See a need, fill a need.

I am a middle grades teacher and coach. I like to drink tea or coffee in the morning and have water for the afternoon. But, carrying two cups, along with my other gear can be a pain (especially when it comes to opening doors!).

I thought to myself, "I can't be the only one with this problem." To my surprise, the only thing I could find to purchase online was made of cardboard.

So I decided to build my own from a single, cedar fence picket.

This caddy fits my Yeti tumblers (16oz and 20oz) perfectly. I'm sure most insulated cup brands will fit as well.

Supplies

One cedar fence picket (not treated) $3.97

Tape measure

Miter Saw or hand saw

Sand paper

Drill

1" sanding drum

Jig saw

Fasteners (I used brad nails, but small screws or finishing nails would work as well)

Stain (optional)

Step 1: Cut List

You will only need One Board for this build. Find a cedar picket that isn't cracked, warped, or cupped too badly. The dimensions of the picket are 6' x 5.25" x 0.5". OR for all who use the metric system... 180cm x 13.3cm x 1.27cm

Feel free to cut the board as is. I chose to plane it down and sand it since it was rough cut and it's easier to do one board vs. individual pieces.

Here's the cut list:

5.25" (x2) for each end

8.5" (x2) for the sides

9.75" (x1) for the bottom

4" x 13" (x1) for the handle. It helps to have a table saw for this one. The handle needs to be ripped to 4" wide.

Step 2: Assembling the Caddy

Dry fit the box together. Use the handle for the proper width, but don't fasten to the box just yet.

After finding the best fit, glue and fasten together (everything except the handle)

Wipe away excess glue

Step 3: The Handle

Create an ergonomic hand hold in the handle. There are plenty of ways to do this. I drew a rough sketch of what I though would be comfortable. Next, I drilled a 1/2" hole. Be careful on this step. Cedar is a soft wood and drilling will most likely cause splintering and tearout when the bit exits the board. To prevent this from happening, slip a backer board beneath the workpiece before drilling. Use any piece of scrap as a backer board.

Use a jigsaw to remove most of the material

A 1" drum sander bit makes quick work of getting the finger grooves just right.

Mark the center of the caddy box to make sure the handle will be centered. Glue handle into place, fasten with a few brads, small screws, or finishing nails.

Step 4: Sand and Stain

Sand the edges and remove any excess glue.

Either use "as is" or add stain to help protect your caddy and accentuate the wood grain. I used Waterlox Original Satin Finish because that's what I had from an earlier project.

Add your insulated cups and take on the day!

I'd love to know if this is just a "me" problem or if others experience the same conundrum? Next time, I'll try some biscuit joints or dovetails to tackle a new skill.