Serving Tray

This lovely serving tray was made from a pattern in "The Weekend Woodworker, 101 easy-to-build Projects" and was completed in a relatively short period of time. The sides are made from 1/2" x 1 3/4" red oak and the ends are made from 1/2' X 3" red oak. The bottom is 1/2" red oak veneer plywood which fits into 1/2" rabbets on the bottom of the ends and the sides.

Made in a short period of time, this project is both attractive and useful. It is of great assistance when entertaining, and draws compliments from all who see it. At 21" x 12" it is just the right size for serving snacks or drinks to party guests.

Hardwood is the desired choice of material for this project. The sturdiness is necessary to carry the weight of a lot of drinks or plates of food. The ends and sides are cut out to the following dimensions:

Bottom: 1/2" x 11 1/2" x 20 1/2"

Ends: 1/2" x 3" x 11 1/2"

Sides: 1/2" x 1 3/4" x 21"

IMPORTANT! Cut the bottom later so you can cut it to the "exact size" of your newly constructed tray, so it fits exactly.

You will also need some small finishing nails to complete the assembly of this project.

Enlarge the scale pattern of the handles in the book, and trace this enlarged pattern onto your end pieces. At either end of the finger slots, position appropriately a 3/4" Forstner bit and cut the circular shaped ends of the slots. Cut out the finger slot area between the two circular shaped ends of the slot, (along the curved lines you transferred from the pattern) using a scrollsaw or jigsaw. Sand the edges of the cutout well to remove any uneven cut marks.

Set your router table fence or your table saw fence to deliver a 1/2" wide rabbet and set cutter height to deliver a 1/4" deep cut. When set, cut 1/2" wide and 1/4" deep rabbets along the bottoms of all the end and side pieces - on the inside edge. Cut the same size rabbets on both ends of both side pieces - on the inside edge.

Glue and tack the sides to the ends, but first you need to drill pilot holes for the finishing nails. The bit to drill with is actually one of the finishing nails. Cut the head off and insert into your drill. This will be the perfect size. Nail the assembly together and set 1/8" deep with a nail set. Fill the cavity with matching wood filler. Make sure everything is square, and allow time for the glue to dry. When dry, measure the opening for the bottom, and cut your oak veneer 1/2" plywood to fit snuggly into the rabbetted area on the bottom. Apply glue to the rabbets, and insert the bottom piece (from the bottom). For a more secure joint, nail finishing nails through the sides and into the bottom piece you've just added. Don't forget the pilot holes here too!

END DRAWING
Here's a link to a drawing of the end of my tray. Click HERE to go to that drawing. Download it and make 2 copies and reverse one over a light table or window and trace the shape on the other side of the paper. Now you have 2 pieces which when put together and sized properly will give you a full drawing of an end. You can see the size that I made mine but you can adjust the size to suit your needs by enlarging or reducing this drawing accordingly. Just be sure to make the height of the sides of your tray the same as height of the ends of your resulting drawing.

Finish sand the entire piece and stain with your choice of colours. I used Minwax pickled oak. Since the oak has a slightly reddish cast to it, and the pickled oak stain lends a ever-so-slightly transparent white film, you end up with a beautiful slightly pink transparent beige colour. I then gave it 3 coats of a waterbased lacquer - satin finish.

This is an easy, fast and beautiful project. If you'd like to get more info on it, as well as many other great projects, get "The Weekend Woodworker - 101 Easy-to-build Projects" in our bookstore.

This is perhaps the "most used" project I've ever made - it always draws rave reviews from our guests. I've made many more as gifts.

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