Door Wedge

Often you want to keep a self closing door open for a short period of time to make it easier to pass back and forth. You may also desire to have a door partially open for ventilation during the summer months, without the breeze slamming it shut. Then there could be the situation where you don't want someone barging through a door which doesn't have a lock on it.

This tutorial explains how to make a tool which will achieve all these tasks. It's called a 'door wedge'. It's sophistication lies in its simplicity!

Tomato stake (or similar piece of wood)

Non-slip matting

Contact adhesive (glue)

Tools:

Cross saw

Scissors

Ruler

Marker

File

• Source a suitable piece of wood which is about 20mm square and 10cm long. I used a tomato stake as I had it on hand.
• Mark out a wedge shape on the wood 10cm long by 15mm high. E.g. 15mm at one end and receding to an edge at the other.
• Cut this with a cross saw.

• If the wood is a bit rough (like my tomato stake was) smooth it down with a file.

• Glue on some non-slip mat to one of the sides of the door wedge with some contact adhesive. This will stop the wedge slipping on a smooth floor.

• The door wedge is used by wedging it under the foot of an open door to stop it closing.
• It can also be used under a closed door to stop if from opening.
• As a bonus, the wedge can also be used to stop a wonky table from moving - just place the wedge under the shorter leg and call it a 'table leg wedge'.