Wooden Serving Tray | Woodworking Gift Ideas | DIY

I made a customized wooden serving tray out of maple and walnut. Perfect gift idea for all those beginner woodworkers!
#woodworking #holidaygifts #diy
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I started off by taking a few maple boards, squaring them up, and cut them into strips to glue up the bottom panel. Once those were dry, I took the panel over to my CNC for the custom engraving. I decided to go with "Tognacci" as its a Christmas gift for a family member. Next, I grabbed some walnut and started working on the outside part of the tray. I tried something new with this one and used a continuous grain pattern all the way around with my mitered corners. Came out great! To secure the joints, I used my spline jig and cut out some slots to put in some pieces of maple. I sanded everything down, applied some mineral oil, and finished it with some paste wax. I hope you enjoy the video and let me know if you have any questions down in the comment section below!

[@CasualBuilds]

Have you built a serving tray before? How'd it come out? Let me know below!

[@sulaimansalim1480]

Beother can you do videos about important things that any one need it to making a good work with wood?

[@vinceagnes]

I made 20 stacking trays about six years ago as Christmas presents for my nieces and nephews siblings etc. I used mainly ash with a strip of laminated walnut, cherry and maple. All of the wood was from trees I harvested in the late 70’s when I was much more energetic… your tray is beautiful. The contrast in the color of woods is great!

[@timlarson7228]

@@vinceagnesnice!

[@johngunning2123]

A good tip as to how to chisel the bottom of the handles, I'm going to use that one and the addition of the white corner pieces is fantastic. I'm definately inspired!

[@CasualBuilds]

Awesome! The chisel definitely helps with making sure they are nice and clean. For the maple corner pieces, it helps with reinforcement and structure. You can find a ton of videos here that go over how to make that spline jig for the table saw. Glad you found inspiration in the video, best of luck!

[@TheWeekendDIYer]

Nice work Tim! Love all the thought you put into this project!

[@CasualBuilds]

Thanks, Jeff! Really happy with the way these came out!

[@Bekim8310]

Beautiful tray! I made a couple of these of these trays very similar to yours last year and when people come over and see them they love them! Great work!

[@CasualBuilds]

Thank you!

[@yadiragallardo5180]

Loved it! Thanks for sharing

[@WhiteLabWorkshop]

Looks awesome! The two tone really pops. Great job!

[@CasualBuilds]

Thank you!

[@alanclinger786]

Your serving try is very nicely done. I make cutting boards, and want to expand my "business". Thank you for your video. Brent.

[@mikedisimile2478]

Great job explaining everything thank you very much

[@christianxbolt]

Very nice, I'm a beginner. I was a paramedic for 30 years, just trying to keep busy

[@vinceagnes]

Great project, fabulous craftsmanship!

[@OneMinuteWorkbench]

Looks great man - nice work!

[@CasualBuilds]

Thanks, I appreciate that!

[@Paulboylegacy]

Very well done, good instructions thank you.

[@franks122]

Excellent job, thanks for sharing and explaining your steps.

[@nathanielarruda-leuppert9416]

Tim, I feel so inspired by your videos I think I'm going to start engaging in casual builds myself!

[@CasualBuilds]

Glad to hear the video inspired you, Nate! Good luck!

[@davidcochran934]

Great video. Very elegant.

[@bonecarv3r]

This is awsome! Im currently looking for a jointer and planner. Then I just need someone selling me nice quality wood and I’m going to try this one and the side grain cutting board! 5/5

[@jaimet574]

Great video! I have been looking to make a tray and your video is one of the better ones I've seen yet. And your tray came out nicely!

[@CasualBuilds]

Thank you!!

[@wr22atwill]

Very cool, Tim!!

[@CasualBuilds]

Thanks Stevie!

[@miketognacci7937]

Perfect, nice job Tim

[@CasualBuilds]

Thanks pops!

[@robert_costello]

You sir, have a good hand for this kind of work. Thanks for posting and teaching me some new tricks 👍🏼

[@CasualBuilds]

Thank you!

