Kayu
Saltshaker · lathe-turned mahogany and a 3D-printed ball
A retractable saltshaker you pull toward you and return to the centre of the table.
On the table.
At a glance
Materials
Mahogany base · 3D-printed ball
Process
Lathe-turned
Focus
Simplicity and familiar shapes
Intent
Understanding how two different mediums can create a cohesive, playful and functional design.
The problem
Standard saltshakers lack a soul.
During a fine dining experience, I noticed salt shakers were often generic and overlooked, even on beautifully designed tables with centerpieces.
Concept brief
A retractable saltshaker that can be pulled toward the user and returned to the center of the table, making “pass me the salt” a more interactive, memorable experience.
A simple string would look cheap and take away from the form, so it uses a small chain.
Drawn from Noguchi’s Akari lamps and Mario’s Chain Chomp.
Ideation
Started with a wine neck form, but wine glasses have a circular head. That led to this soft form.
Form sketches
Ball forms on the left, wine-neck forms on the right.
Mockups
Three mockups, from a wine-glass neck to a soft bottle form.
Mockup one · wine-glass neck
Heavily inspired by the neck of a wine glass. The angled wooden tube would be hard to lathe, and the design was very time heavy.
Mockup two
Far too simple, and the top of the shaker was never resolved. Least favourite by far.
Mockup three · soy sauce bottle
Reminded me of a soy sauce bottle. The white arch was a nice touch.
Making
The ball was meant to be lathe-turned, but a perfect sphere was more demanding than expected. After losing the wooden ball on 11/22/25, I moved it to 3D printing for control over form. Tolerances, wall thickness and print settings took repeated testing, and the threaded lid became a friction fit.
Blanks
Turning
Sanding on the lathe
The turned cup
Final
I decided to cut the cylinder so it has a compressing effect with the ball.
Final
3D-printed ball, lathe-turned mahogany cup, small chain.
The first date
Confidence through simplicity.
In use
At the centre of the table.
In context
In hand
The shaker lifted from its wooden base, still tethered.
Next project
Scoop
Next case study