Wood 2x4 Balancing Pour Over Coffee Maker

I have always loved the look and physics of the balancing (or floating) wine bottle holder and want to adapt the same idea to a coffee maker. This Instructables will show you how to make a floating pour over coffee maker out of a 3ft section of wood 2x4 with a dovetail joint for easy disassembly. Lets begin!

Step 1: Materials and Equipment

Tools Needed:

Dovetail or Regular Wood Saw (something that can cut straight lines)

Coping Saw

Tape Measure

Straight Edge

Drill and 1/2 inch to 1 inch drill bit (can be optional if you like to chisel)

Hammer

Chisel

Pencil

Scissors

Materials:

Quantity 1: Wood 2x4 (1.5 inch x 3.5 inch actual)

Quantity 1: Printout of Dovetail Template (Attached to this Instructables, Make sure to print at 100% scale)

Quantity 1: Tape For Attaching Template onto 2x4 For Tracing

Step 2: Tracing Templates

Angle dovetail joints can be a little intimidating if you’ve never made one before (like me). Using the attached printed out template (designed in Autodesk Fusion 360) you are able to cutout the shapes and tape them onto your 2x4 so you know exactly where to cut. Carefully fold on the dotted lines as this will help ensure a good fit later on. Time to actually begin!

Steps:

1. Cut your 36 inch 2x4 into one 14 inch and 22 inch piece. Make sure your ends are square. If your sizes are a bit smaller or larger that is okay too.

2. You’ll want to first do the three 35 degree cuts. If you have a miter saw you can use that instead of the templates. Place the templates so your 14 inch piece (the base) are parallel with each other.

3. Make one 35 degree cut into the 22 inch top piece. Your product should now look like image three.

4. Place and trace the bottom template as to have the narrow portion facing FWD. You’ll be cutting out the center of this piece. Note: 2x4 wood generally has rounded edges so you might not be able to align your template without some visual adjustment.

5. Place and trace the top template as shown in the last photo. You’ll be cutting out the outer edges of this piece. You’ll have to trace the edges from the front to the back of the template to connect the lines for the sides.

Step 3: Cutting Out the Parts

This is where it starts to become a little more tricky but don’t worry, as long as you follow your lines it’ll turn out fine.

Steps Base Cut-out:

1. Use your dovetail or regular wood saw to cut the straight lines. You have to angle the saw blade as to follow all three sides of the wood. It can be a little tricky the first time you do this but go slow and let the blade do the cutting.
2. To cut out the center section you can use your Coping saw to quickly remove it without having to chisel extensively. Remember to follow your marks on both sides! It’s okay to leave a little extra and chisel it out. Your Base of the coffee maker is now all done!

Steps Top Cut-out:

1. Cut-out the sides following all three lines for each of the four cuts you’ll make.
2. Check the fit with the base. It should be slightly snug but easy enough to put and take apart with ease. If not, adjust either the top or base accordingly.

Top Funnel Construction:

1. Assemble both pieces and set it on a flat level surface. You should notice that your assembly will tip forward. Don’t worry! It’s a good thing because you precisely tune the balance. Remove 0.5 inch to 1 inch of material at a time until it balances on it’s own. Mine would tip forward at 21.5 inch in length but not at 20.5 inches. It should be around 20 inches if the construction all went to plan.
2. With the maker assembled, place pressure on the top at various point to figure out where the most stable far right point is. This is where you’ll want to place your pilot hole for your funnel. It should be a point just to the right of the angled base leaving you sufficient space for your coffee mug. Mine was 10 inches from the left hand angle.
3. Using whatever method you prefer, carve out a funnel shape into the wood. I didn’t have proper tools to make a smooth funnel but carving it out with the coping saw might be a good option.
4. Optionally, you can coat your 2x4 coffee maker with butcher block conditioner / oil for a nicer finish and prevent coffee stains.
5. Congratulations! You are now ready to start brewing some coffee!

Step 4: How to Use

The maker is designed to be fully collapsable for easy storage. The brewer uses pointed cone coffee filters similar to Chemex or Hario Coffee Brewers Size 02. Either of these filters will work with your Balancing 2x4 brewer. Assemble per the attached images and enjoy!