Making small trays using custom jigs and a router bowl bit

★affiliate links★
CMT Bowl & Tray Bit With Bearing, 1/2-Inch Shank, 3/4-Inch Diameter amzn.to/2LOMHUT
CMT Bowl & Tray Bit With Bearing, 1/2-Inch Shank, 1-1/4-Inch Diameter amzn.to/3sBt4k2
CMT Router Collet Chuck Extension amzn.to/39rnlnS

[@knothead5]

Very nice trays. Interesting how you glued up the strips and the good videos of the sequence of the items. Thanks for the info on the bits.

[@richardshermanjr1899]

I've always liked the method of gluing up different types of wood to make a different look. Also you get to use up some scrap you might have had to throw away.

[@casualcraftsman8801]

That is exactly what I did here. Those pieces were all in my burn bin. Long but only about 1/2 inch wide. It’s projects like these that make it tough to trash even the smallest scraps, especially those pricey hardwoods. What types of things do you make when you glue up scraps? I figure cutting boards are a go to for many people but I’m looking to try some new things.

[@richardshermanjr1899]

@@casualcraftsman8801 I made a simple Table top (18" x 36") with different woods with a small drawer underneath. I made a small box with a hinged lid with different woods. I made a storage cabinet on wheels using different woods. I learned how to glue the wood together and plane it in my high school shop class 30 years ago when the class was making clip boards. I don't know where the teacher got the clips from.

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Those all sound really cool. The clipboard is really jumping out to me. Maybe I could steal the clip off a cheap or old one. I have about a 5 gallon bucket of hardwood scraps I want to use up. I also have 3 "blanks" of maple/cherry glued and planed. But they they are only between 5 1/2 ~ 8 inches wide, so probably too narrow.

[@marksmith5237]

You made that look very simple. Sign of a good craftsman.

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thanks!

[@d.l.9453]

Looks great. And your jig for use with the clamps and router table I will remember for future reference. I recently made a desk organizer tray with a router bowl bit. Even with shallow passes, in a rigid jig I got burning and chip-out, but it may be that I opted to do the project with a small trim router without the ability to adjust the speed. A little sanding covers many sins, LOL! Again, your trays look great.

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thank you! I wasn’t too concerned with burning on any of my passes until the very last one. For that I took off just enough to cut away any burns. And I move really fast to prevent new ones. As for chipping I think I just got lucky this time around because it wasn’t an issue. Then sanding, lots and lots of sanding.

[@mynameismike]

I was looking at making some trays very similar to these. Thanks for the idea for the jig!

[@casualcraftsman8801]

You are welcome! I was pleasantly surprised at how securely the pieces stay in place. I’ve made similar jigs with a wall on all four sides. Those have no play in them but take more time to make.

[@DavidBoston-rx2yi]

Great idea!! Awesome video…

[@earlcummings3653]

Been looking for router table templates to make a serving tray, (ie crackers and dips); see lots for hand held routers this will work great for me; can't use a plunge router due to neural damage in my right hand/arm.......thankx.......I think I can take this a make a perfect jig with a bowl/tray bit

[@Jkcreswell]

Thank you for this informative video! I have been wanting to make some trays like this but with a slot at the end to hold a wine glass. The jig is absolutely genius!

[@casualcraftsman8801]

You’re welcome and thanks for the compliment!

[@randyrice7214]

This is a fantastic instructional without any extra fluff. The trays also came out beautifully! Can I ask how long it takes when you batch them out, and how much they typically sell for? Just subscribed, too :)

[@Catillia85]

Do you have a grounding wire around the PVC in your dust collection system or are you not concerned about fires?

[@briansworkshop01]

What a fantastic job looks awesome thanks for sharing your time and skill

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thank you!

[@pamil1923]

Dang it! I wish I would have seen this vid 2 weeks ago, I just made a tray and it looks like crap! Thanks for the good video.👍🏼☮️

[@youtukang]

Hyy friend ☺

[@casualcraftsman8801]

I’ve done projects like this numerous different ways. I get the best results like this. Plus there is way less dust and I feel safer. Good luck with your projects!

[@AngieWilliamsDesigns]

These look great. Thanks for sharing.

[@lauriereeb3850]

Great jig, thanks. Gonna try it, but will use same finish I put on cutting boards

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thanks, anything that is good for a cutting board would probably be great for these. I hadn’t even considered using them for food. Maybe my next batch I’ll give that a try. Good luck with your project!

[@1959WoodWorkingHobby]

Very good job. I subscribed to your channel. If the trays are for food, mineral oil must be finished. Congratulations!

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thanks! These are just for small items, like pens, pencils, or coins.

