Knife Block
I'd like to replace the knife block at home, but my problem with the solid wood blocks is that they tend to split over time because moisture gets into them and causes the pieced to expand, popping the joints.
One solution I've seen in Woodsmith (I think it was there), was to make a box with vertical skewers where the knife slides down into it. The Wood Whisperer did a video on building the knife block. I think it would make an interesting project to build it so that it sits at an angle toward the front rather that simply made vertically as Mark (and the original article) made it. I like this idea because our current knife block sits back under the cabinets and it would make getting the larger knives out easier if it was angled forward to some extent.
I'm thinking of it as the same knife block (simple construction), but then sitting on a pair of wedges, one right under the block and one on the front. the one on the front could have a slot in it for the scissors (like my current block has, I like that!). I think the front wedge needs to be fairly long (tall?) to ensure that the block can still safely balance even if there are quite a few larger knives in it.
I think making the body and the wedge/base out of contrasting woods would look good. Light body, dark base.
The block should be scaled to the largest of the knives that will be kept in it. We do still have and intend to keep a magnetic bar behind the block for the largest of the kitchen knives, and as a quick place to keep small paring knives for ready access.
