How To: Make a Woodgrain Magnetic Tool Holder

Whether they’re your fancy German chef’s knives, your perfectly honed chisels, that Xacto blade you wield so well, or your razor-sharp, never-touch-paper fabric scissors, the DIY lifestyle most always entails sharp cutting tools. And the best way to protect these tools, keep their edges straight and nick-free, and store them safely?

A magnetic block. Which are, thankfully, quite inexpensive at a spot such as IKEA, but they’re looks are a bit cold, and the metal surface can actually scratch your tools.

So, we’re gonna give one a quick faux bois makeover.   

Materials

• Basic magnetic knife rack, such as the IKEA Gruntdal
• wood grain contact paper (I ordered mine from Amazon)
• Scissors and craft knife
• Bone folder or large metal spoon
• Measuring tape

1. Measure the knife blocks length, height, and thickness, and add an inch or so. Cut the contact paper to that dimension.

2. Peel off about 3″ of the backing paper, and adhere it to board at one side, leaving the 1″ hanging over the edge. Work very slowly and use the bone folder to  smooth out any air bubbles. Thankfully, the wood grain contact paper has only a medium-level tackiness, so it’s easy to reposition.

3. Once the face is covered, move towards wrapping the sides as you would a Christmas present. Trim away any excess, and there you go!