This folding tray table is easy to make. (Just don't make the dumb mistake I did!)

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If you're wondering why you would want to bother making something like this, here's a bonus video: • Why bother making thin...
Remember that Folding Tray Table I made during the lockdown woodworking series? Well, I'm revisiting it in this video, and it's a mix of drama and craftsmanship lol.
I'll be using leftover Redwood boards from my deck project to create the tabletop. It's a simple process, but it requires attention to detail. I've got plans available at shopwwmm.com/p... , where I've outlined how to make this entire table from just an 8-foot long 2x6 board.
Join me in the workshop as I guide you through various steps. I'll show you how to edge join the boards for the tabletop, add chamfers for a neat finish, and even how to handle dowels for the legs. There are a few unexpected moments, like dealing with broken pieces (trust me, we've all been there), but I'll share how to recover smoothly.
The Folding Tray Table might look intricate, but I'm here to prove it's an achievable challenge. And the best part? You'll be left with a versatile folding table that's perfect for various uses. So, if you're into woodworking adventures and attention to detail, this video is your ticket to a rewarding project. Join me in the workshop as we create something awesome together!
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WWMM
448 Ignacio Blvd. # 237
Novato CA 94949
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Woodworking for Mere Mortals® is a registered trademark of ZRAM Media, LLC.
#woodworking

[@SteveRamsey]

Thanks for supporting how-to project videos! If you'd like to build this table, you can get plans here: shopwwmm.com/products/folding-tray-table

[@CodyMiller98]

Next project could be a storage solution for 4-6 of them like they have when you buy them

[@craigallan4322]

Nice to see an old fashioned woodworking video. Just like the old days 🙂

[@garynagle3093]

Love this with adjustments and all! Makes me feel like your mortal too! Thanks

[@sternentigerkatze]

And such a dramatic one at that! 😁 I love your sense of humour! Thank you for showing this to us!

[@NapKingCole84]

Hey Steve! I purchased your plans for these (hey its easier than drawing it up myself) but I'm curious about the tabletop connectors being screwed to the top. Is there enough wiggle room in the bore holes to allow the screws to move with the wood?

[@SqueezeBurger]

It's great to see that at no matter what level we are, no matter how detailed our plans are... wood worker mistakes are inevitable and we just need to adapt 😁

[@TheLukemcdaniel]

Mistakes are a given. They're going to happen. It's not if, but when. The measure of a person is how they handle mistakes.

[@tylerferrusi7652]

It's incredible to think that I've been watching this channel for over 10 years! This one really brought me back to the cleverest folding stool ever, which my rendition apparently turned out well enough that someone stole it from my porch lol. 10 years ago, my 'shop' was half of an apartment balcony and now I'm gearing up to build a devoted workshop outbuilding. From one mortal to another, a sincere thank you Steve for everything you do!

[@nolansprojects2840]

Haha, oh man. Hope you got to use the stool a few times at least! That’s tragic!

[@woodworkingandepoxy643]

And here I thought I had the dumbest thing ever stolen off my porch. A cooler..while I was literally feet away on my couch watching TV

[@arithmechick]

I really admire how authentic you are as a person. We all make mistakes, why not have a sense of humor about it! Love you, man! 😀

[@thefirsted]

I'm lovin a woodworking channel showing woodworking. I dunno what happened but for a few years it seemed more like all the woodworking channels were tool salesmen. Ty for the video! :)

[@David.M.]

I love these longer form videos. They are quite like the ones in your courses. It takes me through a project step by step! Thanks

[@cd-r8419]

I never watch videos recommended by the algorithm. I usually go to my subscriptions where I have only worthwhile channels like Mathias Wandel, Jimmy Diresta and yours for example. I love your work and your projects.

[@breakinn403]

Thanks for including the "woops" corrections. You know what they say, 20% of woodworking is working with wood. The other 80% is figuring how to keep it out of the fireplace. Great useful project. Thanks for sharing.

