DIY Tortilla Press

Taco night...ho hum!

However, say you're making homemade tortillas and I'm all in.

Fresh corn tortillas, where have you been my whole life?  I love that chewy texture with the slightly crispy edge.  Yum yum.

In fact, any bread that needs to be squashed flat such as, flat-bread or Naan can be made with today's project.

DIY Tortilla Press

Materials

2 - 1x4s

NOTE: All board lengths are 8' long and 3/4" thick unless otherwise noted.

Food Safe Butcher Block Oil

Wood Glue 

Miter Saw

Cut List

2 Bottom Runners @ 2" x 12" or 50mm x 305mm

1 Short Bottom Runner @ 2" x 6.5" or 50mm x 165mm

1 Wooden Hinge Piece @ 2" x 4.25" or 50mm x 108mm

1 Wooden Handle Piece @ 2" x 12.75" 50mm x 324mm

8 Top & Bottom Base Pieces @ 3.5" x 12" or 88.9mm x 305mm

Cutting Diagrams

1x4s

Step 1

The bottom base of the press is 12" by 12".  I would add 1" to the top & bottom base piece measurements listed above and edge glue four of them together.  That would give us a glue up that would measure 13" x 14".

From that glue up you can trim down to the 12" x 12" piece needed.  You will need two of them.  One to serve as the top and one as the bottom.

NOTE:  I would ensure that the glue lines run parallel with the tortilla press's handle. 

You can also round over 3 of the edges at this point as well if desired.

Along the underside measure in 1.5" from both sides and glue the bottom runners in place.

The shorter runner should be centered on the underside of the board.

Step 2

The hinge piece will require some forethought before beginning.

First, measure down from what will be the top 1".  Mark a cross mark at that location and drill for a 1/4" or 3/8" dowel.  3/8" would be more sturdy.

Then cut out the section that the handle will set in with a hand saw.  Take your time and be very precise here.

Glue the hinge in place on the middle runner as pictured below.

Drill and set four 1/4" dowels to strengthen the connection.  The hinge piece will be undergoing a lot of stress so use hardwood dowels and set 2 into the bottom runner and 2 into the bottom base.

NOTE:  I thought about making the hinge piece 1-1/2" thick instead of 3/4".  Quarter inch dowels would still be used to attach it to the runner but a larger diameter dowel could then be used to attach the handle.  Just measure the center 1" down and you're good to go.  A metal pin would also be an option instead of a wooden dowel.  Keep in mind the lion's share of forces will be transferred through the hinge/handle location.

Step 3

The location of the corresponding dowel hole can be found by measuring in from the back 3/8".  Then down from the top 1".

The cut out on the forward portion of the handle should be slightly more than finger or knuckle depth.  In my case that would be 7/8".

Then take it back 5" to 7" or so.  This part is not so critical to functionality as it is to personal preference.

Step 4

Fit the handle in place between the hinge forks and tap the dowel in place.  (Do not glue).

Step 5

Glue in place a small 1/4" x 1/4" piece that measures at least 3/4" long.  This is to allow the handle to apply additional pressure tot he press if needed.

Final Thoughts

I can sum this project up in three words.  Hardwood, hardwood, hardwood.

Use hardwood species at every turn and in every spot.  Do not cheap out.  Soft woods just will not hold up over the long term with the repeated stresses.

Do not apply polyurethane and do not stain the project.

Use a mineral oil or better yet a butcher block oil and reapply often.  The use of wax paper will not only aid clean up but also help extend the lifespan of your new tortilla press.

Do not submerge in water when cleaning and wipe using a damp cloth only.  Detergents such as dish soap will strip the oils from the project.

That could allow excess water to be absorbed by the press causing expansion followed by contraction when that water evaporates.  This in turn could cause checking and cracking.  (Ever see a wooden cutting board split down the middle?)  We don't want that.

I hope you enjoyed our 7th Day of 12 DIY Christmas Gift ideas.

