How to Make a Useful Key Holder from Reclaimed Wood

 This key holder used to be a rack for cheese knives, but it had outlived its usefulness, and was falling apart. So, I decided to reclaim parts of it and refashion it into a key holder.

I used these Proxxon tools:

• Proxxon Bandsaw MBS/E
• Proxxon MICRO Woodturning Lathe DB 250
• Proxxon Delta Sander OZI/E

Here's how I made the Reclaimed Wood Key Holder:

1. I started with this fallen-apart cheese knife rack. The top piece was just glued on, and had fallen off.
   
   
   
2. I used the bandsaw to cut away the bottom piece, but saved it for a future project.
3. I used a 5/8" dowel rod to turn pegs to hold the keys.
4. I used a center finder to mark the center of the dowel rod.
   
   
    
5. I mounted the unmarked end of the dowel in the three jaw chuck, and centered the marked end at the tail stock.
   
   
   
6. I turned four different pegs, and sanded each while still mounted on the lathe.
   
   
   
7. Next, I used FolkArt UltraDye to color each peg. The UltraDye produces a vibrant color while still allowing the wood grain to show through.
   
   
   
8. Then, I sanded the two reclaimed wood pieces using the Delta sander.
   
   
   
9. These two piece were then glued together.
   
   
   
10. While the glue was drying, I again used the center finder to mark the centers at the bottom of the pegs, and screwed in a hook for holding the keys.
11. Now I have a functional key holder made from reclaimed wood.
    

Carole

How to Make a Cribbage Board from Reclaimed Wood

Sometimes things just come together at the right time and with the right materials. That's the case with this cribbage board made from reclaimed wood. I needed a birthday gift for my son who enjoys all kinds of games. I had been hoarding a couple slabs of reclaimed olive wood, and he didn't have a cribbage board, so, as they say—the rest is history.

Equipment and Supplies to Make a Cribbage Board

• Slab of reclaimed wood large enough to accommodate the template
• 8 rivets
• Template for cribbage board
• Liquid Leaf by Plaid Enterprises
• Proxxon Bench Drill Press TMB 115
• Proxxon Delta Sander OZI/E

Instructions for Making a Cribbage Board

1. Paint four of the rivet heads with Liquid Leaf Gold and four with Liquid Leaf Silver (or paint colors of your choice). I found it easiest to dip the heads in the paint rather than try to use a brush. Set aside to dry.
   
2. Print the board template. 
   
3. Cover the piece of wood with painter's tape. Spray the reverse side of the template, and adhere to the taped wood. Using painter's tape protects the wood from adhesive residue and makes for easy removal of the template.
   
4. Select a brad point drill bit slightly larger than the shaft of the rivets. 
5. Set the drilling depth of the drill press so the holes do not penetrate the back surface of the wood slab. Drill the holes according to the template.
   
6. My piece of wood is irregularly shaped, so the drill bit needed to be manually positioned for each holes. However, if you are using a piece of wood with a flat edge, you can set the adjustable fence to drill each line of holes.
   
7. Keep the flutes of the drill bit clean to ensure accurate drilling.
   
8. Use the Proxxon Delta sander with progressively finer grits of sandpaper to sand the surfaces of the wood.
   
9. Use olive oil to buff and polish the sanded piece.
   

To complete the gift presentation I embroidered a sleeve for the board. Yes, his birthday is on the fourth of the month :)

Carole

Make a Rustic Shadowbox from Reclaimed Pallet Wood

A shadowbox is a great way to display your favorite collection, frame a photo or piece of ephemera or house a miniature scene. Using reclaimed lumber, like the slats from an old pallet, is a great way to get a rustic or vintage look while re-using materials that might otherwise go to a landfill.

In this video, Joe Rotella, founder of Create N Craft, shows how to use a Proxxon Table Saw to create an 8”x10” shadowbox with a recessed back from old palette wood.
The Proxxon Table Saw gives you perfectly straight cuts and is can easily cut wood, non-ferrous metals, plastics, Plexiglas, fiber-glass reinforced sheets, foam and many other materials.

Are you a fan of vintage Christmas decorations? Well then, you're going to love how the finished box was decorated. Look for the blog post coming up on Thursday, December 10, 2015, for the finished project.

What You’ll Need

• Proxxon Table Saw
• Slats from an old pallet (2 at least 12” long and 2 at least 10” long)
• 1/8” plywood or Luan for the back (about 10” x 12” so you can trim it to size)
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Safety glasses
• Wood glue
• Hammer and finishing nails (optional)
• Corner clamp (optional)

Steps to Follow

1. Trim one end of each of the 4 strips of wood to be sure they are square.
2. Cut two pieces at 12” long and 2 pieces at 10” long.
3. Cut a 45° mitered corner on each end of each piece, about 1” from the end of the piece. That gives you 2 pieces 10” long and 2 pieces 8” long.
4. Cut a groove about 3” from the front edge of each piece, about ½ the thickness of the wood, and wide enough to fit the back panel. This gives you a recessed groove to hold the back in place.
5. Trim the 1/8” plywood to fit the groove of the shadowbox.
6. Assemble using wood glue. Optionally use finishing nails as well. TIP: A corner clamp makes assembly even easier.