The Ikea Pedalboard

*First and foremost: make sure you can fit all your pedals on the board you buy comfortably*
The whole thing can be made for around $30 if you already have the tools and color and top coat laying around. if not roughly $50, depending on what you use. I don't know how after buying hundreds, if not more, worth of pedals anyone has hundreds of dollars more to sink into a piece of wood to cart your pedals around. So I present my solution. Cheap, easy, and gets the job done. Plus, it's handmade and one of a kind and you can add your own personalized touches to it. I have included a picture of the pedals on the board so you can get an idea of how many pedals you can expect to fit on it. I apologize for not having pictures for every step. This instructable was more of an after thought. As such, these aren't exact directions. These instructions are more like general guidelines.

Step 1: Parts List

Parts List

Ikea:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/003098... - it seems like the only have it in bamboo now? but it is the same dimensions and style as the board I made. I've never worked with bamboo but I'm sure it will take paint or stain and a top coat just fine. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/003098... - handles I chose

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006IC2T?psc=1...

Home depot:

stain/ paint ( I used varathane stain and a can of varathane water based poly)

Sand paper 150, and 220

Tools: Drill and bits

Paint brush

Measuring tape or ruler

Gloves (optional)

Step 2: Sanding

Follow the directions on the can of paint/stain you are going to use.

For me I sanded with 150 and advanced to 220. Sand in the direction of the grain! I can't stress that enough. Make sure to soften the edges. Paint or finish does not like hard, sharp corners. You don't need to round the edges. A couple of swipes with 150 should do it.

Step 3: Drill Holes

*If you buy the handles from Ikea it tells you how far apart to drill the holes.

Find the center of the board and center your handles with it. Arrange the pedals on your board, along with "dry fitting" your handles where they go and make sure it is all to your liking. If everything looks good go ahead and drill your holes. The board I had was too thick for the bolts that came with the handles so I drilled a larger hole partially through the board and then drilled the rest with the correct bit.

Step 4: Paint/ Stain

Follow the directions on your can of finish. Make sure surface is clean, no dust, etc. Set up newspaper underneath your area and go for it. Remember to allow proper dry times for your finish. I know waiting can be hard, but better to do it right the first time.

Step 5: Final Assembly

Attach handles. Place pedals on the board and dry test again where everything goes. Attach all your cables BEFORE you attach your pedals with velcro to make sure everything will fit exactly how you want it. The velcro needs to be a "one and done" type of step so don't mess up. :)

Once you are done, take a step back, enjoy your handiwork, and go play some gigs.