[@newfielad1967]

The greatest thing about your videos is you show mistakes can be made at any skill level. Thank you for another entertaining video Steve.

[@tree_carcass_mangler]

"Pretty sure the rest of this video isn't going to be nearly as dramatic as that first part." Thank you for that! And thanks for posting, errors and all. Thumbs up.

[@ericpetitclerc5519]

30 minutes in, already 12 comments, I would be confident that the "Dramatic entrance" has little to do with our interest in your videos. Thank you for all your videos, tips and advice that helped me start my woodworking adventure this month, after years of watching......

[@normancarnahan4893]

Thanks, Steve, for another useful and interesting video. I plan to make one or two of those folding tables for our courtyard. Most especially, I want to thank you (and other makers) for using pipe clamps in the shop. There have been too many videos that use expensive tools, fasteners, and clamps to get the job done. I, for one, appreciate the back to basics approach. The end result is what counts. You are doing a good job. Keep it up! Also, thank you for getting us through the pandemic lockdown! You deserve an award and recognition for that!

[@mightyporky]

I have watched this twice because I suffer from CRS. Got probably 20 something years on you wooding. The only people I see that do not make those unhappy mistakes are those who do nothing. Steve you are undoubtedly the most entertaining wood guy on here and an ambassador for our trade....keep on plugging away, you are needed.

[@Bob-qu5ux]

NIce. I am still using the redwood from a deck I salvaged 26 years ago! The tight grain is unbelievable. Keep up the good work. I loved when you went to your "finishing room," I.e. put down some paper on the assembly table.

[@tonyaheath8500]

I'm glad you kept the part where you made the mistake and showed how to fix the mishap.

[@shortking-vp9vv]

I will forever associate that riff with the Hydraulic Press Channel.

[@littlefiddlesticks]

I like that you show when you make mistakes! It makes me feel better knowing that even people who have woodworked for years are human, and i shouldnt feel bad when i accidentally make my table top too small cause i mathed it wrong!

[@nolansprojects2840]

All part of the process! I have some nice, solid shelves now because I did something similar… 🤣

[@Tony-ot6ym]

I'm gonna level with you Steve if any other woodworking channel hit me with an opening like that I would have closed the video as fast as I opened it. Thankfully I've seen enough of your stuff to know better by now haha

[@afreeman365]

It would have been better if it rolled into a microjig spot like he used to, lol.

[@ObsessiveAboutCats]

Finding dowels that are precisely the advertised circumference is about as easy as finding straight 2x4's. In the past I have used a forstner bit on some scrap wood and brought that to the big box store and tested the dowels there. Easier than bringing calipers or having to resize the dowels once I get them home. Great video and idea. Thanks. I hope you are doing OK with the current weather. Be safe.

[@Tinker1950]

You'll need to know the difference between circumference and diameter. I know, I know, it's not easy for you Americans.

[@nolansprojects2840]

A few months ago, my mothers uncle passed away. I hadn’t seen him in over a decade, but in his will, he had said he wants all his tools and everything to go to a young man who will use them with the same love and passion he had. His kids all told my mom they wanted me to have it all. Problem is I live 1700 miles away from his shop. Well, there was no cost too high for me to not accept my new responsibility of caring for this fine machinery. All this is to say, after years of building decent furniture using methods you and others taught me with all the “basic” equipment (table saw, etc) I now, as of this last weekend, have all the tools one could ask for from a real woodworkers shop. A planer, a jointer, band saw, drill press, lathe, etc. and all are in impeccable shape! And on top of it, the hand tools, the tools to maintain the machines (stones and whatnot) and more! I’m not sure why I wrote this whole story, but I guess it was to say thank you. Cause if it weren’t for you showing me how I can make good looking tables and stuff using basic tools, then maybe my mom’s cousin’s wouldn’t have thought of me to have such an amazing shop. I absolutely cannot wait to get everything set up, and get every ground surface cleaned and stoned, and make sure everything is as flat and square as I can reasonably accomplish. First project with the new (to me) tools is to make a desk, a gift for my girlfriend who changed my life over a year ago.

