Need something to keep you busy this weekend? Look no further. The Weekend Workshop is our weekly column where we showcase a badass DIY project that you can complete with minimal skills and expertise. We’ve dug through all the online tutorials on the Web, and gone the extra mile to pinpoint projects that are equal parts easy, affordable, and fun. So put on your work pants, grab your tool belt, and head to the garage — it’s time to start building!
Few things scream “21st-century kitchen” as much as a proper magnetic knife strip; an innovative accessory adept at creating valuable counter space, preserving the quality of cutting knives, and just looking downright stylish. Thing is, who actually remembers to pick one of these up on those day-long excursions to IKEA? Certainly, not us. Moreover, the closer you look at these classy kitchen additions, the more you start to realize just how spendy a halfway decent strip actually costs. Bottom line is, it’s better to put one together yourself.
Thanks to some clever handiwork by an Instructables member known simply as tzny, building your very own magnetic knife rack takes nothing more than a few basic tools and materials, an old t-shirt, and a collection of knives. Okay, so the exact process tzny posted is a bit more comprehensive than this, but don’t underestimate how easy it is to construct one of these kitchen add-ons yourself. Moreover, the walkthrough doesn’t require users own any power tools (even if it would make it easier) and shouldn’t cost much more than about $40 or $50 to put together. Tzny clearly lays out the required method on Instructables, however, we’ve gone ahead and listed the exact tools and materials needed. Here’s everything you’ll need before beginning:
Tools:
- Hand saw
- Miter box
- Sandpaper — 220 grit and 400 grit
- Wood glue
- Super glue or epoxy resin
- Trigger clamps — 3 or 4
- Old t-shirt or rag for applying wood stain finish
Materials:
- 15-inch wood planks (2) — 1/4-inch thick by 3-inch wide
- At least 40 inches of spare wood — 5/16-inch thick by 1/4-inch wide
- Hard drive magnets with brackets attached (6)
- Wood stain finish
- Keyhole brackets (2)
- Cabinet bumpers (4)
Note: it wouldn’t hurt to get more wood than what’s listed here in the event you make an errant cut or some other issue arises. Also, have fun with the types (or color) of wood picked out for this build.
After securing the required tools and materials, it’s time to start constructing your own magnetic knife rack. Simply follow the step-by-step walkthrough published by tzny over on Instructables and you’ll step your kitchen’s style game up in no time. Happy building!
The full instructions on how to build this magnetic knife rack can be found here.
