A DIY allrounder for the dining table: A fruit bowl and chopping board in one handy utensil

A DIY fruit bowl can be seen on a wooden table on the left; a chopping board with bread can be seen on the right. — A fruit bowl and chopping board in one handy utensil – this project is perfect for your dining room

Difficulty

medium
Cost

> 15 £
Duration

1-3 h

Introduction

Fruit doesn’t really belong in the fridge. After all, you’re much better off putting it on display as a little reminder to eat your five-a-day. Our DIY fruit bowl isn’t just the perfect centrepiece for your dining table, but it is also rather practical, as you can fold it in a matter of seconds to use it as a chopping board. And best of all, you will have built it all by yourself in just a few easy steps.

It should go without saying that your safety is paramount throughout every step of the project, so make sure you take the necessary precautions to protect yourself. You can find an overview of the correct protective clothing you need when using each type of tool here:

You need

Tools

Utilities

scissors
pocket rule
g-clamps
pencil

Materials

10 x 1 m wooden slats, 10x10 mm, beech / Nylon string, 0.5 mm

L: Length, W: Width, H: Height, D: Diameter

Let's go - step by step

Step 1 6

Measure the wooden slats and cut them to size

A wooden slat is lying on a work surface. It is being marked with a measurement. — Measure the correct length for all the wooden slats first...

The wooden slat is being sawn off along the marking. — …before cutting them to size.

You need: Easy Cut 50, NanoBlade saw, pencil, pocket rule, g-clamps, ten wooden slats

Get ten wooden slats that are each one meter in length from your local DIY store.
Measure 240 mm on each slat, so that you end up with 40 slats of this length. Now clamp down your slats securely and cut them to size one by one.

Tip

Please note your jigsaw blade’s thickness when measuring and drawing. The slats will only be the same length if you factor this in.

Step 2 6

Sand the edges

The cut-to-length wooden slat is clamped to a work surface and sanded along the edges. — Sanding sponges are perfect for sanding the small sawn edges.

You need: Polishing sponge for EasyCurvSander 12, g-clamps

Sand all the sawn edges by hand using a fine sanding sponge.

Step 3 6

Position the slats for drilling

The slats are placed side by side and flush with one another using a wooden board.

A marking is drawn on the outer wooden slats using a pencil.

A wooden board is clamped flush with the marking on the wooden slats.

You need: g-clamps, pocket rule, pencil, sawn wooden slats / wooden strip / two small wooden boards

First take ten of your slats and place them on the wooden board. Use a small strip to position them flush with each other (picture 1).

Now measure 60 mm from the edge and mark the positions on each of the wooden slats (picture 2).

Then use another small wooden board and clamp it to the wooden slats from above so that it lies almost precisely on the marked positions (picture 3).

Step 4 6

Drill the holes

Two holes are drilled along the board in each slat. — You will have to be very careful and precise when drilling the small holes.

You need: Multi-sander, Wood Drill Bit Set 3 Pieces

You will now be able to use the board clamped from above as a guide rail: Drill two small holes in each slat precisely along the edge of the board. Make sure that you don’t drill too close to the edge of the slats. However, the two holes shouldn’t lie too close together. This is where you’ll need to be particularly careful.

Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have drilled two holes in all 40 slats.

Step 5 6

Thread the nylon string

A piece of nylon string is being threaded through the drilled holes.

The nylon string is knotted at the ends.

You need: scissors, Nylon string / patience

You will need some skill and patience in the next step, as you will have to thread a nylon string through all 40 wooden slats. Thread the string first through the upper hole of all of the wooden slats and the lower hole ‘on the way back’.

Tie a tight knot in both ends of the string when you have finished.

Step 6 6

Put together your bowl

The wooden slats are assembled into a bowl using a wooden dowel rod. — Use a wooden dowel rod to help you to put the fruit bowl together.

You need: Wooden dowel rod

If you would like to use your construction as a bowl, you will have to assemble it correctly. Use a thin wooden dowel rod to do so. Ensure when putting the bowl together that you only place every second alternating slat on the wooden dowel rod.

The fruit bowl will be stable and ready to use when all slats have been arranged in the correct position. Transform the fruit bowl into a chopping board that you can use it to slice bread and other food by folding it up. Now you can truly enjoy the fruits of your labour!