DIY salvaged wood pencil & pen caddy

Pencil caddy made from salvaged wood, photo

I had a scrap 4×4 piece of wood sitting around and decided to put it to use. Drilling the holes in this desk caddy was a bit harder than it looks. This was my third try. It made me wish for a drill press. But, if you have a steady hand and a good eye, a standard drill will work.

I love that it echoes the shapes of the keys on the keyboard. I went with a sleek look, but you can paint or decoupage the caddy any way you want. Bonus: It makes a great bookend too.

How to make a salvaged wood pencil & pen caddy

SUPPLIES

scrap 4×4 board (try Freecycle or a salvage yard)
spray primer
spray paint
painter’s tape
felt feet

TOOLS

sanding block & sandpaper
drop cloth
drill and ½-inch drill bit
tack cloth
ruler & pencil

INSTRUCTIONS

4x4 piece of wood cut in four pieces, photo

1. First cut the 4×4 in 4-inch pieces. (You might need more than one in case you mess up). Thanks Rick for cutting the wood for me!

2. Use a ruler and pencil to draw a grid to guide you when drilling the holes. My holes are about ½ inch from the edge and ½ inch from each other.

3. Measure three inches on the drill bit, and mark it with a flag of painter’s tape. This will ensure that all your holes are the same depth. Drill each of the holes, making sure that the drill is exactly straight up. I used a ½-inch drill bit, but if your pencils and pens are fatter, use a larger drill bit.

4. Sand all the sides smooth. Fill any nicks with wood filler, let dry, then sand smooth again. Remove dust with a tack cloth.

5. Apply one coat of spray primer. (I used regular primer because it’s what I had on hand.) Let dry, then lightly sand. Remove dust with a tack cloth, and apply another coat of primer. Let dry.