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Ever sit your eyeglasses down somewhere and aren’t sure where you put them? Of course you have! It probably happens multiple times per day. I can say for certain that it happens to me more times than I care to admit. I generally blame my wife for misplacing them or a burglar that has passed up all other valuables in order to secure my glasses.
A great way to avoid this is to have a place where your glasses stay at all times. This little scroll saw pattern will give you a place on your desk or nightstand to place your glasses so that you’ll always know where they are. Of course, it’s up to you to actually put them on it and remember placing them there.
It keeps them up and out of the way and adds a cool factor to your desk. It beats throwing them down on the desk and having them get buried beneath papers.
To complete this scroll saw project, you’ll only need a small amount of wood and a sander, and possibly some carving tools. This will depend on how shaped you want your holder to be. If you want it to be contoured like an actual nose, a carving tool will allow you to achieve this.
After carving enough to fit your specific frames, you can sand smooth and enjoy a cool little glasses stand.
Let’s get started!
Download the Pattern
The pattern is simple and only requires two cuts. Simply place the pattern pieces onto your wood and cut them out.
Cut Out Both Pieces
A 3/4-inch thick piece of lumber will be perfect for this project. It’s a good size that can easily be shaped to size for most glasses frames. You can also get even more creative with a thicker piece of wood if you want to do a bit more carving to make it look more like a real nose. A 2×4 would give you a thicker cut of wood to work with if you want to go this route.
For mine, I chose to use a 3/4″ piece of select pine.
You can cut the nose part out on your scroll saw but the base is likely easier to cut out on a table or miter saw. If you don’t have either, no problem, just cut it out on your scroll saw. The table or miter saw will just ensure a perfect rectangle (if your saws are properly set up).
You’ll need to attach the base portion of the pattern to the base once it has been cut. You’ll then need to drill a hole through the center and then thread your scroll saw blade through it to cut out the center hole. This is where the nose will sit into the base.
Most likely, you’ll need to lightly sand the inner part of the cutout for a perfect fit. Just be sure and sand a little bit at a time so you don’t end up sanding too much. You don’t want to see a gap once the nose is inserted.
Sand, Carve or Route Nose to Fit Your Glasses
Once cut out, the nose can be shaped in order to fit your frames. The bridge of the nose will need some material cut off so that it will be more rounded similar to how your nose is. There may be a little trial and error with this part as you carve away material and test the fit of your frames.
If you have a rounded router bit, it may be a good choice for this part. You can round off the upper part of the nose while leaving the bottom part wider, similar to a real nose. Then you can sand to make a smooth transition between the top and bottom.
A belt sander might also come in handy for this part if you have one. Otherwise, an orbital sander or hand sanding with a bit of elbow grease will do the job.
Route the Base (Optional)
The base will look better (in my opinion) with a routed edge of some sort. I prefer a Roman Ogee edge. It’s a simple edge that really adds a professional look to the piece. I used a Dewalt 20V trim router and it only took a few seconds to end up with a nice clean edge.
This is all optional and some may prefer to leave the edges as they are or lightly sanded. Make it your own and do whatever makes you happy.
Sand & Finish
Once all is completed, finish the pieces by sanding. I sanded mine to 320-grit to create a super smooth finish. I used a combination of hand sanding and a random orbital sander.
Once sanded, you can either apply a stain or just keep it natural. I prefer a natural finish on mine since my glasses are going to be sitting on it. I don’t want a toxic finish to transfer to my nose while wearing my glasses. I used a natural food-grade oil to finish my wood in its natural state.
For a better look, you may want to choose a different type of wood such as walnut, cherry, or oak.
You may also consider gluing some felt or other material where the bridge of your glasses will go. This will give you a soft place to rest the glasses to ensure the frames won’t become scratched over time.
Enjoy!
Now you have a dedicated place to keep your glasses. Not only does it keep your glasses handy, but it also looks cool on your desk or wherever you decide to put it. I have a few of them sitting around my house and have made a habit of using them. I don’t lose my glasses near as much since building these since I try to utilize them as much as possible.
Build a few for yourself and if you have glasses-wearing friends or family, they make great gifts!
This is a simple project that requires very few supplies. You probably have enough scrap wood lying around to build a few of them in the evening or on the weekend. A fun little project that leaves you with something that is not only cool-looking but also very useful. What more could you ask for?