[@Funkyfly2000]

wow---that intro made me smile.. Thanks Steve!

[@fidgetshouse]

Glue is mightier than the pen or sword! I appreciate you leaving the mistakes in!

[@georgequalls5043]

Showing honest mistakes and the fixes are the best part. Really feel at home and can identify.

[@jaayjones5937]

It was really nice to see somebody build something rather than try to sell a tool or show how to sharpen a tool or how to saw a straight line. Also nice to see that even a professional such as yourself needs glue. My shop's motto; The 24th times a charm.

[@jeffbaker8808]

Love the dramatic ending!

[@Erik_The_Viking]

I made this table during your lockdown series - my wife loves it!

[@elcaminowoodworks8535]

It's better when it slides right in and you don't have to pound it. Agreed. Sometimes though, you have to pound it. And once it finally goes in, that's nice too.

[@markb8954]

“That’s what she said”.

[@TheRealJonahWicky]

It's good that you show your mistakes. Novice woodworkers need to know that everyone screws up, no matter how long you've been doing it. The lesson is to not panic or get upset. Just figure out what you need to do to fix it and move on. One of the key things I learned long ago is to keep your work area clean enough that you can find the little pieces that need to be glued back together.

[@jrt77339]

As a long retired shop teacher, my main job after safety was saving student projects.

[@johnniewalker39]

Wow! Love your new finishing room, never seen it before. Looks awesome, even better than the shop itself. 🙃

[@Metroid-rg9pn]

I was only going to watch for 1 second but man, that intro kept me hooked!

[@al1843]

17:30 the way you filmed this part brings back memories of old (younger) Steve from the early days!

[@bubbatruck8285]

There are no dumb mistakes. Only opportunities for creative problem solving. That is what makes woodworking so challenging and fulfilling.

[@terrrywilliams3617]

Nice to see I’m not the only one who makes mistakes. Nice recovery on that.

[@Urfavpreppster]

After knowing and watching your channel since about 5 years ago intensively learning the skills of woodworking, I come back and really enjoyed this video - by longer video but complete process, by a no rushing pace on detailing ( 2 sides rip cut on table saw). It is meditating!

[@lytsabr]

I have found that it is a good idea to add a small piece of wood to the center bar stop cleat at a 90° angle. This prevents the top from separating from the center bar if the tray table is lifted to move around.

[@MrMaacin05]

@17:05 “shouldn’t have to pound it” proceeds to look into the camera immediately after. 😂😂😂😂 subtle yet well played sir

[@dvalley3344]

Thanks for project. I just noticed on this video that we have the same Ryobi drill press! It is a nice drill press that has never given me any problems. I am glad that I am not the only one who makes mistakes! But we know you are a good woodworker when you can correct the mistake without get more wood!

[@JohnClark-tt2bl]

That's pretty much how our tv trays were made. I've had the thought before of taking one apart and copying the design.

[@mrmoto7682]

Three seconds of Cobra doing radical tricks would draw me in to watch!

[@pegleg00]

Accidental Iron Maiden for the win!! I've been watching this channel for about 11 years. I still love the style of your videos, and your approach to woodworking.

[@thejoshthat]

Dude I missed your humor so much! Hysterical intro! Also I still miss that WWMM spray paint on the foam in the background!

[@thejoshthat]

About 4 to 5 seconds into it I was actually thinking, "wow, Steve sure is switching it up", then boom 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@user-th1db1pq6h]

I have always been told A man who makes no mistakes is a man who does nothing.😁

[@cruelsniperify]

Steve, keep up the great work! Have been watching you for years and always brings a smile when I see you post a new video.