[@sandersjones1577]

I want one or two, Good job thanks for sharing

[@mmannfol]

Nice work! Love the way these came out with the different wood boards you chose! Great idea using a clamp on jig. Never thought of using that kind of jig + a pattern bit on the router table! Very small safety comment: About 2:51 - Be careful putting your fingers too close to the backside of the area you are firing brad nails into. A small unintended angle of the nail gun can result in a fun “removing nail / wood shards from your finger flesh” side project.....ask me how I know! Lol

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thanks! I had glued the boards up months ago without much of a plan. All skinny scraps destined for the fire pit. I figured worst case I wasted some time and glue. But they turned out great, now I’ll have an even harder time getting rid of scraps! The jig worked out much better then I anticipated. I felt safe using it even with such small pieces. And doing it this way really cut down on the dust. I went back and watched where you talk about the nail gun. Yeah, I will keep an eye on that. That doesn’t sound fun! Hope you were ok!

[@myhoneyshandmade1077]

I like it. I have done this method but use a plunge router from the top..Like the router table idea.

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thanks! These were so small I felt safer using the table. Also I found that my dust collection was better this way.

[@ThomasCustomWoodworks]

Great video! I’m going to have to try this.

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thanks! I usually over think things but for how simple the jig is it worked very well.

[@noamgodis7233]

great jig and nice job.. what are the size off the tray?

[@westfallframing7896]

Thanks man, just what I needed!

[@patrickguyot1290]

What nail gun are you using please?

[@simonflr]

Your finished product is top notch. My attempts at making the template went well; but the Bowl Bit in my router table never let me get passed scrap piece. Gouges, burns, varied depths. Tried different cutting heights, 3 different size Bowl Bits (an inexpensive Amazon set). My router is a Skill in a Skill Table, speed set at 2 (with 6 being the top speed). Any thoughts as to what the problem(s) are? I am not well experienced with routers and or using the table. I have used my little trim router for years with acceptable results. Are the Bowl Bits that tricky? Any thoughts offering possible fixes would be appreciated.

[@davidfriedman3962]

Very nice, thank you for the instruction !

[@MrSnookerballs]

what machine have you got running in the background as it is so annoying and spoils a good video

[@ACTIONSEC4U]

Great job! What are all the kinds of woods you used for your wood stack? Did you just glue them all together using any special jig?

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thanks! From outside in towards the middle: Outside - cherry, sapwood 2nd - soft maple 3rd - walnut, some sapwood and some heartwood 4th - soft maple again Middle - padauk I have several of the Bessy Parallel clamps that I used for glueing these up. They work well since you can rest the boards on the metal bars as you clamp.

[@larrystone5749]

Great job looks great

[@patrickguyot1290]

I love these 😮

[@leksey7870]

Beautiful work! Good luck my friend!

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thanks!

[@doctorping5326]

Those look good, the router jig worked our well. But why use polly, if using for food this is a bad idea. If using for something other then food then ignore my last comment.

[@casualcraftsman8801]

You are right that poly would not be wise if using these to eat off of. I don’t intend to though. I was thinking they would hold pencils, change, and other small odds and ends.

[@jamesgreen4080]

I like your workshop

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thanks! It is in my basement, about the size of a one car garage. I have to be creative with space but I’m pretty happy with it.

[@octaviochacon3514]

Great job!!! Can you put the link of where I can found the Router Bit

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thank you! I got the bit off amazon. I actually have two, a large one and a smaller one. I used the smaller one in this video and I put my amazon affiliate link for it below. I have a link for the bigger one in the description along with my chuck extender. Good luck with your project. I've found this to be as good if not better then some of my Freud bits. CMT Bowl & Tray Bit With Bearing, 1/2-Inch Shank, 1-1/4-Inch Diameter amzn.to/3sBt4k2

[@tawgman]

The answer may be buried in the comments but I’ve not seen anything-how many passes did you take? Looks like all at once. Just wondering how to use the bearing if you first made a shallow cut/pass. Relative newb (I own it) but learning!

[@casualcraftsman8801]

It’s been awhile since I did it but it was at least 6 passes. Probably a hair over a 1/16 of an inch each time. Because it was small, and hardwood I decided to go slow. I got a Valentine video posted where I made a heart shaped tray out of poplar. I went more like an 1/8 plus each time with that. I’m a newb to the video stuff. This video was actually my very first and I didn’t even talk, just went for it. Thanks for the comment and good luck with your project!

[@glennryzebol4472]

Those came out really nice bro! Question. Do you hone your bowl bits with a diamond plate or anything while you make these. I quickly had trouble with burning after making a few. Also, the bottom the the carved out area left imperfections so you could totally see how the bit had travelled, if that makes any sense. Thanks. Happy new year

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Hey, I’ve never sharpened these bits. I just take many shallow passes. Roughly an 1/8 inch or less. I don’t worry about getting everything perfect with each pass. I wait until I’m nearly at full depth and make sure it is all hogged out evenly. Then I do a final fast pass cutting less then 1/16. I use the last pass to cut away any burning that happened, usually in the corners or where I drop the piece onto the bit. On that last pass I move the piece around really fast, so it doesn’t burn again. I know what you mean about seeing the bits path. I find I get the best results if on that last pass I go back and forth in straight lines instead of swirling the piece all around. Then I do my best to sand any ridges away. On pieces this small it is a pain, but on larger ones the random orbit sander is the perfect tool. Happy New Year!

