This week I reveal a disgusting secret found in your own home, and then make something to fix it. It’s time for a Maker Break
Hey Guys, welcome back to Maker Break, I’m Rob. And this week, I discovered something terrifying, and it’s in your home right now… let me tell you how this went down.
Project of the Week!
It all started while I was reading one evening, and ran across an article that focused on Bath Mats. As it turns out they’re filthy. The moisture breeds some of the nastiest germs you’ll find in your house. They’re disgusting! It was at that moment when I realized… I have a bath mat.
I did the only thing any rational consumer would do. I tossed it into the woods.
Fortunately, there’s a solution. You can build your own Cedar Bath Mat, and that’s what I did.
I started off with a few pieces of 8in wide cedar I found at Lowes, and ripped them down with our table saw to 1 and ½” strips. Then I cut them down to size.
Now I wanted this thing to span my entire walk in shower, so I made them 49” long. I then cut 5 cross bars around 18in, planning to cut them down after I figured out the width.
After laying them out, I got to sanding. And sanding, and sanding. When that was finally done, I grabbed my trim router, and put in a ¼” roundover bit to round all of the edges.
After rounding all the edges, I got back to sanding.
When it was ready for assembly, I used some straight scrap and clamps to make a frame to help me keep it all square.
Then I put each strip in place, keeping them all separated by a few spacers I made from scrap as well.
Then I simply put a drop of glue on each strip, and used a brad nailer to hold the cross bars in place. I did that 4 more times until it was all glued together.
I used some wood filler to cover the holes left by the nails, so water didn’t get in there creating rust and staining our bathroom floor.
This lead to more sanding, and cutting off the excess with a hand saw. Finally, I got to start finishing it. I pulled out some paper and grabbed a can of Tung Oil. I found several recommendations for this stuff online, and it worked beautifully. It helps protect the wood from water, but will need to be renewed each year, which I’m fine with. But look at that finish! So freak’n pretty.
After that I headed up to our bathroom, which my wife has been busy painting and decorating, and I set it in front of the shower, where it fit PERFECTLY. The door actually opens a full 90 degrees, and I plan to put a thin rubber bumper on it after my wife paints it black.
The Cedar bath mat is a huge hit. Everyone loves how it feels under their feet, and I now have 2 more orders right in my own home. I really need to charge more.
Favorite Maker Videos of the Week
There were a ton of great maker videos shared this week, and here are two of my favorites. First up, Bevelish Creations.
We featured another monitor stand recently, but this new one from Alex is predictably next level. The work is beautiful, and the drawer is inspired. Go check that out.
And second, MWA Woodworks shared a great video about making cutting boards, a right of passage for new woodworkers, but using minimal tools, and it’s fantastic. Wish I saw it before Christmas. Now I want to make gifts.