[@gnusndn301]

That looks like some pretty nice redwood. I can smell it as you cut it. Nice project.! Thank you

[@najakwarkle]

Bubbles Cam is top notch. I love your continued ethos of working with and embracing your mistakes. What a great project.

[@christopher_hawn]

That "accidental drama" cracked me up!

[@rickcimino5483]

you never disappoint, Steve.

[@ragcell]

Another great Ramsey video: a simple "anybody can make this" video. You do alot of panel glue-ups: you need to get 4-way panel clamps that provide squeezing pressure in BOTH the horizontal AND vertical directions--at the same time. My first was Clampzilla clamp from Woodpeckers, but as one would expect, it is high end and speedy but has tremendous clamping pressure. It is also a bit cumbersome and confusing to set up the first couple times: I think I got it now. As with any glue-up, squeeze-out is inconvenient: hard to keep clamp bars clean. I always use glue-impervious paper (the backside of rolls 3M transfer, AKA double-sided, tape, for which I use 12" width to permanently bind all sorts of stuff, especially acrylic plastic). Additionally I always use a teeny-weeny bit of fine sand between the boards and never have a board-sliding issue. The quantity of sand is so insignificant it is inconceivable there would be any damage to a saw blade; besides one rarely cuts thru glued wood, but for squaring up, etc. The sand is so sparsely applied, no grain of sand would likely be in the cut line. Some use salt for a similar purpose, but salt is too reactive: who knows what wood degradation has occurred between the wood--until it is too late. There other 4-way panel clamp options than Woodpeckers; the best I found is on Amazon & elsewhere where the hardware part is purchased, and we provide the wood (caul part). Additionally, these clamps allow for panels up to ~6" thick (high)--minus the thickness of the cauls, e.g., 2x2s. Also it is easy to glue-proof the cauls. I reduced the thickness of my cauls (top & bottom) by using 1/4" flat iron/steel bars and screwing a strip of 3/16" +/- HDPE on one side of metal bar to keep glue from sticking to the cauls. The metal cauls (with HDPE) have more rigidity than thick wood. Woodpeckers use metal channel steel, but offer no "built-in" protection from glue. However, I use a 2" wide Gorilla tape (extra strong packing tape) to cover these metal cauls: glue will NOT stick to this tape). Again thanks for a great video. I'm gonna downsize your tray table to make a "serving" tray for use on my bed, chair, or wherever. I eat on my portable tray, use it for my laptop, etc. Hmmmm, I think I will make a modification/attachment for pen & pad, beverage holder, fold-out mouse pad, etc.

[@mjernigan1950]

Steve, I especially appreciate the great video camera angles that you provide. Almost as good as being there.

[@frankstoverpurebloodsaltya6441]

Called cupping.. as a cabinet/ furniture maker for 40+ years. Alternating the growth rings directions is very important!

[@jerry-p]

I had a lot of fun watching this. The "excitement" music, the jokes, and the recovery of the "oops". Great job, Steve!

[@ifiwooddesigns]

That’s hysterical!!! I thought I was watching wrong channel with that intro. Then again halfway in made me jump! 🤣😂😆

[@alanwasserman8176]

Steve it's not a KZbin video without you making a mistake lol, great job on the TV Table

[@tfretch-hobbyist]

Love the tables. Now if only I can convince my wife that we have the space to store some and I have the time to build them!

[@virtualfather]

Maybe you could take this act to a comedy club. Thank you Steve

[@BriManeely]

Ah man, that outro 🙏 I'm so glad I was hooked by the first three seconds!

[@brucelee3388]

These tables used to be very popular 30-odd years ago. One thing they nearly all had was an extra piece on the stop block - either a piece of metal or ply - so that when Uncle Stumblebum walked into the table the legs didn't pop out from behind the stop block leaving the table to collapse and spill everything across the yard/deck. As for the left over pieces from the top: I could see a 'hopper' style carrier for cutlery and sauces, or a few trivets, or even some boxes coming from those = there is really very little scrap wood if you plan well.

