So, I got this idea stuck in my head about making a Japanese-style teapot warmer and trivet. You see them online, looking all zen and perfect. My old metal trivet was looking sad, and my tea was getting cold way too fast. Figured, how hard could it be?
Getting Started – The Hunt for Stuff
First off, finding the right materials. I didn’t want anything fancy. Thought about clay first, like a real traditional one. But man, getting clay, firing it… seemed like a whole big deal. I don’t have a kiln in my backyard, you know? So, wood it was. Went down to the hardware store. Looked at oak, maple… pricey. Ended up finding some decent-looking pine boards in the cutoff bin. Cheap. Good enough for me. For the trivet, I thought maybe something simpler, maybe just match the warmer base. Grabbed some smaller wood pieces too.
Making the Warmer Box Thing
Okay, the warmer. Basically a box with holes, right? To let air in for a candle and let heat up. I measured my teapot base. Didn’t want it too big or too small. Drew up a quick sketch on some scrap paper. Nothing fancy, just squares.
- Cutting: Got my handsaw out. Man, cutting straight lines isn’t as easy as it looks on YouTube. Took me a while. Lots of sawdust everywhere. Had to re-cut one piece because it was totally crooked.
- Drilling Holes: Decided on some simple circle patterns for airflow. Used a spade bit on my drill. Made a mess again, wood chips flying. Had to be careful not to splinter the wood too much.
- Putting it Together: This was the tricky part. Used wood glue first. Clamped it all together. Let it sit overnight. Felt flimsy. So, I added some small nails in the corners the next day. Probably overkill, but I didn’t want it falling apart with a hot teapot on it.
It looked… rustic. Yeah, let’s call it rustic.
Tackling the Trivet
The trivet was easier. I decided on a simple slatted design. Just cut several small, equal-length pieces of that pine. Sanded them down a bit so they wouldn’t scratch the table. Then I needed to connect them. I found some strong twine I had lying around from a gardening project. Drilled small holes near the ends of each wood slat. Threaded the twine through, tying knots to keep them spaced apart. Like one of those roll-up trivets. Pretty straightforward, actually. Took maybe half an hour.
Finishing Touches (Kind Of)
Sanding. Oh boy, sanding. Spent a good while smoothing out the rough edges on the warmer box. Didn’t want splinters every time I picked it up. Used coarse sandpaper first, then a finer one. It got smoother, but still looked very… handmade. Which I guess was the point? Decided not to stain or varnish it. Liked the plain wood look. Plus, less work. The trivet just needed a quick once-over with fine sandpaper.
So, How’d It Turn Out?
Well, here’s the deal. The warmer… it works. Put a tea light candle inside, put the teapot on top. It keeps the tea warm. Not piping hot, but definitely stops it from going cold immediately. Looks okay on the table, in a clunky, homemade sort of way. Doesn’t exactly scream elegant Japanese design, more like something I cobbled together in the garage. Which is exactly what it is.
The trivet? It works perfectly fine. Keeps the hot pot off the table. Rolls up nice and small. No complaints there.
Was it worth it? Eh. It killed an afternoon. Saved maybe thirty or forty bucks compared to buying some fancy set. Plus, I made it myself. There’s some satisfaction in that, I guess. Even if it’s not perfect. It’s mine, sawdust, crooked cuts, and all. And hey, my tea’s warmer now. That’s what counts, right?
