Hallway Key Hanger

The previous tennants had this white little kitchen plank, which I never liked. So I set out to make a new one, with more storage space, room for keys and a lot more sturdy.

Unfortunately I ended up switching up the width so it ended up in the hallway instead. I guess I'll just have to make another one....

I used pallet wood. It was hard...ish... wood, but needed to be cleaned. Should have used a plane, but I didn't have a proper sharp one lying around and last time I used it it took chunks out of my boards, so instead I just sanded it smooth.

After the planks were cleaned, I cut them to size, routed the grooves and laid them out. Once I saw the first set fit properly, I measured the board for the back, then clamped them down to the workbench together and router the new grooves for the backboard.

This step is fairly straightforward. I went ahead and rounded the bottom corners. Then clamped everything together, drilled pilot holes, screwed it together. Then I went and measured/fitted the front boards.

To be honest I forgot the exact steps here. It's not complicated though. It mostly involves:

1. Fitting everything together
2. Clamping the workpiece
3. Drilling pilot holes
4. Screwing it together
5. Disassemble
6. Add glue
7. Assemble and screw again, clamp if needed but screws should be plenty.

I added 2 little "catcher" boards at the front. always useful. After the glue dried, I also took out the screws, drilled out the holes to fit dowels, then glued those dowels and cut them flush with a cheap japanese saw. Smoothed it out again with a sanding block.

I used some scrap steel I had to make holders so the connection to the wall is hidden.

1. Cut small strips that fit into the panels.
2. Use a chisel to chisel out a patch that makes the strips fit flush to the wall.
3. Drill a hole in the strip, use a small file to make a notch to catch on a screw.
4. Test if it fits. In my case it didn't because apparently 34 is not the same as 43 (darn it!)... so I drilled new holes in the hall that were wide enough instead.

I tried varnish as finish, didn't like it. Next time I'll use oil again.

To add the key holders, I used a drill. Work smart AND hard :P