[@montanaflyer1147]

Great to see some new projects just before the woodworking season. Time to blow away last year's dust and start making another layer!!! You're the best.

[@iancreese9310]

Great little project, even with the mistakes. Have missed watching you. Keep up the good work.

[@woodworkingandepoxy643]

Half of my woodworking career has been fixing mistakes. Im glad channels like this and ragnbone Brown exist where mistakes are shown. Did you just say you made a walnut deck?

[@cycle_path]

Love the DRAMATIC into!!

[@rabusen]

The glue mistake is the kind of mistake this mere mortal would have made. However before giving up and making a new piece a tip from a furniture refinisher channel was to put vinegar around the joint. It has worked for me. I love this guy.

[@WilliamGill]

I'm so glad that "Project Steve" is back! Thanks for all the videos.

[@patrickduffey4344]

Watching you put in the dowels and I thought to myself ‘good thing he has plans because he had issues with this during the lockdown series…’ Famous last words I suppose

[@halloweengineering]

"Now I am going to take this to my finishing room" I love it! That is how my finishing room is too!

[@griffingene1]

Really like this design Steve! I had to secure mine better though, as the dowels kept popping out of the holes of the table top pieces, causing spectacular disasters. I did this by boring a hole in the dowels and sinking a dowel glued to a round piece larger than the dowel to keep them secure. I also ran an aluminum rod along the width of the table underside (supported by your stop piece and another mirrored on the opposite side) to keep the cross bar from hopping over the stop, and causing more splendid unplanned crashes. They are now very reliable tables for me.

[@LordPhobos6502]

8:30 - LOVE the wheely workbench. Can't recommend them enough

[@pteddie6965]

Great video, Steve. I absolutely love watching you build a project. This one was especially fun to watch. You know, through the years I've found dowels from the big box store to be terribly inconsistent in their sizes. Several times, I've purchased a hand full of dowels only to find when I use them that they are not identical in size. I usually find them to be smaller than they are labeled. This is a problem because I generally use them in conjunction with a forstner bit which of course are always a consistent size. Anyway, thanks for the video and for all the great projects in the past.

[@jerther_]

Thanks for sticking to project videos Steve :)

[@craigbourne575]

It worked! Those first 3 seconds tricked me into watching the whole video. 😂

[@heystarfish100]

Bringing a project back from the scrap pile adds valuable points to your Man Card. Great work Steve, we knew you could do it! 😎🤣

[@CheveeDodd]

I've got a set of 4 of these that someone gave me years ago. I've been using two of them as my work from home desk for 3.5 years now. I should do something about that. 🤣

[@DamianDArienzo]

I love that in woodworking, mistakes can be glued and are stronger :)

[@woodworksbygrampies1284]

Hola! 🖐Great project and awesome video! I've always though of a folding tray like this as "too complicated" to even attempt. Thanks for showing how approachable this can really be. Especially after a "minor booboo" (or two), it can still be corrected and end up with a good project. Thanks again and looking forward to the next one. Take care and have a good one, Adios! 👊

[@ryansouter9881]

Great video Steve, love that you explain each step of your process followed by a mini montage of you just working through it rather than jumping to the finished component. It's actually nice without music behind it too (08:45-09:00 & 09:41-09:53 is quite calming). And no need for non-sense drama, your reaction at11:42 had plenty of drama! Edge of your seat stuff!

[@ELCADAROSA]

Phew! After all that, I think I’ll just buy a set of folding tables! 😮 … Great work, Steve. Nice to see the honesty and integrity in your work. Been following you and other great woodworkers for a while and I can’t wait to get my little shop back up and running. I want to apply the ideas and lessons learned to quite a few projects I want/need to accomplish.

[@DougPalumbo]

Awesome Steve! I’m almost ready to sign up for the Weekend Workshop! Just a few shop tweaks before I get started!