[@SF8187]

Nice job on this tray! It's beautiful. I love what you did with the inset base. Good idea on the jig to make the ends with the handles.

[@CasualBuilds]

Thanks!

[@mrwoodwork5097]

Awesome job! Great tip for making handles 👍🏻

[@CasualBuilds]

Thank you! It took me a real long time to figure out why my bit wasn't cutting right on the drill press - turns out adjusting the speed does wonders!

[@mrwoodwork5097]

Casual Builds lol that'll do it 😄

[@imsowright90]

Nice job!

[@yvonnez.amadordegarcia6090]

Very good. Excellent 👍🏻

[@teaneys1]

Super cool brother. Awesome build. Very nice work.

[@YESSLEEP42]

Looks great man!!

[@CasualBuilds]

Thank you!

[@JustinNeaves]

Great video, man! I would love to see a shop tour of what all you have to work with! It looks like you may be in a garage as I am too. Subscribed and notified so keep the videos coming!

[@CasualBuilds]

Thanks for watching and the subscribe! Yes, I'm in a garage and I'll definitely do a shop tour at some point in the future - keep an eye out!

[@Brigitte2x33]

Another great video 👍

[@CasualBuilds]

Thanks again!

[@alexpechauer476]

Good video man. Your shop looks pretty legit too.

[@CasualBuilds]

Thank you!

[@FantasyFootballDudes]

This is awesome bro

[@Marcfyve24]

In the process of making one of these as well. Mimicking your handle design. Good work bud! New subscriber

[@CasualBuilds]

Thanks, much appreciated! Good luck on your serving tray, hope it comes out great!

[@malcolmmeares5086]

Awesome work mate

[@CasualBuilds]

Thanks Malcolm!

[@BrianThorstad]

First time viewer...banged on the subscribe button. Very nice, I’m getting ready to make a serving tray and like what you’ve done. Except for the CNC, you have tools like me, which is encouraging.

[@CasualBuilds]

Thank Brian!

[@stevesiefken6432]

Nice design

[@CasualBuilds]

Thanks Steve

[@jlanier]

Awesome video. I'd be very interested in a video on how you created your table saw jig for cutting straight edges.

[@CasualBuilds]

Thanks! It's called a jointer jig, there are tons of videos out there on it. I may make one myself though!

[@gutomellojrppr]

good job man... I'm starting my woodwork course next week... first task is a tea tray :)

[@CasualBuilds]

That's! Good luck!

[@bmxadict1816]

For only 907 subs your production quality is top notch man!

[@CasualBuilds]

Thank you, that's means a lot! Hopefully I'll attract more eyes soon.

[@VictorAgababyan]

I leave a comment, because it’s a great job!👍

[@CasualBuilds]

Thanks!

[@michaelboyle7668]

Very tasty.

[@markrichburg7718]

For the quality of your videos you should have way more subscribers man! Keep up the awesome videos!

[@CasualBuilds]

Thank you!

[@robert_costello]

I’m so f**king jealous on all of your beautiful tools. I have to work with a drill, handsaw, and an oscillating sander 😢

[@robert_costello]

I meant to say, Circular saw... Jesus, my situation is not that bad. 😂

[@CasualBuilds]

Thank you! Definitely took some time to acquire all the tools I have now.

[@richh7539]

Awesome serving tray. Where do you purchase your wood from?

[@sulaimansalim1480]

Geat work brother i like it more🌹

[@CasualBuilds]

Thank you!

[@sulaimansalim1480]

I mean great work brother. I am sury for this mistake 😬❤️

[@paulhawvermale1606]

I would like to make a tray with sloping sides, maybe 10 degrees. Can't figure out the corner angles, thanks

[@quiettrees]

This is pretty cool, but i dont have any of those huge machines and tools you have.... Could you maybe try making something with, you know, cheap and widely accessible tools? Thanks! :)

[@CasualBuilds]

Well, the CNC is definitely optional for this project. Jointer and planers are "expensive", but definitely necessary if you plan to do woodworking more than just as a hobby. I have them, so I use them.

