Scrap Wood Soap Saver - How to

[@Toyotajunkie]

Oh boy! The seductive water pour was a great ender!

[@OxybroCone]

I came. Here. For this

[@gsp911]

"for those of you living outside the United States, uh, Liberia and Myanmar" Haha, love it. 😊 I really enjoy watching your videos every time.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks much, but one of these days, I need to address Americans' fear of meters. We seem to have convinced ourselves that the metric system is a deep state/Trilateral conspiracy to force us all to buy new tape measures with electronic chips that will allow the CIA to record our every measurement.

[@alexhale6582]

I've learnt so much from watching your videos, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and tricks, a wood wizard you are.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

It's kind of you to say so.

[@mrBrown-ki4dc]

Many years I’ve wished that I had taken wood shop in high school, after discovering this channel I wish that I had Mr. Engler for the teacher. Great videos, excellent information. Thanks 👍🏼

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Most welcome.

[@skigglystars9525]

Love your style of teaching. I always learn something I never knew I needed to know. Thank you for sharing the gift.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Most welcome.

[@earthshaker5991]

I just made myself one of these yesterday during some shop downtime. I used a block of inch and a half thick acrylic plastic, though, because that's what I had handy. It turned out beautifully and only took a few minutes once I got cutting. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Acrylic! Nice suggestion. Thanks for sharing.

[@popfitty]

What degree was the jig on

[@earthshaker5991]

@@popfitty I didn't have a jig, just a fence. So my cuts were at 90° and parallel to the sides. Still looks goods and works well.

[@nathanaelbray9813]

you know what your talking about, this earns a subscription!

[@richardsorge-]

Genius. And the idea of the finish in the ziplock is precious. Thank You so much !

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Most welcome.

[@Exodus5K]

I have an aunt and uncle who's retired job it is to make those fancy soaps to sell at flea markets. I'm making a few of these soap holders to give to them just because they remind me of them. I hope they enjoy one enough to want to use in their own home.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

I'm sure they'll appreciate your gesture. Just be sure you have a good dodge on hand when they inevitably ask you to manufacture them.

[@jeffmauldin2841]

Ok, I have made a good bit of money making soap dishes/savers for several hand made soap shops and I love this idea, going to make a few and hit the shops with this new design. They have always wanted just plain, rectangular blocks with the lattice lines going straight lengthwise on top and straight across on the bottoms, made from 1X4 cedar boards. The cedar is waterproof and will last a very long time with no finish. This is just on a whole different level from what my customers have always wanted but I know this will sell way better. The only issue will be that I have branding irons for several shops with their logos so I can brand the flat sides for them which will not work on this design due to the lattice lines cutting the sides, but I'll figure that out later lol. So glad I found your channel, thank you.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Good luck!

[@brianstevens3858]

By using a router you can achieve the same thing, just put in stop blocks so you don't groove all the way to the edges, I made custom heater vents using this basic pattern with it so I know it can be done, fairly easily.

[@brianstevens3858]

The main difference would be you can only make one at a time.

[@nickkemp1434]

Great project and excellently humorous presentation Thank You you nice smelling squirrel magnet

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Yeah, well, it takes one to know one. ;-)

[@tylerkrug7719]

Love the guitar at the end

[@Bicslife]

guy got my like for his sense of humor. nice video sir.

[@talonrunner]

This... this is why KZbin was invented

[@dennisholtby2140]

I just completed my first batch of Soap Savers after purchasing the plans and building the 'notch jig'. I found the plans easy to follow (I did find the part about the piece of 1/4" plywood a little bit confusing) but, I'm well pleased with the final outcome. I used a thin-kerf combination blade rather than a regular 1/8" blade am well pleased with the results. I especially appreciated the tip about putting a 'paper ruler' on my ShopSmith saw table. Wahoo, what a great idea! I wish I'd heard of that several years ago. I've never been able to justify the price ShopSmith wants to upgrade my model 520 to use their magnetic tape system. This tip alone made this a very fun project. Guess what my neighbors are receiving from me for Christmas this year. Thanks again for great videos and tips.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Most welcome. Thanks for sharing.

[@jakeedmondson5288]

I am also having a hard time deciphering what section to use the 1/4 plywood on.

[@dennisholtby2140]

@@jakeedmondson5288 I finally figured it out. It goes on the very bottom of the jig (like a base).

[@jakeedmondson5288]

@@dennisholtby2140 Thanks! Just starting to read plans and it was a bit confusing.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

@@jakeedmondson5288 It's the very base of the jig -- so you have something to clamp the blocks to.

[@puddinggeek4623]

An excellent scrap wood project. The finished results are great, I am definitely going to have a go at making a few. Keep up the great work.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks.

[@trevorlebert1929]

These are so info packed! Perfectly presented my friend.

