Welcome to my FIRST "Wood'n-it-be nice" Wednesday! I am so excited about this day, as I LOVE working with wood! I hope that this day will become one of your favorite day's to visit with me, as well.
Today's project is a wonderful project that I think alot of you will enjoy. I find this project to be actually harder than it may look! So, please don't be frightened off by it! It just actually involves more steps to complete, than any actual woodworking skills!
As with any Woodworking, I am advising you that you have a few simple tools on hand to start with (Basic Woodworking tools: hammer, sandpaper, tape measure, wood glue, and jig saw). I know as your woodworking progesses you will want to go out and purchase some time-saving tools to speed up the process and make things a little simplier. But, for this project, you don't need any sofisticated tools, just the basics. So, relax and enjoy today's project!
"Wooden Scrub Board"
supplies:
*Basic Woodworking tools: hammer, sandpaper, tape measure, wood glue, and jig saw.
*1" x 8" x 36" Pine Board (you can purchase a 4' long board at Lowe's/Home Depot and they will cut it to 3' for you for FREE!)
*1" x 2" x 6' Pine Board
*1 1/4" Finishing nails
*Craft Paint in your choice of color (I used Black & French Blue)
*Chip Brush for painting
*Handle template (in my freebie box)
*Stain (I like the Dark Walnut by Mimwax)
*Rags
*Optional(for hanging): Drill w/1/4" drill bit & leather strap
Directions:
First, we are going to take and cut the "handle" into your long board. I have included this in my freebie box on the right side toolbar. Download, Print, & cut out the template. Now, trace this onto your board, laying the top of the handle at the very top of the board. You will cut this out now with your jig saw.
If you have never used a jigsaw before, these are very inexpensive to purchase, and very easy to use. It is like a carving knife for wood! Just follow your lines with the blade. If you have never used a jigsaw, please practice on the left over wood you had from this 4 foot board. You will find that you will LOVE this handy tool! This is my most used tool in my house! Here is what it looks like cut out:
Now, we are going to cut your "slats" for the scrub board. Measure and cut 6 1/2" piece from 1"x2" board. Cut this now with your jigsaw. Don't worry if your wood is not exactly straight, remember this is Primitive! Now, take that piece and use it to measure and cut another piece, do this process until you have 6 of them cut.
Now, we are going to need to sand this lightly to before we put them onto your scrub board. I just give a light sanding to round the corners and get all the splintered ends off. I find it is a little easier to do this before they are attached to the board.
Arrange your small pieces of wood onto your scrub board, evenly spacing them, then turning a few in different directions like this has been a well used piece.
Now, take each piece up before nailing and run a small bead of wood glue down the underside center, don't use a whole lot just a nice line. Now take one nail in the middle, and then one on each edge. Repeat this process with the remaining 5 slats. It should look something like this now:
Here comes the fun part! Beat up your piece slightly with your hammer! I like to pound and dent here and there....take the claw and chunk out some wood here and there....and just hit your claw end here and there as well to indent some of the wood. Now, you can really ding your piece up with this process, or just do a little damage...just depends on your preference.
Okay, time for the first coat of paint. If you are just going to stain your piece with a wood stain, you can go right to it now and do that. If you are going to paint it like I have you will need to now go and put your basecoat on, covering the whole piece. I am doing a black basecoat with a colonial blue finish. Let your basecoat dry completely.
Once dry, we are going to be applying our topcoat. This is the way I do mine. Might not be how others do it, just my way! I take my topcoat, french blue is my choice, and I just haphazardly apply this on top my black. I leave some black showing though here and there. Just remember to paint with "the grain" when possible! You really shouldn't paint or stain against the grain if you can. Let dry completely.
Now, time to distress that paint job you just did. Told you to do this haphazardly! This just make this a little easier. Take your piece of sandpaper and sand all the areas of your project where you think it would get the most wear. Around corners, on the slats from all that scrubbing, and the handle would all be good places from years of wear and use.
Once you are happy with your sanding, we are going to "age" you piece with some stain. Take an old rag or a chip brush and apply the stain all over your piece, making sure to get into those cracks and crevices! Wipe off stain with a rag. See how instantly your piece has darkened and become aged?! Now you can take and seal your whole piece with a matte sealer, I like to do mine with it. But, you do not have to.
If you are going to hang your piece, take your drill bit and drill a hole in the top of the handle and string a piece of leather or thick twine through it now.
That's it...you are done! Now you have a new "old" scrub board! You can hang some Homemade Lye Soap in a piece of aged cheesecloth from it, to make it even more Primitive. Hope you enjoy! I would love to see pictures on your blog if you are willing to share them with us!
