Wood Cardholder Plantstands
Part of the 1414 Mulberry Woodwork Collection
Making Mulberry Wood Cardholder Plantstands
Read below to see how we made live edge wood cardholder plant stands out of a branch from the 1414 Mulberry Tree. You can also see out other live edge wood collections. Get plans to craft items yourself or contact us at [email protected] for custom orders.
- Author: Jim Ramos, Ph.D.
- Photography and photo editing by: Jim Ramos, Ph.D.
- Videography and video editing by: Jim Ramos, Ph.D.
- Published: 1/16/2023
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Imagining the Cardholder Design
After cutting down the 1414 Mulberry tree, I had several branches that were too small to use in the tri-wood round stands and lazy susan’s I had been making. They were also a bit too big to use for some live edge wood vases I had made. I was dedicated to using every bit of that tree for some live-edge woodwork products. This forced me to think creatively to design something I could make from every piece of that tree.
The wood vases I mentioned were very popular, especially with accompanying wood flowers or glass vial inserts with bamboo or pothos plants. I knew I wanted to make something incorporating a glass vial insert with those plants. I’ve noticed a lot of bamboo plants on desks at work, and I wanted to make something more functional than a vase. This led me to the idea of making wood cardholder plantstands.
After considering the design, I grabbed a branch section about 3.5 inches in diameter. It is important to measure just the wood and not include the bark, as in some cases, the bark falls off easily. I grabbed a branch of that size and took it to my garage workshop.
Use a Miter Saw to Make Wood Slices
The bark on the section of the branch I had used had already been removed, so I did not have to clean it up or remove it. This meant I could take it straight to my miter saw. I clamped a 2×4 in place about 1.5 inches away from where the blade comes down. This made a wooden stop that would allow me to repeatedly slice 1.5. inch wood cookies from the branch section. This would be a great size for the mulberry wood cardholder plantstands.
Press play below to see us using a miter saw to slice the wood
Use a Table saw to cut our grooves for cards
After slicing the wood cookies, I needed to cut out the grooves of where the cars would go. I considered a few ways to do this and used my table saw. I set the blade to about 20 degrees and eyed the height the blade would need to be to not slice through the whole section. I then took several passes on the table saw to cut out slivers until I made a section I felt was large enough to hold the cards. A dado blade would make this easier and quicker, and I am saving up for one now.
Press play on the video below to see us cutting the grooves with a table saw
Use a Chisels to Clean Wood Cuts
After cutting the grooves, I cleaned the cuts with a chisel. This is a satisfying process to hear the cracks of the wood. The chisel work did not completely clean up the cuts, so I attacked those grooves with wood files I inherited from my grandfather once it was done. This worked really well at cleaning up the grooves where the cards would be placed.
Press play below to see us cleaning the grooves with a chisel and file
Use a Drill Press to Drill out Holes
I then took the future cardholders to my drill press to drill out the holes where the plant glass vials could be placed. They wouldn’t be wood cardholder plantstands without a place for the plants. The glass vials have a diameter of 1 inch, so I used a 1-inch Forstner drill bit to drill out the hole. I ensured it would only go some of the ways through the cardholder. In this first instance, I wore a glove when using the drill press. DO NOT DO THIS. You should not wear gloves around anything that rotates at high speeds. It runs too much of a chance of catching the cloth, getting caught in the machinery. This can cause damage or serious injury.
Press play on the video below to see us using the drill press to drill holes
Use a Belt and Palm Sander to Sand Wood
The general form of the cardholders was done after that; it was just a matter of cleaning them up now. I used CA glue and an accelerator to fill in any small voids or cracks I saw in the wood. Once the glue dried, I sanded the cardholders with 80-grit sandpaper on my belt sander. Then with 120 and 220 grit sandpaper on my palm sander. Even though I hate sanding, I love the feel of the wood after it has been sanded.
Press play on the video below to se us filling the voids with CA glue and sanding the cardholders
Applying Teak oil to Finish the Wood
Once sanded and cleaned off, I oiled the cardholders with some Teak oil. Mulberry wood is a stunning wood, and the Teak oil really brings out the color and grain structure while darkening it a little. After applying the first layer of Teak oil, I let it dry overnight.
Press play on the video below to se us using Tung oil to finish the cardholders
Finished!
That was it; that is how easy they are to make. A great project to do in an afternoon. Easy enough to make a handful or even more in a day. Adding the glass vial inserts with the plants and decorative rocks accentuates these rustically beautiful cardholders, making them a unique addition to any desk or area where you display your business cards.
Press play below to see the full build and finished product (2:26).
1414 Mulberry wood cardholder plant stands.
Take a look below at all the items I’ve made out of this Mulberry tree that comprise the 1414 collection. Click on the links to read more about the functional art, or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok to see what we are working on. Or you can message us at [email protected] to commission custom pieces from the wood in your yard.
You spent time in its shade. We’ll make sure its memories never fade
Learn more about Mulberry trees and see out other Mulberry Wood Collections. Or View some of our other Live Edge Lumber Collections.
Take a look below at all the items I’ve made out of this Mulberry tree that comprise the 1414 collection. Click on the links to read more about the functional art, or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok to see what we are working on. Or you can message us at [email protected] to commission custom pieces from the wood in your yard.
You spent time in its shade. We’ll make sure its memories never fade
Learn more about Mulberry trees and see out other Mulberry Wood Collections. Or View some of our other Live Edge Lumber Collections.