[@ChristianSchriver]

Loved your soap saver made great use of some scrap belian wood

[@TL-he7vu]

Fantastic little project, I love it! Great use of scrap, great little gifts, and can be made easy from a single block of wood, or as fancy as you'd like. I'll definitely will be buying the plans for the jig and make some of these. Keep up the good work mate.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Cool. Will do.

[@zeejimi4044]

Great idea, and great video ! I love the way you explain things, and the humorous way you do it ! ⭐️👍😂

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Many thanks.

[@Lamara5292]

Those are very cleverly designed.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks.

[@8thsinner]

I have never seen these before but I love them, if I ever get a table saw I will intend to make some.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

If I have created an excuse for you to acquire a table saw, then my work is done.

[@coaltowking]

This is exactly what I need. I'm going to make some of these when I get home!

[@CoronaWolle]

This video is great on so many levels! Thank you for the inspiration

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Most welcome.

[@Emperor_Of_Mankind]

Story sticks would have made this easier, I think. But they take up a lot of storage over time. and it works best if they're not made of wood so the actual dimensions don't shift around with humidity. Still cool to see it done this way.

[@JohnColgan.]

Great project idea, good luck with squirrels

[@flowleopard893]

What an amusing character. Instantly subscribed. And great info also. Well done.

[@franiglesias8983]

litteraly the einstein of wood 🙌

[@WorkshopCompanion]

You ought to see our relativistic soap savers. By keeping the soap traveling at the speed of light, the bar never ages.

[@xylocraft222]

So simple. I love it!

[@shaunhayward]

I love this project!

[@Austeration]

Very cool video 👍well done

[@gjensen500]

Nick, you just keep amazing me. Great Idea. I think I would router one side down 3/8" to create a lip to hold the soap in a tray configuration. That way the soap doesn't slip out. I sure learn a lot from you. Thank You.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Most welcome.

[@joswaterreus4851]

I think this would look great with an 5mm/8mm solid strip of equal thinkness mitred arround. awesome idea and another great video. I love everything you make.

[@Grindog]

Fantastic idea, Nick. Could you laminate a thin border around the 4 edges to give it a more finished look?

[@dougbidwell5467]

Great video and very inspiring. What finish did you use?

[@phoff5850]

He doesn't specifically state in the video, but I suspect he's using the finish that he mixes together in his "Finding The Perfect Finish" video

[@maryturner3534]

Love your humor

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks. Can I show that to my wife?

[@tylerkrug7719]

Great idea!

[@knoelledesign1973]

this is amazing.

[@duanedavis4065]

Got the plans . New to wood working is the a step by step tutorial to visually follow can’t relay reed the plans well enough

[@WorkshopCompanion]

There are no additional instructional materials other than the plans and the two videos; sorry.

[@JCMITQuilts]

New Subscriber - found you from a shout out from "My Growth Rings" looking for Shopsmith Mark V videos! Will binge your channel this weekend!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Many thanks. And happy binging.

[@chriscarter3866]

Love your humour.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks. My wife would agree with you...but not always.

[@gnothisauton2116]

Love the intro!

[@gochasirbiladze9098]

Just amazing!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks.

[@FredDamnRock]

I subscribed off the intro alone. "Stalked by a family of squirrels." lol

[@bobwebberkc]

Love it Nick

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks, Bob.

[@benmurphy5480]

Greetz from Germany. Thanks for the wonderfull idea! I buy the plan 🙂👍

[@WorkshopCompanion]

You're welcome!

[@geef0813]

My wife makes soap so this will go nicely and be a great way to use up scraps from my charcuterie boards.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Glad to have been helpful.

[@georgevanvalkenburg2560]

BRILLIANT!

[@karenpatrick7954]

Great video Nick. I think you are great.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks for your kind words.

[@sk13ppy]

Genius!

[@avramw]

Great video, thanks! What finish did you use that will hold up well with all that water?

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Tung oil works just fine.

[@gilmarcordeirojunior1526]

Hey Nick. I'm brasilian and here in Brazil we use centimeters as a primary type of dimension. Just to let you know hehehe. THanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

You're most welcome, and -- just to let you know --all our plans are published in both Imperial/English and metric measurements.

[@gilmarcordeirojunior1526]

​@@WorkshopCompanion Love it! I'm looking foward to buy all of your books. xD A precious massive information about woodworking.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

@@gilmarcordeirojunior1526 Just to let you know, our books, unfortunately, are Imperial only. They were published when we only had an American audience. The plans were published after our videos began to attract a global audience, so they have dual sets of both Imperial and metric measurements. Fortunately, the books concentrate mostly on woodworking information, skills and procedures, and those are always the same no matter what the measuring system.

[@gilmarcordeirojunior1526]

​@@WorkshopCompanion Projects based in inches is not a problem, it is easy to convert to centimeters. But I like that in your vídeos you have this concern and say both forms of measurements.