Don't forget to stop by again tomorrow for another great project to help you with your gift giving dilemma's.


Until then!

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DIY Bath Shelf Towel Bar

Sufficient storage is the arguably one of the most important factors in any bathroom.

If you are lacking enough space to store all those bathroom must-haves like blow dryers, brushes, towels, and lotions, then today I have a solution for you.

A simple and inexpensive shelf with bar idea that will  help you keep your bathroom free of clutter.

DIY Bathroom Shelf with Towel Bar

Materials

2 - 1x4s

1 - 2x4

1" Dowel Rod

NOTE: All board lengths are 8' long unless otherwise noted.

Choice of Stain

Polyurethane

Wood Glue 

Miter Saw

Cut List

3 Back Pieces @ 3.5" x 30"

1 Top Piece @ 3.5" x 30"

1 Front Piece @ 3.5" x 30"

1 Shelf Piece @ 3.5" x 27.5"

2 Vertical Side Pieces @ 3.5" x 15.25"

Cutting Diagrams

1x4s

2x4s

Step 1

Simple 2x4s make up the sides.  Measure up from what will be the bottom of the side 5.5".  Route a 1/4" dado.

It will be easier to mark and drill for the dowel hole before you cut an angle into the front bottom of the side.

Measure 1.5" from what would be the back of the side.  Then measure a cross mark 2" up from the bottom.  Drill for the dowel.

Now you can cut the angle into the front.  Be sure to leave at least a half inch of material between the dowel hole and the front edge of the side.

Step 2

Glue the shelf piece in place and clamp with straight clamps and 90 degree clamps.

These style clamps are handy to have in the shop for projects that involve a glue like this.

Step 3

Since the top piece will not be subjected to twisting forces, only downward force, a simple glued but joint is going to be fine in this situation.

Step 4

In the interest of full disclosure the back pieces could be omitted.  The wall would act as the back.  However, if you are going for a rustic look or some other look that you want to consistant from one end of the project to the other then you're probably going to want these.

If cost is your main concern then leave them out and it saves you the cost of an entire 1x4.

Mounting the project would be exactly the same and I'll talk about that in the "Final Thoughts" section below.

Step 5

To keep items placed on the shelf from falling to the ground a front lip can be added.

A simple glued butt joint and for effect a few 1/4" dowels could be added as well.

Step 6

Glue the dowel rod in place and sand everything flush.  You don't have to use a 1" rod for this.  A smaller diameter such as 1/2" would work fine.

Final Thoughts

Once the project is dry it can come out of the clamps and be sanded down.  A few coats of your choice of stain along with a few more coats of a project sealer such as some polyurethane will complete this awesome gift giving idea.

Mounting the project would be just as easy with the use of a key hole bit.  Route a couple of these into the back of the project, one on each side.

Screws with drywall anchors will allow your new storage shelf to be merely slipped onto the wall.

I hope you enjoyed our 6th Day of 12 DIY Christmas Gift ideas.

Don't forget to stop by again tomorrow for another great project to help you with your gift giving dilemma's.


Until then!

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DIY Decorative Wall Shelf

Go ahead.  Do it.

Go to the store and scope out the price of quality good looking shelving.

Go on.  I'll wait.

Expensive isn't it!

Let's make our own shelf to hang on a wall for cheap.

This project not only makes a great gift for the holiday season, birthdays or an occasion but it can be done on a tight budget.

In fact if you have some pallets lying around you can build it for next to nothing.

That's what I'm talking about.

DIY Decorative Wall Shelf

Materials

2 - 1x4s

NOTE: All board lengths are 8' long and 3/4" thick unless otherwise noted.

Choice of Stain

Polyurethane

Wood Glue 

Miter Saw

Cut List

4 Vertical Back Pieces @ 3.5" x 12"

4 Vertical Back Pieces @ 3.50" x 17"

1 Shelf Piece @ 3.50" x 24.5"

Cutting Diagrams

 1x4s

Step 1

Take your 1x4s over to the miter saw and cut each board to the measurements listed above.

