Saturday Morning Workshop: How To Build A Magnetic Knife Strip
Updated: Aug. 25, 2020This knife strip will add a warm touch of wood plus extra storage to your kitchen.
Time An hour or less
ComplexityBeginner
Cost$20-50
Introduction
Build this simple and beautiful magnetic knife strip in an afternoon with some scrap materials and incredibly strong magnets.Tools Required
- 1/2 in. Forstner bit
- Drill press
- Miter saw
- Router
Materials Required
- 1x3
- Painter's tape
- rare earth magnets
- Super glue
Project step-by-step (5)
Magnetic Knife Strip: Crosscut the board to length
Crosscut the board to 11-in. on the miter saw.
Magnetic Knife Strip: Round the edges of the board
Use a router and a 1/8-in. round over bit to round the edges.
Magnetic Knife Strip: Drill holes for magnets
Mark a centerline on your board, along that line, mark every 2-in. Set up a stop on your drill press so that it consistently drills along that centerline. Raise the drill press table so that the 1/2-in. Forstner bit drills 1/8-in. into the board. Drill into the board with your drill press.
Magnetic Knife Strip: Sand and stain the wood
Sand the wood to a smooth state starting with 100-grit and continuing all the way to 320-grit sandpaper. Finish the wood to your liking. We used a clear, satin varnish. We stained the wood before adding the magnets because the finish can negatively affect the rare earth magnets. Let dry.
Magnetic Knife Strip: Insert the magnets
Super glue the rare earth magnets into the holes. Be very careful with these magnets, they can easily attract to each other and break. Try as hard as you can to keep them separated.
