DIY Wooden Beer Caddy (in Six Steps)

Learn how to make a DIY wooden beer caddy with a bottle opener using these plans. This beer carrier has a bottle opener on the side . . . and makes the perfect gift!

Skills Required: Intermediate Beginner. You should have some experience with the tools required. Most of it is cutting straight lines, however, you’ll have to shape a handle. It’s not hard, so if you’re an absolute newbie, just be patient.

We aren’t huge beer drinkers around here, but every now and again we enjoy some suds. While I might not be a beer connoisseur, we do have a few in the family.

I love the idea of making another one of these for one of the guys for Father’s Day (man cave decor), a birthday, or any other occasion that requires a homemade gift. I’m saving this one for me!

Beer Caddy Plans

This DIY wooden beer caddy is a great gift for the enthusiasts in your family. We actually made several for gifts but also made one for ourselves to take to parties. We can put any bottled beverages in it – not just beer!

What do I love about this beer carrier? It can be made in six easy steps:

1. Make Your Cuts
2. Shape the Handle
3. Cut Angles
4. Nail Pieces Together
5. Sand
6. Finishing

I’ve seen some inexpensive versions of this beer carrier at places like Target, etc. I haven’t been impressed with the construction of the inexpensive versions, and a lot of them don’t have bottle openers.

Of course you could add a bottle opener to the cheap version . . . but if you enjoying wood working (or even if you’re a beginner), this DIY wooden beer caddy is perfect because you can wrap it up in a nice little bow in an afternoon. And this beer carrier is solid quality for only $10 – $15.

Wood to Use

We recommend poplar for these beer caddy plans. It’s so easy to work with poplar, and it’s lightweight and reasonably water resistant (for perspiring bottles). It stains really well too.

If you want to make your project a little more inexpensive, just use pine. You can really use any type of wood – poplar just happens to be one of our favorites.

Are you ready to make a beer bottle caddy?? Keep reading to get the step by step!

DIY Beer Carrier

Gather These Supplies

• 1/2″ x 6″ x 4′ poplar hobby board
• 1/4″ x 3″ x 4′ poplar hobby board
• 1/4″ x 1 1/2″ x 4′ poplar hobby board
• 3/4″ brad nails
• Wood glue
• Sandpaper
• Danish oil or stain
• Tack cloth
• Wall mounted bottle opener (with two screws)

Tools

• Miter saw or circular saw
• Power drill
• Jigsaw
• 18-gauge nailer
• 1″ Forstner bit
• Phillips bit

Step One: Cut the boards using your saw according to the following measurements.

• 1/2″ x 6″ board – cut into three pieces: (1)  7 3/4″ in length, (2) 9″ in length
• 1/4 x 3″ board – cut to 7 3/4″ length
• 1/4″ x 1 1/2″ board – cut into five pieces: (1) 7 3/4″, (4) 8 3/4″ in length

Step Two: Shape the handle. You’ll mark the 7 3/4″ x 3″ piece of wood (with a pencil) 1 1/4″ from the top and then 2 1/2″ from each side. Then use your Forstner bit to drill two holes. Connect them with lines at the top and bottom of the circles, then cut those lines with a jigsaw to create a handle.

Step Three: Cut the angles. On your 9″ pieces of wood, mark each side 5 1/2″ from the bottom. Mark the middle of each piece at the top and use a 1 1/2″ strip to create a point on each side of the middle. Connect those two points with a straight edge and cut the angles with a jigsaw (see above).

Step Four: Nail pieces together. Use your brad nailer to completely nail the frame together. Attached the angled sides to the base with wood glue and then secure with the nailer.

Align the 7 3/4″ piece on top of the handle. Glue together. Attach the handle to the sides with wood glue and nail into place. Apply wood glue to the 8 3/4″ sides and nail into the place.

Step Five: Sand the entire caddy with 80 grit sandpaper to start – then progress to 150 and 220 grit sandpaper to make it very smooth.

Step Six: Finish by staining or oiling your DIY beer caddy and then adding your bottle opener with screws. We only had silver screws so we touched them up a bit with brown-ish black paint to match.

Tip: if you don’t have/want to purchase stain for your beer tote, just use watered down acrylic paint in a dark color to stain. It works pretty well and is a lot cheaper than buying an entire can of stain if you are only going to make one.

Wait until fully dry or preferably overnight before inserting the beer bottles. Wouldn’t this be fun for the person who loves craft beer? You could pick six different bottles and make a variety pack.

We are absolutely thrilled with our finished DIY beer caddy. If you try it, we’d love to hear about your experience in the comments!

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4.60 from 32 votes

DIY Beer Caddy

This wooden DIY beer caddy is easy to make! Grab the plans here; it's a perfect gift idea.

Prep Time1 hour hr

Active Time2 hours hrs

Total Time3 hours hrs

Type: Crafts

Yield: 1 caddy

Cost: $15

Equipment

• Miter saw or circular saw
• Drill with drill bits 1″ Forstner bit, Phillips bit
• Jigsaw
• 18-gauge nailer

Materials

• 1 piece 1/2″ x 6″ x 4′ poplar hobby board
• 1 piece 1/4″ x 3″ x 4′ poplar hobby board
• 1 piece 1/4″ x 1 1/2″ x 4′ poplar hobby board
• 3/4″ brad nails
• Wood glue
• Sandpaper
• Danish oil or stain
• Tack cloth
• Wall mounted bottle opener with two screws

Instructions

• Cut the boards using your saw according to the cut list in the notes.
• Shape the handle. Mark the 7 3/4" x 3" piece of wood 1 1/4" from the top and then 2 1/2" from each side. Use the Forstner bit to drill two holes. Connect them with lines at the top and bottom of the circles, then cut those lines with a jigsaw to create a handle.
• Cut the angles. On the 9" pieces of wood, mark each side 5 1/2" from the bottom. Mark the middle of each piece at the top and use a 1 1/2" strip to create a point on each side of the middle. Connect those two points with a straight edge and cut the angles with a jigsaw.
• Nail pieces together. Use the brad nailer to completely nail the frame together. Attached the angled sides to the base with wood glue and then secure with the nailer. Align the 7 3/4" piece on top of the handle. Glue together. Attach the handle to the sides with wood glue and nail into place. Apply wood glue to the 8 3/4" sides and nail into the place.
• Sand the entire caddy with 80 grit sandpaper to start – then progress to 150 and 220 grit sandpaper to make it very smooth.
• Finish by staining or oiling the caddy and then adding your bottle opener with screws. Let dry before using.

Video

Notes

Cut List

• 1/2″ x 6″ board – cut into three pieces: (1)  7 3/4″ in length, (2) 9″ in length
• 1/4 x 3″ board – cut to 7 3/4″ length
• 1/4″ x 1 1/2″ board – cut into five pieces: (1) 7 3/4″, (4) 8 3/4″ in length

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