Now you can randomly edge glue the boards together.  Just be sure to shift the boards a few inches off from each other.

Once the piece is dry take it out of the clamps and route a 3/4" dado down the width of the projects back piece.

Step 2

Apply some glue to the dado then set and clamp the shelf in place until dried.

Final Thoughts

Sand the project down beginning at 120 grit and progress to 220.  I usually don't go any higher than 220 but you can if you want.

If you are using pine wood or some other species that tends to be blotchy when accepting stain you may want to precondition the project before apply your choice of stain.

Then a few coats of a project sealer will finish it off, simple and easy style.

To mount your new candle shelf I recommend a key hole bit in the router table.  A couple slots in the back and it can be mounted and dismounted without a lot of fuss.


I hope you enjoyed our 5th Day of 12 DIY Christmas Gift ideas.

Don't forget to stop by again tomorrow for another great project to help you with your gift giving dilemma's.


Until then!

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DIY 2x4 Storage Shelf

When I was growing up my family lived in a house with a linen closet at the end of the hall.

It was a handy dandy closet able to store all the towels, washcloths, sheets and bed spreads for a family of four.

That was in the Midwest of the United States.  Houses were built differently than they are here in Florida or pretty much anywhere nowadays.

Modern floor plans have done little to improve storage solutions for the casual homeowner.

Our current house has a closet built into each bathroom.  This I find to be a rarity.

Each of our last three homes had nothing.  We ended up using a corner of a walk in closet for towels and linens.

If you're in a similar situation or if you just want some stylish simple shelving for the bathroom or any room for that matter.  Here is a project you can hammer out in just a few hours with limited tools.

DIY Multipurpose Storage Shelf

Materials

2 - 2x4s

1 - 2x8

NOTE: All board lengths are 8' long.

Choice of Stain

Polyurethane

Wood Glue 

Miter Saw

Cut List

4 Vertical Back Pieces @ 1.5" x 3.5" x 36"

4 Shelf Pieces @ 1.5" x 3.5" x 14"

Cutting Diagrams

2x8

2x4s

Step 1

Using a miter saw cut all the 2x4 pices to length.  Then edge glue the four boards together.

After it is dry take the piece out of the clamps and clean it up using a sander or a hand plane.

Then you can route the rabbets and dadoes as shown below.

You can choose to do away with this style or joinery if you don't want to mess with it.  Pocket hole screws could be used to attach the shelving however, this will limit the amount of weight each shelf can hold.

So take into account twhat you think you will be storing on it and go from there.  If your just going to be placing a few towels on each one then pocket holes may be the way to go.

Step 2

Placing the shelves into the dadoes is a pretty straight forward procedure.

However the rabbets may pose a slightly more difficult proposition for some poeple.

That is why I recommend having a few right angle clamps on standby in a garage or shop.

They allow you to hold the pieces at right angles while you apply the clamping force needed to get a good glue joint.

NOTE:  Right angle clamps are generally not for clamping pressure like what would be applied by a regular straight clmaps.  Keep this in mind when reading reviews on angled clmaps.  I think some people seem confused as to the actual purpose of these specialty clamps.

Final Thoughts

Once the project is dry it can come out of the clamps and be sanded down.  A few coats of your choice of stain along with a few more coats of a project sealer such as some polyurethane will complete this awesome gift giving idea.

I hope you enjoyed our 2nd Day of 12 DIY Christmas Gift ideas.

Don't forget to stop by again tomorrow for another great project to help you with your gift giving dilemma's.


Until then!

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DIY Bath Caddy

That's it, I'm DONE!!!  I've had it!

I've had it with those cheep wire bath caddies that rust inside of a week.

That big box retail store that starts with a "W" and shall remain nameless, can keep their cheaply made Chinese imported stuff.

