Inspired by my home-brew loving comrades, I observed them toting their fermented wonder to social gatherings in trendy, wooden, six-shot crates. The experience is always delightful, tasting new brews and ogling over these transportation devices. I decided to craft my own industrial beer caddy. I hope you appreciate the practicality!
Years ago, I salvaged a board from a job site that was laying in mud for months. I knocked off most of the grime and stored it in my lumber rack until recently. The species was unknown until I made my first cut.
The design was inspired off the cuff. I did not know what it was going to look like until I cut the blanks for the bottom and sides. Instead of going with a rustic appearance, I chose a more industrial shaped handle and hardware. To keep the natural weathered patina, I opted for a paste-wax finish. While it’s not the most protective finish, the wax tends to preserve the original look better than other finishes that I’ve tried.
I love the industrial/rustic look of this project. It’s simple in design made of unassuming poplar. Besides the wonderful patina surface, I enjoy the rough tooling marks that were preserved. And the pocket-hole screws provide the right accent. Certainly, this project makes toting bottles easier and more stylish.
