Make the PERFECT Woodworking Gift in ONE DAY!
Sometimes you have to make woodworking gifts. You can build this GORGEOUS modern wooden serving tray in just one day. What I love about this project is that it’s completely customizable. You can change out the wood species, modify the handles, add chamfers or round overs. You can really take this wooden tray and make it into the perfect woodworking gift. The clean lines give the tray a modern look, but it’s still fits into a room of any décor. While the construction is pretty straight forward, it can still be challenging and allows you to hone your woodworking skills. Even if you aren’t looking to give someone a gift, I recommend giving this project a shot and let me know how it turned out!
•• About NewtonMakes••
I’m Billy and I make fun things. Sometimes, it’s something I need like tool storage ideas. Other times it’s silly or nerdy stuff that I want to build. If you want to get ideas for making stuff, or just want to watch something entertaining then make sure you subscribe.
Please consider supporting me on Patreon, where you'll get bonus videos, behind the scenes info, and sneak peeks! / newtonmakes
•• My Links ••
Patreon: / newtonmakes
My Amazon Store: www.amazon.com/shop/newtonmakes
Website: newtonmakes.com
Instagram: / newtonmakes
Facebook: / newtonmakes
Esty: www.etsy.com/shop/GenWoodworker
Here’s a list of tools and materials that I used to make this project. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
•• Tools & Materials ••
My Amazon Store: www.amazon.com/shop/newtonmakes
Jet Table Saw: amzn.to/2RwQTJa
Forrest Woodworker II Saw Blade: amzn.to/3kezMHf
Diablo Ripping Saw Blade: amzn.to/30ZOJEV
Random Orbit Sander amzn.to/2RxjkXo
120 grit sandpaper: amzn.to/2QW835c
180 grit sandpaper: amzn.to/39y5kVM
Osmo Top Oil: amzn.to/2xQG2SW
Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue: amzn.to/2tU6B8d
Microjig Grr-ripper: amzn.to/38J7Buz
Starrett 6” combination square: amzn.to/3aPMN6n
Starrett 12” combination square: amzn.to/2U04x9d
•• Music ••
Friendly Day, March of the Spoons by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
I hope this video gives you some ideas on how to make your own trays. This is a great project to batch out. You can make several trays in the same amount of time as it takes to make one.
I made this for my dad this Christmas. Great instructions and came out beautifully!!
This is why I love the internet. Always find these hidden gems even two years later. This is a great idea. Thank you for this. Subbed
Gorgeous!!
- VERY, VERY nice piece. I particularly like the handles as they allow the board to use both sides for serving or a tray. I don't place tabs on either side of my boards in order to give my new owners the option to use both sides for serving. In your build, both sides can also be used for serving. The handles make a nice stand. Thanx 4 sharing.
Trabajo de maestro amigo 👏👏👏 felicitaciones 👏👏👏
Beautiful
Beautiful idea looks amazing
Looks amazing 👏
Every video I watch I hope to gain one usable tip. Thanks for teaching me how to use the jig for the dowel alignment. Will definitely put it to use.
That looks great, thanks for sharing the idea!
That turned out awesome !
I like this kind of presentation!
Hi Newton, the combination of walnut and maple makes the board beautiful.
Beautiful design! And as usual a great job
Nice build, going to make some out of quilted maple that is only 11” wide. Wanted it wider. Will use walnut.
You have a way of presenting things that make it easy to understand but more importantly inspire new ideas. I get new ideas every time I watch your videos. Back to the shop. Thanks!
Thanks that's wonderful to hear. I really love being able to collaborate with everyone.
thank you so much for the share. I'd love to make something this simple but lovely
This project is beautiful. I love the contrast of the species. Thank you for making this and inspiring others to create.
Thanks for the kind words!
Fantastic project, Billy. The design is extremely classy. I think that you should make a matching napkin/plastic holder to go along with this, but by itself it is great. I know that a lot of KZhead watchers love the big, complicated projects, but there are also many novice/weekend woodworkers out there watching that live for these relatively simple projects. Thanks for thinking about us and thanks for this video.
Thanks. I wanted to show that we can bang out a pretty nice piece without having to create the most elaborate thing in the world. I have bigger projects coming down the pipe.
this is a great idea. I'm a beginner and looking for projects tp help build my skills. I love the idea of using dowels.
Perfect combination of beauty and utility. Thanks so much for this content. I learn a lot from your videos.
Inspiring!
Thanks, sooooo much. Excellent video, EXCELLENT instructional delivery from a retired education administrator. Love your content....