[@gregmullins1296]

I love watching you because you show the real experience! Thanks for showing the mistakes I make with each project. 😂

[@SandyMasquith]

Thanks Steve. What a great project! I happen to have some leftover black walnut (not from a deck mind you) that I think would be perfect for these little tables. Yours look great in teak, but this pauper “ain’t got none”. Thank you for showing that mistakes can and will happen and that perseverance and glue can save the day!

[@alangibb3100]

What a great job Steve, well done.

[@bobjons7]

Absolutely Loved the video. To show your mistakes etc., is to be human😊. Awesome job!

[@dian3145]

How sad that more than 1/2 your viewers probably don’t understand the MacGyver reference 😝 Great little build, appreciate the oops being included. Reminds me I need to repurpose my old redwood deck pieces, you can forget how pretty it is under that weathering!

[@jamesp2127]

I like this! Going to add it to my extremely long list of projects. I’m a big fan of your long-form vids by the way.

[@dutchywv]

my dad made this table for many years he made a camping table that stood about counter height and 4 wide to fold up to about 5 inches here made me a Char-Broil Portable Gas box to up that into the table and fix on the back side of the trunk of my truck propane tank locking it to the box too the folding table could put 2 folding stools inside of it too i had a travel tarp put over the box to keep everything from blowing out when i was going down the road to summer i did leave the trap on the truck to after work we go out with my boat to do some fishing too lol

[@olivier2553]

The week-end before last, I refinished such a table that I have been using for over a decade (I bought it, did not make it myself), very useful as bed side computer table.

[@scottmorris4914]

great little build.

[@ZaMPATESTE]

velcom to the hidraulic press channel! in today's video, we're going to find out how much you can compress a folding table befor it explods

[@necrojoe]

It may addak at any time.

[@ZaMPATESTE]

@@necrojoe so we have to deal with it

[@GetTheFOutOfMyWay]

Seriously, first thought and so weird. 😂

[@MCsCreations]

Beautiful work, Steve! Nicely done!!! 😃 But yeah, sh*t happens! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@joshhayes3433]

You had me at the heavy metal intro!

[@Kosh42EFG]

Now that was a soundtrack! Got a like for that even before watching 😉

[@AtomskTheGreat]

the moment i heard the music i skipped to the real content (usually on for me unknown channels these kind of intros result in me closing the video). but then again, i'm subscribed and don't need to be baited.

[@MCsCreations]

Keep doing those intros, Steve! I love it! 😂

[@bpacheco6]

13:00 is why I'm waiting until I retire to really really get into woodworking....spare time is so limited and when things like this happen it's so discouraging

[@andyc972]

Thats a great looking side table Steve, the contrasting dowels lift it and the simple design is not only functional but classy ! Loving the Drama and also the mistakes - reassuring to us mere mortals !

[@johnspoentgen9489]

Steve, Awesome video as always. Your videos give me the inspiration to attempt each project. Your patience and attention to detail is what I'm striving for.

[@streamleazefishhouse]

Thank you for showing us your mistake and how you fixed it.

[@riversidema7578]

You need a dramatic closing too, as a reward for those who watched the whole thing! :)

[@marksingleton2739]

Bubbles: " Am I a joke to you? "

[@frednoble3547]

Haha, that opening made me laugh. As a serious point, i do personally find your videos more engaging when they are humerously interspersed, whether they be how-to videos or not. I know that this is personal preference, and someone else might alternatively find it distracting, especially in the how-to category (can see people just wanting to get the clear, straight instructional). My preference is humour (incl. openings like this one), but you'll never be able to please everyones preferences simultaneously, and i think you do a great job in delivering a range of video styles that collectively satisfy a range of different preferences, and you also do a great job of not worrying too much about does it / doesn't it, which I think is healthy & well measured too!

[@214rwoz]

I like it ! Thanks for all your time and effort.