[@patrickoden8509]

Great jig and awesome job, they look killer

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thanks!

[@QwertyGrodnoWood]

Handsomely. But it seems to me that a hand router is more correct to use here

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thanks! I’ve done it both ways. You can see your work and the bits cut path better when you hold the router. I liked this method because I felt safer and had good dust collection.

[@BeardedGolf22]

"casual" craftsman? Seems like you have every uncasual tool tho. Trays turned out great. I am making something similar for the patio dinners this summer.

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Ha, you got me and thanks! Good luck with your project. These trays packed a lot of wow factor without a lot of cost.

[@BeardedGolf22]

@@casualcraftsman8801 what kind of woods did you use? I can't find a hardwood yard within 30+ miles of my house. 😔

[@casualcraftsman8801]

From outside towards the middle: Outside: cherry, sapwood 2nd: Soft Maple 3rd: Walnut, some sapwood and heartwood 4th: Soft Maple Middle: Padauk I actually have several places within a 20 minute drive from where I live. Oak, poplar, maple, and cherry are all really common hardwoods around here. Walnut too, but it isn’t usually carried in S4, more random pieces. Then you can get exotics but they are super pricey!

[@kevinoestmann4644]

looks great . what is the “white wood”?

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thanks! The white wood is soft maple.

[@stevesiefken6432]

How did you decide to use wipe on poly for finishing these bowls? How many coats? Thanks!

[@casualcraftsman8801]

I picked poly for the protection. It isn't food safe. But I'm using them for pencils and coins. No one is eating from them. I've used lots of different finishes and this one is the cheapest with the same results as most of the others I've tried. I will usually do 4 coats minimum. I sand with 220 after coats 2 and 3. Leaving the poly dust on and making a kind of slurry with the new coat being applied. After coat 4, I buff with construction paper. That makes it super smooth. Good luck with your projects!

[@JeepinMaxx]

Great video! I just subscribed. What were using for that mat you sanded on top of?

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thanks! The mat is an old silicon drying mat from our kitchen. I use it mostly in the shop for catching spills and glue. For sanding it helps hold the piece in place.

[@Rich.ard72]

Good job 👍

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thanks!

[@TeamProsperity]

Nice job 👍

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thank you!

[@hicntrydrftr1]

Lose the ring

[@hairydoggies]

Good video thanks, but the noise of your dust collector (I guess) is very annoying.

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thank you! Yeah the sound is annoying. I’m thinking of turning down the background audio and narrating in the future.

[@cheryljameson3088]

What kind of vacuum is your sander hooked up to?

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Ryobi P3240, it’s the 3 gallon wet/dry battery powered one. I highly recommend it.

[@TheSonath]

Do you sell them online?

[@joshuaolsen3430]

Great content…horrible background noise

[@wayneblythe5713]

Great video, just sub’d. 👏🏻👍🏻🇬🇧

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thank you!

[@lostsailor2759]

Very cool! What is the yellow wood?

[@Thatontarioguy]

Probably yellow wood

[@lostsailor2759]

@@Thatontarioguy I meant what type or species of wood smart a@$.

[@Thatontarioguy]

@@lostsailor2759 Pau Amarello commonly know as yellow wood or yellow heart

[@lostsailor2759]

@@Thatontarioguy AWESOME. THANK YOU! I have a great source for Hardwoods close by and I'll see if they carry that. Thanks again.

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thanks! This is the wood in order from outside to the middle: Outside edge: Cherry, sapwood 2nd: Soft Maple 3rd: Walnut, combination of sapwood and heartwood 4th: Soft Maple Middle: Padauk

[@joshwoodcock4790]

nice

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thanks!

[@ralphhorne6063]

What is the bit that you used?

[@casualcraftsman8801]

The Brand is CMT. I got it off amazon about 7 years ago for $35. I’ve done projects like this 4-5 times a year since getting it and it’s still going strong. I should probably learn how to sharpen it. I have the small and large one. This video I was using the smaller. Search: CMT 851.501.11B Bowl & Tray Bit With Bearing, 1/2-Inch Shank, 3/4-Inch Diameter, Carbide-Tipped

[@beneditoalvesdasilva]

da hora 👏👏👏👍

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Thanks!

[@mustafanaser4099]

👍👍👍👍

[@cackleberryfarm4598]

Had to stop watching that high pitched background noise was giving me a headache. What they heck was making that noise?

[@michelleashton6712]

It’s a dust collector. Just mute the video

[@ronaldefrederico5363]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@youtukang]

👍🥰🥰🥰🤝🇮🇩🇮🇩

[@casualcraftsman8801]

Awesome, thank you!

[@markcoleman3752]

Turn off the vacuum when you're making a video