In fact the only thing worse than a cheaply made wire caddy is an expensive cheaply made wire caddy (cough, Bed Bath &...cough, cough).

I've got DIY on my side and I'm not afraid to use it...

DIY Bathroom Caddy

Materials

2 - 1x2 Project Boards (1/4" Thick)

1 - 1x2 Project Board (1/2" Thick)

1 - 1x4 Project Board (1/4" Thick)

NOTE: All board lengths are 8' long and 3/4" thick unless otherwise noted.

Choice of Stain

Polyurethane

Wood Glue 

Cut List

2 Bottom Box Side Pieces @ .25" x 3" x 6"

2 Bottom Box Side Pieces @ .25 x 3" x 4.75"

4 Top Boxes Side Pieces @ .25" x 1.5" x 6"

4 Top Boxes Side Pieces @ .25" x 1.5" x 4.75"

9 Bottom Pieces @ .25" x 1.5" x 6"  

2 Vertical Side Support Pieces @ .5" x .75" x 21"

1 Top Cross Support Piece @ .5" x .75" x 5.75"  

Cutting Diagrams

1x2s - 1/4" Thick

1x4 - 1/4" Thick

1x2 - 1/2" Thick

Step 1

Cut all of the side pieces that are 6" long.  The bottom box and the top two boxes are different depths.  That doesn't matter at this stage.  Just cut two 6" pieces from the 1x4 and four pieces from the 1x2.

Then along the bottom of all six pieces route a 1/8" deep rabbet that will accommodate the width of the bottom piece.  In this instance it is 1/4".

Step 2

Same thing here, only cut all the pieces that are 4.75" in length.

Then route the dadoes along three sides of all the pieces.  This is different from step 1 as the other sides only gets the rabbets on their bottoms.

Step 3

The bottom pieces are edge glued together to get the desired width and length of 4.5" x 6".  3 of the pieces listed for the bottom pieces in the cut list glued side by side will give you something slightly larger than what we need.

Then just cut them to final width on the table saw.

PRO TIP:  Cut all the bottom pieces about 1/2" to 1" longer than required in the cut list.  When they are edge glued the ends may be off slightly from each other.  The extra length will allow you to cut the ends flush to the exact final dimensions of the bottom piece.

Apply some wood glue to the rabbets and position the sides on the bottom piece.

Before apply clamps continue to step 4.

Step 4

Position the other two sides.  The rabbets should automatically set all the pieces to their correct angles to make a perfectly squared up box.

Obviously don't forget glue at all the joints.

Step 5

Once all the boxes are dry and out of their clamps cut the vertical support pieces to width and length.

Position your boxes at whatever desired distance from each other you want.  A simple glue joint should work in this instance IF...(notice the capital IF)...the wood glue you are using is rated #2 or #3.

#2 rated wood glue is water resistant and #3 rated wood glue is water proof.  Water resistant glue is good enough, in my opinion, for moist bathroom conditions if the project will not be submerged in water.

If the project will be placed directly in a shower then #3 would be recommended.

Step 6

Same thing for the other side.  Glue and clamps until dry.

Step 7

Place the top cross piece in place with glue and clamp in place.

A small dowel can be drilled from the top down for a stronger more durable joint here.  This is an instance where a simple butt joint would not be recommended wholly.

The reason is because you will have a tendency to pick the bath caddy up by this part and it will need some reinforcing to withstand the test of time.

Final Thoughts

Once the project is dry it can come out of the clamps and be sanded down.  A few coats of your choice of stain along with a few more coats of a project sealer such as some polyurethane will complete this awesome gift giving idea.

I hope you enjoyed our 3rd Day of our 12 DIY Christmas Gift ideas.

Don't forget to stop by again tomorrow for another great project to help you with your gift giving dilemma's.


Until then!

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DIY Small Activity Station

Children's art and their art supplies are a sensitive subject in our house.

