TV, VCR and CD Remote Holder

A Great First Project for the New Woodworker

This was one of my first and self-designed projects, and it's an easy way for the novice woodworker, to get their feet wet in woodworking, and to end up with an attractive and very useful project.

 

 

It's just what every TV/VCR/CD fan will get a lot of use from. It's an attractive remote control holder to keep those easily misplaced remote controls close at hand. Let me take you through this easy and "can't miss" project.

 

 

This project can be made from just about any type of wood you like, but since pine is always available and is also very easy to work with, I would suggest you use it.

Bill of Materials

Making Your Plan: I'm sorry but as with a lot of my projects, I have no plans nor drawings for this remote holder. If you're going to make something similar, just draw a pleasing shape for the end pieces and your middle handle. To get a pleasing curve, trace around a circular shape you have in your home, like different sizes of tin cans, margarine containers, pill bottles or jar lids you have on hand and draw around it, onto your ends and handle pieces. You may wish to buy a set of "French Curves" available at any art store for under $10.00. You'll use these over and over for project design.

Making the Project: Cut the wood to the dimensions shown above. You will need a cutout in the handle for your fingers to lift your remote holder. Draw the outline of this on the top of your handle piece not coming any closer than 3/4" to any edge of the wood. Drill a 1/2" hole in the centre of this shape, insert your jigsaw blade and carefully cut out your finger slot.

Finish sand all pieces and begin assembly.

Assembly: Lay the bottom on a flat hard surface. When attaching the 2 end pieces to the 8 3/8" ends of the base, drill and countersink 3/32" pilot holes, and then attach the ends, using the 1 1/2" wood screws. Screw through the ends of your now partially assembled unit, into both ends of your sides with the 1 1/2" screws, just inside the edges of your end pieces. When you're drilling your pilot holes, be sure that your sides are just inside the edges of your ends and that you are drilling into the centre of your sides.

Insert the handle from the top and secure it in position in the centre of the ends. Be sure to keep it square, and secure the handle, using 1 1/2" screws, into pilot holes you drilled and countersunk from the outside of the ends. See the above right photo and notice the approximate location of the screws. Remember other than connecting the ends to the centre of the side pieces, the exact location is not that critical.

All screw locations, within reason, are basically your choice!

Finishing: Once your project is assembled and some final last minute sanding is completed, give your project a wipe with a tack cloth to remove all sawdust. Stain it to match your decor, and when dry, give it couple of coats of your choice of topcaot, sanding lightly between coats.

 

Final Comments: This is an easy, attractive, and useful project for the new woodworker to complete. The dimensions are not critical and this project can be made to fit your needs by making the sides and base to the the same length, however that length can be your choice.

You might wish to add a divider to each side pocket to better separate your various remote controls. That's what I did, but it's not visible in the photo. This can be done by gluing a small piece of wood - say 1" x 1" x 4" with one nice rounded corner at the top inside - to the inside of the sides, as you are preparing your pieces before assembly.

When deciding on the length of the sides & base, remember to take into consideration the dimensions of your remotes and the width of your divider if any.

 

 

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