[@YesYourRight]

Not bad

[@kandiecandelaria3134]

Nice tray, what were your dimensions?

[@dickrohn]

Your work, and the video, is awesome! What brand & model # CNC do you use?

[@CasualBuilds]

Thanks! I've got the X-Carve by Inventables.

[@ronfontenot4534]

Question: How do you like your Porter-Cable jointer? I am thinking about getting one while they are on sale.

[@CasualBuilds]

Honestly, didn't like it much. Had some troubles with getting it leveled. I'd recommend picking up a used one from Facebook Marketplace if you can. I have an older model Jet and it's awesome.

[@robhebronv]

What dado blade size do I use here? Thanks!

[@erictaba4670]

whats up with the jig used around 3:50 to cut the walnut? Never seen it before, why is it needed? thanks

[@CP-hg7re]

Quick Question? Did you leave any space in the grooves for the bottom of the tray to expand and contract? I am making some trays and I was worried that I may need to leave a little gap for humidity changes effecting the wood. Just don’t want the expansion to bust the miter joints. Thoughts?

[@CasualBuilds]

Yes, I did leave a little wiggle room in the groove to accommodate that!

[@CP-hg7re]

Thanks so much. Really appreciate the video and the ideas.

[@ngocdiy4817]

You are so creative, I love DIY products like this.good idea man 👍

[@kdtrimble]

CB, excellent work. Where do you get your hardwood?

[@CasualBuilds]

Thanks KT - got those boards from Bell Forest.

[@kdtrimble]

@@CasualBuilds Ok, I know them. Thank you so much for your response. Very helpful. Many of us do not have access locally to good wood so this is very helpful. Cheers!

[@ManuelPerez-gd4vv]

What kind of CNC Router is that? Great video!

[@CasualBuilds]

Thanks! It's the X-Carve from Inventables

[@joelegrand5903]

Grain all the way around like a NASCAR race track!

[@CasualBuilds]

Haha, exactly 😂

[@InTheLab3d]

Beginning woodworker? haha... This one seems fairly hard for a beginner (like me). Super labor intensive.. Assuming price has to be pretty high to make anything on em

[@CasualBuilds]

Yea, this one may not be too "beginner-ish". I made these for Christmas gifts, couldn't imagine how much I'd sell them for.

[@bentucker1377]

Is there enough clearance on your cnc to build these ahead to sell and customize to the buyers name...so cnc after built?

[@CasualBuilds]

I don't think there would be enough clearance to CNC after assembly.

[@PatriotMango]

what was the thickness of the floor of the tray

[@raymondrivera8815]

Nice vid, do you have a video making that spline jig? Just subscribed God bless🙏

[@CasualBuilds]

Thank you! I don't have a vid on that, but plan to in the future!

[@raymondrivera8815]

@@CasualBuilds can't wait, thanks 👍

[@chriswalters5936]

hey my friend i thought i re-subscribed but if i didnt i had to cause i got a new tablet a while back. chris

[@tayaandanthonywest6959]

Ideas for the beginner DYI. Check out my jointer, planer, dado and engraver. Very simple project. 😂

[@SuzukiKid400]

What are the dimensions of all the pieces? Thicknesses, lengths and widths? I like the proportions that you used.

[@CasualBuilds]

I can't remember. I know it wasn't more than 12" wide, because that's the capacity of my planer.

[@allenensminger3044]

What was used to do the writing on the tray?

[@CasualBuilds]

It was my CNC - the X-Carve from Inventables.

[@anthonysunseri6543]

Could you provide a cut list? What size are the Maple boards that you cut? 1x4? What are the dimensions of the bottom of tray?

[@CasualBuilds]

Apologies, it's been too long since I made this project and I cannot remember the exact dimensions. I know the maple was fairly thin, I want to say it was 3/8" or so? And it had to fit through my planer so it was no more than 12" wide.

[@tclures]

Just curious, where did you get your CNC? How much?

[@CasualBuilds]

www.inventables.com

[@melodylz2667]

What bit did you use?

[@CasualBuilds]

I used my 1/16" upcut bit!