Dad:  "Why is the baby eating that crayon?"

Kids 1, 2 & 3: .......................................(Blank stare.)

Dad:  "That is a rhetorical question for, get that crayon out of the baby's mouth!!!"

Kids 1 & 2: "Can I have that please baby?"

Baby: ...............................(Runs away laughing.  Then gags on crayon.)

Kid 3:  ..........................(Skips away and sneaks a cookie.)

Yup, sounds familiar doesn't it.  Thought so!

Art supplies never seem to make it back to where they came from.  What if tiny people had their own personal caddies to keep their scissors, pencils, glue sticks and more importantly...crayons.

This is a simple and easy Christmas gift idea that can be built with minimal tools, time and materials.  Plus it doesn't have to be used for kids supplies either if you don't have children.

It could come in handy to store all sorts of other things.

• Paperclips
• Pens
• Erasers
• Calculators
• Post It notes
• Scotch tape

The list goes on...but you get the idea.

DIY Small Activity Caddy

Materials

1 - 1x2

1 - 1x3

1 - 1x4

NOTE: All board lengths are 8' long and 3/4" thick unless otherwise noted.

Choice of Stain

Polyurethane

Wood Glue 

Miter Saw

Cut List

1 Top Cross Piece @ .5" x 1.5" x 8"

2 Front & Back Pieces @ .5" x 3.25" x 7.5"

2 Side Pieces @ .5" x 1.75" x 8"

2 Interior Dividers @ .25" x 1.5" x 7.5"

4 Interior Dividers (short) @ .25" x 1.5" x 2.75"

5 Bottom Pieces @ .25" x 1.5" x 7.5"

Cutting Diagrams

1x2s

 1x3s

 1x4s

Step 1

Lets start with the front and back pieces.  Cut to length.  Then measure and mark 3" in from both sides and 1.5" down from what will be the top of the activity caddy.  Mark the waste material using a pencil and use a hand saw or pull saw to cut the shape shown below.

Then you can route a 1/4" rabbet along the bottom of the workpiece and two 1/4" dadoes down both sides of the center section.

Step 2

A similar procedure for the two side pieces.  The one difference to note here is that 1/2" rabbets get routed on each side of both pieces.

Step 3

Apply wood glue to each of the four side rabbets and assemble the four pieces.  Clamp together lightly.  Just firm enough to be able to accomplish the next step.

Step 4

The bottom piece can be one whole board if you can find a project board big enough to get these deminsions.

However, that is not how I have it listed in the cut list above.

I have 5 boards listed that make up the bottom piece.  So edge glue the 5 pieces together and then cut it to final size on the table saw.  You could start the glue up process first thing.  Then by the time you are done with steps 1-3 it would be ready to come out of the clamps to be sanded and trimmed.

Step 5

The interior dividers are next.

In the cut list I simplified the shopping by having you get these 1/4" thick pieces out of a regular 1x4 that is actually 3/4" thick.  If you have a thickness planer you can plane down the material to the desired thickness.

If not, you could just buy 1/4" project pieces at your local home improvement store.  It costs more but if it's what you gotta do then by all means.

Step 6

A little bit of wood glue in the dadoes and just slide them in place.

 

Step 7

The shorter interior dividers can now be set in place as well.

Step 8

The top cross piece can be cut to length.  Two 1/4" diameter holes can be drilled on each end for pencils.  Then a slightly larger diameter holes can be drilled to hold something a little larger in girth.

I have 1/2" holes pictured below.

Step 9

Glue and clamps the top cross piece in place.

Final Thoughts

Once the project is dry it can come out of the clamps and be sanded down.  A few coats of your choice of stain along with a few more coats of a project sealer such as some polyurethane will complete this awesome gift giving idea.

I hope you enjoyed our 2nd Day of 12 DIY Christmas Gift ideas.

Don't forget to stop by again tomorrow for another great project to help you with your gift giving dilemma's.


Until then!

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