Wooden Key Holder

I've made this wall-mounted key holder for a friend. It looks good on the wall with keys on it.

• Wooden laths
• Mitre saw
• Wood glue
• Screw eyes
• Super glue
• Clamps or some heavy stuff to compress the pieces
• Blowtorch (optional)
• Stanley knife or something to scratch excessive glue

I’ve cut wooden laths in order to have 6 pieces of wood. I’ve cut them by my temporary fix as you see it’s actually an inverted jigsaw.

After pieces have been cut, now it’s time to use mitre saw. At this step, I have to say that you should check your accuracy before cutting your actual piece. Or maybe you should do some test cuts. In my workshop, within 6 years I haven’t encountered a tool which can be inaccurate this much itself. Actually there are three settings on my mitre saw. But as a casual DIYer, I think there must be some endpoints pre-set by factory. Ok if I want to go further than 45 degrees or less than 0, then I should be able to do that. But come on, if I just tilt the saw to the left all the way, I want to achieve a real 45 degrees as I’ve bought a brand new mitre saw. I must have these two at least. 0 and 45 degrees without adjusting any bolts, screws and nuts. Anyway. Enough for the complaint session.

Now I have to express the angles of the pieces that you’ll cut by mitre saw. The base has to be 45 degree cut from both ends. The side pieces have to be 45 degree cut from one end then you have to turn the pieces upside down and cut the other ends. Repeat this step of side pieces for the pieces of roof. Cut one end as 45 degrees and turn the piece upside down and cut the other end as 45 degrees again. The upper section must not be cut at any angle other than 0 or let’s say 90 degrees. That piece must be flat at both ends.

It’s time to stick the pieces together. I’ve just used non-toxic usual white wood glue but if you’re good at dowelling then you should give it a go as with dowels the structure would be way stronger. Or maybe to add extra strength, you can use brad nailers or something. While gluing, you may find it easier to assemble just two pieces at a time.

After gluing session has finished, it’s time to attach screw eyes to the upper section. You should drill the holes first. I didn’t do that, and as you see I’ve a significant crack near one of the screw eyes.

(Optional) I’ve used blowtorch and burnt the key holder a little. No instructions for this but please be careful while using a blowtorch or something with fire.

Then we have to find a way to make this key holder wall-mounted. If you have some finished products to fulfill this need, then use those materials. I didn’t have any that time. Thus, I’ve found a small chain ring and bended it a bit. Screwed it onto the back side of the upper section. Lastly, I’ve applied super glue there to fix it.

Now it’s time to polish! I’ve used flaxseed oil and french polish for this step. After waiting overnight for drying, the project is done and the product is ready to be used. I hope you find this instructable useful.