[@josedejesus2557]

How much would you sell that kind of tray?

[@davidcochran934]

Just watched this video again as I am trying to figure out a good way to measure out the mitered ends so you dont have gaps between your bottom board and side pieces. Any words of wisdom for doing this? Right now I just sneak up on each corner and it becomes extremely tedious.

[@CasualBuilds]

I believe I made the bottom tray panel oversized to start. Then, I made the frame itself. Then, I cut the bottom panel to the right dimensions that fit the frame.

[@jigupatel4609]

Can you make the same in size of 18x30 size? And willing to ship?

[@CasualBuilds]

Hi, I do not sell these.

[@jigupatel4609]

Casual Builds Thank you

[@sababa1022]

How thick was the bottom panel?

[@CasualBuilds]

I believe it was around 3/8" or so!

[@zoemarman]

Where do you get wood from?

[@CasualBuilds]

I got the wood from this project at a specialty wood store near me, but I have ordered wood online in the past - Bell Forest

[@vidana789able]

I cant gind link to mineral oil?😔

[@1Chongsdaughter]

Dumb question amnesty, what is that device at 1:19 mins, please? This is rad I saw it on your IG and came to see the video.

[@CasualBuilds]

It's a thickness planer - basically shaves off material from the top so you're able to get the board down to the thickness you're looking for. Thanks for jumping over from IG to watch the video, I really appreciate it!

[@1Chongsdaughter]

Casual Builds No, thank you. I’m learning, so any time I have free, I watch videos & making lists of things I need/want as I get into it.

[@CasualBuilds]

That's awesome! I do the same thing, there's a ton of create content out there for woodworking.

[@1Chongsdaughter]

Casual Builds yea, I see something daily I wanna a version of. Thanks, again. Have a nice night!

[@CasualBuilds]

You too!

[@EscobarStyle]

Just stumbled upon this video. And WOW man! You made it seem so effortless that I can even do it as a beginner. But I know it’s probably tough 🤦🏻‍♂️. My only problem is that I dont have a band saw to make those handles 😞

[@CasualBuilds]

Thanks! You can use a jigsaw with a regular drill to make those handles as well.

[@lry76]

any chance you can share dimensions of each piece and overall tray?

[@CasualBuilds]

I honestly can't remember. Forget the length, but I know the width of the bottom panel couldn't have been more than 12" (my planer capacity).

[@lry76]

@@CasualBuilds thanks! Going to attempt one out of ash.

[@arizonasmith2268]

What are the measurements

[@GSHFrisbeeBros]

Do you have the dimensions for this?

[@CasualBuilds]

I can't remember exactly. But, I know that I sent it through the planer so the width is no bigger than 12" and I'd imagine the length is probably somewhere around 15-16" or so. Sorry I don't have the exact measurements!

[@Zack16Fair]

Lmao I have that same router bit box and peices

[@CasualBuilds]

I cant even remember when I bought those. Amazon maybe?

[@Zack16Fair]

@@CasualBuilds yea they were like $24 or something. They still sell similar looking ones. I only use like 3-4 bits from there

[@anthonysunseri6543]

Is it me or was there not a single screw used in that entire build? Was that whole thing put together with just glue

[@CasualBuilds]

Yep! Only glue. I checked up on this board over the weekend and it hasn't fallen apart yet!

[@anthonysunseri6543]

@@CasualBuilds that's so awesome. Okay, I'm going to give this a go as my third woodworking project. Wish me luck. The only bummer is I don't have a thickness planer and I don't have a drill press. how do people get boards the same thickness without a planer like that?

[@CasualBuilds]

As long as you're cutting the boards from the same stock, they should already be the same thickness. Just try to get boards that are nice and flat. Also, you can just use a drill instead of a drill press for cutting out the holes for the handle. Make the cuts on each end and use a saw or jigsaw to connect them.

[@garthok6224]

that carving will be a nightmare to clean...

[@parmazaad2081]

First spend $200k on some heavy equipment....

[@CasualBuilds]

Things must be way overpriced where you live...