[@martingagne3136]

christmas idea.....thank a lot and the jigs just give me some idea too

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Glad to have been of help.

[@sawomircupek4322]

I’m often watching Your channel, and i’m glad to found it. Great job! I”m writing from Poland, Yes I know... You Don’t know Where is It :) Easy, it’s Normal :)

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Bardzo śmieszne. Dziękuję za miłe słowa.

[@TheBearGrylz]

Wow. Always amazing info sir

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks.

[@oldhess]

I love you address every possible.place I'm going to screw up! So informational, thank you!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Most welcome.

[@annickce2623]

So pretty. Could I hold it on an oscillating sandblaster to dig out the center or it would break?

[@WorkshopCompanion]

If you want to create a depression in the center, do it before you make the lattice.

[@edreusser4741]

at 11:30 or so it would help to turn the can around so we can see the label

[@paulweinstein7516]

How do you keep the ottom of the jig from being cut all away. I downloaded your plans and made the jig, worked great! However, I can’t cut more than 2. Eva use there isn’t any wood left to hold the wood block. Thanks!

[@17hmr243]

nice build

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks. I'm surprised you guys haven't yet come up with Vegemite soap.

[@fella7475]

Absolute king

[@MistaBullas]

Being stalked by a family of squirrels! That's good haha!

[@SonnyShizzle]

Love this idea. Total noob question… instead of moving the fence for each cut, could you set the fence to the widest cut on the soap saver and then add a series of pre cut spacers to move the jig away from the fence? Disclaimer: am noob

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Certainly.

[@RPMWoodworks]

Thanks for the inspiration for another project. LOL Can't seem to find the Notch Jig plans.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Here, page 2: workshopcompanion.selz.com/item/scrapwood-soap-saver

[@knoelledesign1973]

I will have to figure out a workaround using concept. It's a bit beyond my wheelhouse since I don't even have a table saw or whatever that is :). I am a soaper and I need some trays!

[@illphil8286]

Very nice idea, thanks for sharing! But why don‘t you make two cuts per measurement by turning the jig 180?

[@WorkshopCompanion]

The cuts don't necessarily meet up in the middle unless the workpiece is of a precise size and held at a precise angle

[@shilohedwards7477]

Would this jig work for a hand saw or mitre saw? Those are the only saws I can afford at the moment but I'd love to be able to make these!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Certainly. You might want to convert an old hand saw to a stair saw so you can easily saw to a desired depth. See literaryworkshop.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/how-to-use-a-stair-saw/

[@ateliemaritom]

Excelente projeto show de bola 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Obrigada.

[@nsmith473]

In noticed you had a bottle of Titebond 2 there when you were talking about gluing up boards. Titebond 2 is water resistant. Titebond 3 is water proof (or so they say). Do you find that Titebond 2 holds up adequately to sitting wet for extended periods?

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Several years ago, when I wrote "Gluing and Clamping," Jim McCann and I did a test. We cut 1x2s out of poplar and glued them together to make crosses. We use over a dozen different adhesives -- the same adhesives that are in the chart I assembled in the book. We sharpened one of the arms of each cross and drove them into the ground outside the shop. Every month we'd put moderate pressure on one of the horizontal arms to see if it would break off the vertical member. We kept the experiment going long after the book was published just for our own edification. There was absolutely no difference between Titebond II and III. After four or five years, whenever we finally pulled up the crosses, they were both still secure. I remember telling one of the Franklin chemists about it during an interview, and he did not seem surprised.

[@OctavioJackson]

Shake and Bake!

[@richardjackson277]

Hi Nick, Would it be possible to do this with a tabletop router ?

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Yes, but it would take an enormous amount of time. You'd have to make each cut in two or three passes. Making a single 3/8" (10 mm) deep cut would just burn up the router bit.

[@tschmath]

Would there be any structural problems if the layers were cut skewed to each other?

[@WorkshopCompanion]

What layers are you referring to?

[@tschmath]

@@WorkshopCompanion the top and bottom cut layers. Are they parallel to each other or can they be at an angle to each other?

[@WorkshopCompanion]

@@tschmath There are no layers in the soap saver; it's made from a solid block of wood. The jig helps you cut two sets of grooves in the block, each set at an angle to the other. The grooves cross to form a lattice, but the block remains whole, without layers of any sort. If you want to glue up a block from layers or "plies" of wood at angles to one another, those plies would expand and contract at angles to one another. But you probably could get away with it because the grooves essentially cut the plies into strips; each strip expanding and contracting independently. There would be a very slight reduction in the overall structural integrity, but not enough to matter.

[@Trinadi_Tries]

I am really struggling to build the jig with the plans from the site. I wish the video or plans went into any detail at all about how to build the jig, rather than just how to use it once built. 😕

[@JimGriec0]

Same here. I bought the plans and they are useless because I do not understand them. That is on me but still . . .