Wow interesting..thanks for sharing...
Beautiful design. Simple and classy
Thanks!
So cool! 😎
joli et original , j'aime beaucoup.
Good look and nice
Enjoyed and learned a lot watching you. Very good work. Rather listen to you and tools than music if that's what you call it. Thanks for sharing, appreciate it.
Excellent work! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for checking it out.
simple and nice combination of dark and white colors, gorgeous
Thanks I feel like it a a good contrast but not too much since it's only one stripe.
I like it!
flip it over and it's a laptop holder for when you're sitting on the couch vegging out and need shopping lol
I've always thought that walnut and maple make the perfect marriage. Beautiful contrast. Especially if you can get some good figure in the walnut and find some birds eye maple. Beautiful tray!
Absolutely. The grain and figure make a world of difference.
Amazing visual design and beautiful final product.
Thanks!
Totally awesome project
Thanks
i love it good job
Very nice
Awesome! And not a single nail! Love that
If you check out my other videos you'll see that I don't often use nails or screws.
I would totally turn this upside down and use it as a tv dinner tray. Looks nice.
Nice skill and tolls
Really nice! I'm using mine as a monitor stand after simply flipping it over.
Newton Makes a great build! The contrast between the walnut and maple is always stunning!! African Paduak and maple I think would work great together as well! New subscriber here!
Paduak and maple is an awesome combo!
Cara buatnya simpel dan hasil bagus kak 👍👍
Great project with good safety work on the table saw.
I aim to keep all of my fingers. 🤣
Clever idea to make that drilling template for the dowells! :)
I get lucky sometimes
Thumbs up!
Very creative tray 👍🏻
Thanks!
great video First time on your site will be back
Really, and truly incredible work. Abs Oh Loot Lee Gore Jus...
Menakjubkan karya nya
Great starting point for people to create their own unique version. Much easier than starting with a blank canvas, so to speak. Even in a batch, each tray could be a bit different. Still a big time saver making a batch.
There's a ton ways to go with this. I wanted people to see a tray that didn't have store bought handles. This uses wood to customize it.
@@NewtonMakes Even very simple store bought handles are quite pricey here in Australia, so making your own saves you money, looks way better, and the making is satisfying in itself. Way to go!
very detailed in making videos so very easy to understand
Glad to hear!
Супер! Всё так просто и понятно!
WOW! That is the most beautiful tray! Subscribed!
It has simple, clean lines that I appreciate.
Man that is so awesome brother, i really enjoyed this build nicely done and as always great video
Many thanks. Tried to keep it straight to the point.
Sweet. Possible future project. Subscribed.
Thanks for the sub!
Nice work!! What are the little devices that you are resting your project on? Thank you.
좋아요! Good!~
I've been watching a bunch of videos on making serving trays and this one really stood out to me. I want to make one as a wedding gift. Have you ever used purple heart?
I've used purple heart several times, but not for a tray. It's a common wood for trays and cutting boards though.
I have to be honest here. When I first saw the thumbnail on my 72” tv, I thought this was a bed. Once I viewed the video and saw it was a serving tray, I was still impressed because you showed an alternative to handles rather than store buying or cutting into the board to form handles. Good job
That would be a cool bed. Now I want one!
@@NewtonMakes You know, your right! So do I
You’d have to create the Headboard and the foot board to match the handles or it won’t look right
Up until today, I thought I have seen everyone once. I was wrong. I do follow several Woodworkers. Although this is only the second video of yours I have watched. (The first was the 3 box tray) Your style is more to my liking. You have surpassed all others and are now my favorite.
I've secretly hid in the corner of YT, waiting to leap out at people. Muhahaha!
I liked it so much, i had to make one!!!
That great to hear!
Osmo is the best!
I LOVE this design, and the presentation. I don’t think however that I would have cut THROUGH the walnut and then butt-jointed the pieces together, but instead cut a recess of eg 5mm and then insert the strip of maple into it. Great work !!! 👍👍👍
I usually bevel my boards and trays because frankly, it does look cool.
I think so too!
Great one day project! By the way, I had a Macomb tag on the video link. Are you in Macomb MI?
Nice Project. Have you thought of putting cutting the handle brackets on an angle to splay the handles out to compliment your bevel on the bottom of the board?
That's a good idea. Perhaps on the next one.
Absolutely gorgeous! I love the thin amount of walnut you left at the top of the handle posts, but have always been worried about material thickness. Have they held up well or would you recommend increasing that thickness? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Everything is good with it.
