Add a Touch of Class to Your Home with a DIY Wooden Serving Tray

Making a beautiful wooden serving tray is easy and straightforward, although it does require enough time and effort to produce a quality result. With a few simple tools and a few hours of work, you can make a wooden serving tray that will last for years and become a valuable part of your home.

The first step to making a wooden serving tray is to determine its size. The size should be slightly bigger going width-ways than the size of the largest plate that you intend to use. For the purpose of this article, the measurements shall be 15 3/4 inches by 12 inches by 3 inches at the highest point.

The second step is to use a jigsaw to cut the pieces of wood. The base and the two longest sides will measure 15 3/4 inches by 12 inches and 15 3/4 inches by 1/2 inches, respectively. The 2 short sides, on the other hand, should measure 12 inches by 3 inches. When cutting the wood, it is important to cut slightly outside the lines rather than on the lines as it is easier to take a little off if you undercut too much.

Step number three involves finding the midpoint of the two short pieces of wood and marking it with an “X”. Next, draw a curve from the midpoint on the left to the one in the middle. Depending on your desired outcome, you may need to do this step a few times until the curve is right. Once you have the right curve, copy it onto a sheet of tracing paper, turn it over and copy the shape onto the other half of the wood. Following that, measure 1 1/8 inches to the left and right of the center point and 3/4 inches above and below the center point and use these points to make a rectangle for the handles of the wooden serving tray. Use the jigsaw to cut the handles in place. The handles should be just big enough to get a grip on the tray, but you may decide to make them slightly bigger if the person using the tray has large hands.

The last step is to join the pieces of wood together with wood glue, being sure that the edge pieces are flush against the base of the tray. Nail each side with one nail at each corner for security. You can then put wood putty over the nails and sand the tray with a medium grit sandpaper for a smooth finish. Finally, apply a layer of varnish using a paintbrush, leave it to dry and then apply one to two more coats. Varnished wood is much easier to clean and will last much longer than a regular piece of wood.

Your wooden serving tray is now complete and ready for use. Whether you are treating your partner to breakfast in bed or taking your Grandmother her dinner, this beautiful serving tray is sure to be a much-appreciated addition to your home and will last you many years to come.
Making a wooden serving tray is a great way to serve food and drinks in many different settings. Whether you want to offer breakfast in bed to your partner or serve Grandma her evening meals, a wooden tray offers a simple yet stylish way to deliver your favorite treats. Making a wooden tray by hand is quite simple and requires only a few supplies.

To begin, you must decide on the size of your wooden serving tray. For this tutorial, we will be making a tray that measures 15 3/4 inch by 12 inch at the base by 3 inch at the highest point. You might want to leave a bit of extra room for the handles you will be creating later.

Once you have decided on your desired size of the tray, mark out the measurements of the base and the two longest sides on pieces of wood. The base will be 15 3/4 inch by 12 inch, while the two longest sides will be 15 3/4 inch by 1/2 inch. For the two shorter sides, measure 12 inch by 3 inch pieces of wood.

Cut the marked out pieces of wood with a jigsaw. Cut slightly outside the lines so that it is easier to take off the little extra than to add more if you go over the lines.

Next, you must mark out the curves for the handles of your tray. To do this accurately and to achieve a nice curvy shape, find the midpoint of the two shorter pieces of wood and mark it with an “X”. Then draw a curve from the left to the right midpoint on the wood. It might take a few attempts to complete the curves but keep in mind that they should resemble a hill. Once you are satisfied with the curves, trace it onto a piece of paper to be used when creating the other handle. Then measure 1 1/8 inches to the left and right from midpoint and 3/4 inches above and below to make the rectangle for the handles. Lastly, use the jigsaw to cut out the handles. You might want to make the handles a tad bit bigger for those with bigger hands.

Now it is time to join the pieces together using wood glue. Ensure that all edges are flush against the base and that it is properly secure by adding nails to each corner. After the glue has fully set, sand the wooden tray to make it smooth and wipe off any saw dust. Then, apply a layer of varnish to the tray with a paintbrush. Follow up with two to three more coats and leave the tray to fully dry before use.

Congratulations, you have just made a gorgeous wooden serving tray! Enjoy the feeling of accomplishment every time you use it. Whether you’re making breakfast in bed, afternoon tea or a family dinner, the wooden serving tray is sure to add a special touch.