How to Make an Amish Magic Marble Towel Holder

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Things You'll Need

  • 2 Pieces of wood, 4 inches by 6 inches

  • Router

  • Saw

  • Sandpaper

  • Marble

  • Wood glue

  • Double-backed adhesive sticker

An Amish magic marble towel holder is simply a marble sandwiched in between two pieces of wood. The marble glides in a groove to hold or release the towel, depending whether you pull up or down on the towel. A magic marble towel holder can be made with scraps of lumber from other woodworking projects. The lumber you use can be oak, maple, pine or just plywood. A standard marble is all you need, but you can use any size marble.

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Cut wood

Step 1

Cut out two pieces of 3/4-inch plywood or 3/4-inch-thick lumber of any kind into rectangles measuring approximately 4 inches by 6 inches. The width of your towel holder will be 4 inches and the height will be 6 inches.

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Step 2

Measure the size of the marble. Rout out a groove on the back side of one of your pieces of wood that is big enough for the marble. The groove should run the length of the wood; it should start 1/2 inch from the bottom of the piece of wood and end at about the middle. The depth will depend on the size of the marble. A little less than one-half the marble should it into the groove, with a little more than one-half extending above the groove.

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Step 3

Cut a triangular section off the end of your other piece of wood on the side you want to be the wrong side. Cut 1/2 inch off the thickness starting at the bottom and ending about three quarters of the way to the top. One quarter of this piece of wood will remain uncut.

Sand both pieces of wood.

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Step 4

Insert the marble in the groove and sandwich the two pieces of lumber together so the marble stays in the middle. Clamp together to test whether the marble glides smoothly. Make adjustments in the groove until the marble slides easily.

Step 5

Glue the two pieces of lumber together at the points where the wood is level. Secure it in a vise until it is dry.

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Step 6

Attach a double-sided sticker to the back of your towel holder. Apply it to the back and stick it onto any surface, such as your oven door, refrigerator or a wall.

Tip

Rather than a plain rectangle towel holder, you can cut your wood into a shape such as a chicken, mushroom, owl, house or any shape you wish. Only the decorative piece that will be the front of your towel holder needs to be cut into a shape. The back that glues to the wall can be a rectangle.

Your towel holder can be painted or stained and varnished.

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