DIY Your Own Keychain Holder

At a glance

Keep your keys organized with this creative DIY keychain holder. Its design features a puzzle-like locking mechanism to hang your keys, and a tray on top where you can keep other important things you often misplace, like your sunglasses or wallet.

Build your own DIY keychain holder

Tired of forgetting where you put your keys when you got home? (Are they in your jeans pocket, the junk drawer, or in the same place you lost your remote … wherever that is?) With this clever DIY keychain holder, you’ll always know where they are.

This project was designed and built by Eli, a Dunn Lumber employee at our Lynnwood store. Growing up on the East Coast, Eli spent many of his formative years playing and working at his dad’s lumberyard. Whenever it came time to do a project, Eli’s house was the place to be; his dad had all the tools needed.

Today, Eli is still building, and he gets inspired watching DIYers and creators on YouTube and Instagram. Though he initially came up with this project idea to hang tools, Eli thought it would adapt well for hanging up keychains—and we think he’s right!

Let’s get started.

Refer to this cutting diagram for the steps below

Step 1: Cut individual pieces

Starting with your 4’ piece of ½ x 6 Douglas fir, make the cuts as indicated in the above cutting diagram.

Note: Depending on your skill level, it may be necessary to do some back-cutting to make the hand-trimming process easier. Back-cutting is the process of removing material from the rear, hidden side of a joint (often at a 45° angle) so that only the front, visible edges meet tightly.

Use a chisel and sandpaper to clean up cut corners.

Step 2: Cut dowel rod

Cut two (2) 13” lengths from your ¼” x 36” birch dowel rod.

Use sandpaper to clean up your dowel cuts.

Step 3: Drill holes for dowels

Laying both “A” pieces (L-shaped)) atop one another, drill two holes at ¼” diameter roughly ½” from the top and bottom of the thinner arm of the L. Place a sacrificial piece of wood underneath the bottom “A” piece as you drill—this will help prevent tear-out (the splintering or tearing that can happen at the exit point of a drill bit).

Note: Because we were working with a thin cut of lumber, drilling holes close to the edge caused the wood to split. To avoid this in your own project, drill each hole first with a smaller bit, then gradually increase the size up to ¼”.

Step 4: Assemble top and sides

Pass dowels through holes in both “A” pieces, so that they are attached on either end of the dowels.

Rest piece “B” (T-shaped) on top of the “A” pieces, which are now held together by dowels. 

Attach “A” pieces to “B” piece: Starting on one side, drive two 1” screws through the face of “B” into the narrow portion of the L of piece “A.” Drive two ¾” screws through the face of piece “A” into the narrow side of piece “B.” Repeat for the other “A” piece.

Notes: Be sure to pre-drill all holes (countersinking recommended) for assembly. After countersinking, drill into the opposite side with a ⅛” bit to avoid splitting. While screwing wood pieces together, you can use wood glue and/or clamps to hold pieces in place.

Step 5: Trim dowels

Trim dowels to be flush with the face of the build.

Step 6: Attach back pieces

Attach the 2” x 12” piece (“C”) to the rear top of the build using two 1” screws per side, and one 1” screw in the middle.

Attach the 1” x 12” piece (“D”) to the rear bottom of the build using one 1” screw per side.

Don’t forget to pre-drill all holes!

Step 7: Make and assemble keychain cuts

Decide how many keychains you need.

Using a double bevel cut, cut pieces out of the 1” x 16” piece (“E”) to use as keychains.

We set the miter saw to a 22° bevel and a 22° miter for our cuts. Make sure to leave at least an inch of space between keychain parts.

Using these parts like a puzzle, arrange them so they fit together on top of piece “D,” securing the non-keychain pieces with quick-curing glue. Trim your last piece for a snug fit.

Step 8: Attach non-keychain pieces

Attach all non-keychain pieces to the structure bar (piece D) with ¾” screws from behind.

Step 9: Add eye screws to keychains

Screw a small eye screw into the narrow (bottom) side of each keychain. When keychains are placed into their slots, gravity should pull them down and lock them into place.