/8" hardwood
• 9" round elastic cord
• Proxxon Bandsaw MBS/E
• Proxxon Bench Drill Press TMB 115
• Proxxon Disc Sander 250/E
• Proxxon Delta Sander OZI/E

Instructions for Making the Bobbin Holder

1. Measure and mark a 6" length of the hardwood.
   
2. Cut the hardwood to length using either the bandsaw or the Proxxon Table Saw FET.
   
3. If you are making more than one bobbin holder, use painter's tape to hold the pieces together while completing the Steps 4 through 7. This helps ensure consistent cuts and drilling so the pieces are exact duplicates. It also eliminates repeated measuring and marking.
4. Sand the ends using the disc sander.
   
5. Measure and mark the notches and holes using this schematic.
   
6. Cut the notches on the bandsaw by making two or three parallel cuts for each notch. The notches can also be cut using the Proxxon Scroll Saw DS 460.
   
7. Use the drill press to drill the holes for the elastic cord and the anchor pins. Use a 1/64" Proxxon HHS brad point drill bit for the anchor pin holes, and a 9/64" Proxxon HHS brad point drill bit for the threading holes for the elastic cord.
   
8. Remove the painter's tape, and sand each bobbin holder using the Delta sander. Use progressively finer grits of sandpaper, starting with 150 and ending with 330 or 400. You want to achieve a glass-like finish so the fine threads used in lacemaking will not catch on the wood.
   
9. Polish with paste wax.
10. Thread the elastic cord through the holes, and tie the ends in a secure knot.

Carole