Make Dad This DIY Pasta Measuring Tool

Father’s Day is right around the corner, and because the kids know that dad is all about practicality, we’re surprising him with a pasta maker (shhh). Of course, there are lots of gadgets that can be purchased alongside a pasta maker. Of all the accoutrements, my girls fell in love with one of the portion measuring tools, to which I immediately suggested “Let’s make him one.” 

If not entirely kid-made, I do like a good Father’s Day gift that incorporates a handmade component, and for a pasta-loving father (and a family that seemingly consumes it in mass) the gift was appropriate and creative. Plus, it was an easy way to teach the kids a bit about using tools for woodworking, educate them about tool safety basics, and empower them with some DIY skills at the same time.

We started by selecting a thin piece of wood. This one is a 1/4” stain grade piece of maple plywood measuring 6” x 12”.

We used the following tools:

• pencil
• clamps
• jigsaw
• cordless drill
• hole saws (various sizes)
• 7/16” drill bit
• sandpaper
• wood-burning tool

I clamped the plywood to a sturdy surface, and sketched a handle in pencil. 

I used a jigsaw to cut a curved handle along the pencil lines.

The girls selected four bits in varied sizes with which to cut circles into the main paddle of the pasta measuring tool. They picked the largest hole saw (2”), two medium hole saws (1-3/4” and 1-1/4”), and then a 7/16” standard drill bit for a cute factor, the amount of spaghetti a “baby” would eat in a single serving. 

We decided where the holes would be cut into the paddle, and I used a cordless drill to cut the shapes while the girls looked on.

We used sandpaper to smooth out the cut edges, and rounded off the corners to eliminate anything that might cause splinters.

At this point, we decided what we would call each portion size and labeled it. A wood burning tool is a fun woodworking gadget, and my older daughter who has a penchant for everything art-related wanted to take a try at burning the letters by hand. I let her practice on a piece of scrap wood so that she could get comfortable holding and maneuvering the tool. 

When she felt ready, she applied her talents to the finished pasta measuring tool, labeling “dad,” as well as “mom,” “baby,” and “everybody!”

On the handle, she etched Happy Father’s Day.

If you’re looking for an easy Father’s Day craft idea for your kids to give dad, a DIY pasta measuring tool is definitely a fun one to consider!