[@sandinshorts]

What type of finish do you use? I am concerned about two things. 1. The finish leeching into the soap and then onto the skin and 2. The soap washing away the finish

[@WorkshopCompanion]

We use minwax tung oil "food contact safe after cured" If you're concerned you can use a food safe wax. I think maple is one of the better woods to use for this project. - Travis

[@brookemaples8411]

What finish do you use on these?

[@rossandersen942]

I bought the plants and made a jig. It looks like it will only allow me to do one or maybe two sets of Sauve Saveurs without the bottom falling out of it. Any tips?

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Two possible reasons. The first, and the least likely, is that you used something like particleboard or exterior plywood for the bottom of the fixture -- these fall apart after a few cuts. Use a cabinet-grad plywood. Second, and the most likely, is that you are not able to reliably duplicate fence settings. If you don't have an accurate fence system, try making some spacers that you add and remove. This will allow you to leave the fence in one location and the spacers -- as long as you cut them exactly the same width -- will insure accuracy.

[@bobmeister9]

I feel like the plans could use a little more explanation about the plywood layers and what's happening with the block 1/4 up from the table surface. Very cool idea though!

[@JimGriec0]

I bought the plans and do not understand them at all!

[@duanedavis4065]

Is there a video to show to make this jig.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

We have plans available: workshopcompanionstore.com/products/scrapwood-soap-saver-plans

[@HussamSaleh]

@@WorkshopCompanion The link to making the jib is not working. Is there a chance to look into it?

[@WorkshopCompanion]

@@HussamSaleh Sorry -- we originally sold our plans through a service called Selz, but Amazon bought Selz and deep-sixed it, apparently to eliminate competition. We moved our stuff to Shopify, but a few old links still turn up now and then. The link in the video description above is correct, and I've changed the one in the above comment.

[@jonathanniedzwecki373]

What angle is the jig made at?

[@WorkshopCompanion]

See kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHmko4awjpZ2hbc , time = 1:32

[@chriscarter3866]

By the way. Forget all that centimetre stuff. Just quote everything in millimetres. Much easier to say 103 mil than 10.3 cm. just a thought :). Love the projects

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Thanks for the suggestion. I really don't know how craftsmen talk in Metric World; I've never worked with one. So I imagine my accent is pretty bad -- pigeon-metric, if you will.

[@dancurtisthompson]

Can you make a video on how to make that jig? Great video!

[@WorkshopCompanion]

See our project plans: workshopcompanion.selz.com/item/scrapwood-soap-saver

[@JimGriec0]

@@WorkshopCompanion I bought the plans but do not understand them correctly to build the jig :-(

[@WorkshopCompanion]

@@JimGriec0 If you have specific questions we would be glad to answer. Contact us through our web site, www.workshopcompanion.com .

[@UnlimitedMercy]

Did I miss the angle the jig is made at?

[@WorkshopCompanion]

workshopcompanionstore.com/products/scrapwood-soap-saver-plans

[@charlesmiller6510]

hey, I'd like to smell like a tree! luv yer stuff sir... Charlie from Mississauga

[@WorkshopCompanion]

A tip of my hat to my Canadian friend.

[@gregandmellissastephens166]

But how do you make the jig?

[@WorkshopCompanion]

We offer the plans at workshopcompanion.selz.com/item/scrapwood-soap-saver .

[@popfitty]

How did you lay out the squares

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Not sure what you mean, but complete instructions, including layout information, is included with our plan.

[@popfitty]

Can i send you 2$ over Apple Pay and you send me the prints ? Over text message

[@WorkshopCompanion]

@@popfitty We offer two modes of payment at our store.

[@popfitty]

I made it it’s on piece of plywood and nothing holds the bottom of the piece ?

[@henryknox1186]

I cut potatoes with the same pattern

[@WorkshopCompanion]

On your table saw?

[@henryknox1186]

@@WorkshopCompanion ha ha, no. With a knife on a cutting board. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3XUZ5ZuhZeqbcU

[@canaan5337]

Its like Chick-fil-A waffle fries but made of wood.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

And nowhere near as tasty.

[@iamonlyme4me]

Very pretty but. Wait... who has enough water remaining in thier tub to "desolve" soap? Clever way to promote the soap with a trivet.

[@ДартВейдер-з4э]

👏👏👏👌👍🤝

[@useyourmind4405]

So the finish is...? Obviously has to be able to hold up to water.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Tung oil. Three dunkings.

[@AJ-ln4sm]

Long explanation of using the jig, zero explanation of how to make the jig.

[@WorkshopCompanion]

We offer the plans at workshopcompanion.selz.com/item/scrapwood-soap-saver .

[@sn_all_test]

really... morning wood? ahahah

[@WorkshopCompanion]

Finally, someone got it! Congrats.