Skip to main content
Logo - Bunnings Warehouse Festive - 2024

Sign in or sign up

No Bunnings account? Sign up
PowerPass customer?
Visit the dedicated trade website

Project list

Sign in to your account

Ready to Collect in 2 hours

How to make a magnetic knife rack

A kitchen with a black benchtop and knives on a magnetic rack on the wall

Overview

It's important to look after your kitchen knives so they stay sharp and out of the way of little hands. Here's a stylish and easy way to keep all of your kitchen knives in one place and easy to reach when you need them. We'll show you how to make this magnetic knife holder in a few simple steps.

Steps

1Mark up the magnet positions

You can make your knife holder any length you like, ours is 500mm. Divide the wood into sections, this is where your magnets will be glued. We divided ours into 14 equal sections from one end of the wood to the other. We spaced out our markings by 25mm and left a larger space at the end.

A person marking a length of timber using a measuring tape and pencil

2Cut the holes for the magnets

Clamp the wood to the workbench and put on your safety gear. Make sure you set the router to the right depth so you don't rout through the bottom of the wood. Working 10mm in from the edge, rout into the timber in the top of the first 25mm section. Then rout into the bottom of the second 25mm section. Repeat this pattern until you've routed all 14 holes and they are all offset.

A person cutting round holes in timber using a router

3Secure the magnets

Place a drop of all-purpose silicon into each of the holes. Insert a magnet into each hole and press it in gently. 

Silicon being applied into holes in a piece of timber

4Tape the magnets in

Place a piece of painters' tape over each of the holes. This will stop the magnet from falling out. Leave the silicon to dry. 

A person pressing magnets into holes in a piece of timber filled with silicon

5Sand the knife holder

Use the 240 grit sandpaper to lightly sand the front and sides of the knife holder. Wipe away any dust. 

A person sanding timber with an orbital sander

6Stain the knife holder

Depending on the look you want, you can paint, stain or wax your knife holder. We're using a natural wax to highlight the grain in the wood. After applying the wax leave it to dry and then polish it.

A person applying oil to a piece of timber with a rag

7Attach the knife holder to the wall

Place the knife holder against the wall. Drill a hole at one end of the holder and into the wall. Push a wall anchor into the hole and drill into place. Then with the knife holder straight on your wall, drill a second hole at the other end of the holder. Secure that end using a wall anchor. 

A person attaching a timber knife rack to a wall using a cordless driver

8Attach your knives

Your knife rack is now ready to fill up and use. The one we made can fit up to seven knives comfortably, but if you have more knives to store, you may want to build a holder longer than 500mm.

A kitchen with a black benchtop and knives on a magnetic rack on the wall

Suggested products

Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer. You can also use a simple test kit from Bunnings to indicate the presence of lead-based paint.