Recipe holder

RECIPE HOLDER

When you are working in the kitchen (and other places) you sometimes need to hold something while you are using both hands. That "something" may be a recipe card and you do not want to lay it on the work surface. The above picture shows a holder that you can make to hold your recipe card. (Note that this holder has other uses, such as holding a photograph.)

This project is rated as MODERATE.

Materials needed: wood, wire, alligator clip, paint, drill and bit
(Note: Alligator clips may be purchased at an electronics store.)

Your holder does not have to look like the one shown. You can vary the design according to the materials you have available, and you can express your own creativity.

This device needs a heavy base to support it. In the example shown I used a turned piece of wood that was surplus from another project. Perhaps the easiest base to make is a square or rectangular base made from a wood board. Cut a piece from a board. I suggest using a one-inch board (actual thickness is 3/4") that is nominally 4 inches wide. Cut a piece that is 4 inches long or a little longer.

Sand all the edges and round (or chamfer) the top edges to make the appearance pleasing.

Prime and paint (you can stain and varnish if you like) the base.

After the paint is dry, you can add some decorations, if you desire. I had some decals that I thought would be appropriate.

If you have added decals, put on a clear varnish or lacquer.

Here is an example of a rectangular base:

After the base is complete and dry, it is time to add the upright holder.

Solder an alligator clip to one end of a 4 inch length of 12 gauge wire. (If you do not want to solder, you can fasten the clip to the wire with epoxy glue or some other suitable glue.)

Drill a 3/32 inch diameter hole in the center of the base. This is a little larger than the diameter of the wire, but the next smaller drill bit would be too small. (If you use a different gauge wire, drill an appropiate size hole to accept the wire.)

Insert the wire in the hole. Since the wire may be a little smaller than the hole, put a slight bend in the wire and put glue on the wire so that it will be held firmly in the hole.

Your recipe holder is complete when your glue is dry.

The advantage in using wire versus a wood dowel is that, if necessary, it is possible to bend the wire so the recipe card will be held at an angle.