@@NewtonMakes Thank you! I'll be making the handles today so perfect timing!
love the tray first timer here but sub'd now
Awesome, welcome to the channel!
Thit is awesome! How long do you let the glue set before the next step? I enjoy you channel very much.
A couple of hours and it was good to go. That's why I jumped back and forth between the tray and the handles. Letting it all dry.
Completely underrated content. Question: should I get a saw stop?
No. Jusr be careful.
Completely up to you. If I had the budget then I would. But that's just me. Nothing wrong with either decision.
For the life of me I just don’t understand how guys are making money on serving trays… They simply don’t sell in my area. When I think about it deeper… I don’t even remember the last time I’ve used a serving tray let alone being served anything on a serving tray.
They're presented as gift ideas, not money-making ideas. You make them and give them away. You feel good. The recipient feels good. And it gets used occasionally. Or it's re-gifted.
This is great, what grit do you go up to for sanding walnut?
180 grit
I know these questions can get annoying, but where do you source your curly maple? Locally? online? other?
given the fact that the lumber is so expensive, whats the best to find cheaper walnut?
Takk!
I turned off my screen, but I imagine there’s some nice woodworking in here. However I’m only here to listen to that killer soundtrack. That’s my jam.
Ha!
First time viewer. Great inspiring video, thanks. Now a subscriber. Did you add any feet to this board? If so what did you use, or would you use?
I didn't but you absolutely could. There are several rubber feet that can be screwed into it so it doesn't slide around.
otherwise looks awesome
Good work. Unexpected take-away: how scary it is when an audio jump cut is used where someone’s hand is at the saw blade and the next clip’s audio starts with the saw blade spinning sound… 1:15
No entendí nada de lo que dijo pero si todo lo que hizo, hermoso trabajo.
Glass thank you
I'm making one.... I hope
I hope you do!
Magniifique.
Thanks!
Awesome project man! Loved you “turning the tables” with it at the end! 1 question, why didn’t you use the dado to cut the brackets for the handles? Think about how fast that would have been? Plus they would have looked cool in slow motion……….
Because I knew that you'd want dados! I was going to use dovetails but I felt like that wouldn't be as easy for people.
Would this work with 1/4” thick lumber instead of 3/4” It seems a little heavy using thicker lumber
That's up to you. 1/4" seems very thin but I'll never tell someone they can't do something. If you try it and don't like it then you know for next time. No biggie.
👍
Which glue is better for that? Fast-dry or standard?
That's up to you and how fast you want to work. I used Titebond III.
What do you charge for something like this?
Is the dowel and glue enough for the handle to support weight?
Absolutely!
Great video but your right-hand caul at 1:32 is upside down. Curved, taped edge always goes down. :)
I have a dumb question. Aren’t those handles effectively cross grain construction? As the board expands across its width, the handles won’t, but they’re glued in. Did this end up being a problem?
The tray would have to expand a lot to cause an issue. Probably more than possible. At this width and thickness, plus the fact that it's multiple boards glued together, it won't reach that point.
If this would have been bigger, you can put it upside down and it would become a very elegant coffee table.
Can you explain the scotchbrite pad purpose
It's abrasive enough to work the oil into the wood without scratching it. I have found I get better results than when applying it with a brush or smooth towel.
@@NewtonMakes do you use it for all your oil finishes, or only that kind?
1:53 I'm surprised I didn't see any of the KZhead safety police make a comment about this. I do it all the time too, just sayin I'm surprised nobody made a comment.
One day build, must have used instant glue🤔 Nice simple idea👍
Before I got into woodworking I did not realize how strong regular wood glue is. You can take a piece and drill and cut on it with it after just an hour or two. For heavy uses 24 hours is best.
dowels don’t add strength just help with alignment
OK , we would all love to hear your explanation behind this comment. A dowel joint is basically a mortise and tenon. Explain to us how an end grain to face grain glue joint is as strong as a mortise and tenon joint? The dowel will increase the tensile strength by at least a couple thousand pounds of pressure. Along with the shear strength that multipliers immensely.
Very good video! I do suggest you lower the volume of the music.
I have in recent videos. Hopefully it's better. Thank you for providing constructive feedback in a positive way instead of ranting like so many others. 👍
if you turn it over, it will become a small tea table.
I like your way of thinking.
@@NewtonMakes Actually it was not my idea. In Asia, traditionally a culture of sitting on the floor, this kind of table existed.