Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
Kitchen Trivet
TIME REQUIRED: almost instant (two to three hours; time needed for cutting, building, and assembling project;
does not include drying time of glue or finish)

Our kitchen trivet is not only a useful gift; it's easy to make. This almost instant project is constructed around an inexpensive 8 inch square ceramic tile with scraps of lumber for its sides. Since there is little cutting for the carpenters to do, this might be a good beginning project for inexperienced adults or young woodworkers to tackle.

Our trivet measures 8 1/2 inches square, but you can make a larger hotplate using several tiles, either two or three in a row to form a rectangle or four to make a large square. The tile you choose can be colorfully painted or glazed a single color. The selection of tiles is endless, so look for ones that match your kitchen, dishes or table decorations.

The tile sits on a piece of square flakeboard and rests on feet made of furniture tack glides. We chose maple for the sides, but inexpensive pine lattice is easier to find and can be substituted.

Begin by laying out the bottom (A) on the piece of flakeboard or plywood. To do this, measure out an 8 inch square, marking the corners. Then connect these
marks with straight lines to form a square. Cut along the lines, keeping your saw to the waste side.

To cut the sides (B and C), clamp the lattice or maple piece to the table. Support the end of the pieces
for a square cut as you cut them. An inexpensive miter box helps with these cuts but is not necessary. Measure and cut the two short side pieces (B) to a length of 8 inches. The long sides (C) are cut to 8 1/2 inches.

You will find it easier to predrive the nails into the side pieces before they are glued to the edge of the bottom piece. Space four number 3 finishing nails 2 inches from each end and about 1/4 inch from the bottom of the pieces B and C. If you use maple for the sides, nailing will be easier if you drill 1/16 inch pilot holes.

Run a bead of glue along one edge of the bottom, and glue a short side to it. Position the side piece so it is flush with the bottom and is aligned at the end. Drive the nails into the bottom. Repeat the process on the opposite side of the bottom for the other short side.

Glue the long sides (C) to the bottom in the same way. These sides are 1/2 inch longer and will overlap the short sides on the ends. Place glue on the ends of the short sides to hold the corner joints tight and along the edge of the bottom, then nail both long sides into place.

Now you're ready to tack on the glides that serve as feet for the trivet. Locate them on the underside of the bottom by measuring 3/4 inches in from each side. Mark these spots in each corner. The four plastic pads can be nailed directly into the trivet's bottom.

Turn the trivet over and check to see whether the tack glide nails are sticking through the bottom. If they are, hammer them flat because the points will make the tile lie crooked.

Just about any type of adhesive caulk, construction adhesive, or tile mastic will hold the tile in place. If you use caulk, run a liberal bead around the trivet's base about an inch from the sides, and in the center with adhesive. Tile mastic is spread with a
notched trowel; follow the manufacturer's directions to apply. Be careful when working with any adhesive; they are sticky and will be difficult to remove from wood sides.

After the glue is applied, set the tile in place, and slide it around to spread the glue. Then center the tile, leaving an equal space on all sides. Set the trivet aside to let the glue dry.

When the glue has hardened, sand the sides
smooth, and slightly round all the edges with number 120
sandpaper. Apply a wipe-on finish to protect the wood
from food stains, and your trivet is ready for use.

Click here for the full sized building diagram:

Shopping List
Materials Quantity
3/4" X 8" X 8" flakeboard or plywood (cut from scrap)1
8" X 8" quarry tile1
tack glides (7/8 in. base)4
number 3 finishing nails 1 box
carpenter's wood gluesmall bottle
number 120 sandpaper2 sheets
tile mastic or adhesive caulk2 ounce tube
paint, stain or finish1 pint



Cutting List
Part/Name Quantity Size Material
A/ Bottom1 8" X 8" X 3/4"3/4 in. plywood/flakeboard
B/Short side 2 1 1/4" X 8"pine lattice or maple
C/Long side 2 1 1/4" X 8 1/2"pine lattice or maple
D/Tile1 8" X 8"quarry tile
E.Feet 4 7/8"tack glides

Build It Together by Gene and Katie Hamilton (Stackpole Books)
copyright HouseNet, Inc 1996

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