Picnic Tray
I got the idea for this project from Ryan Borger back in 2013, who sent me a picture of a serving tray he made. I stuck it in my idea file and, well, it took me three years, but I finally got to make it!
The most important feature of this tray is the simple weight to hold down napkins and keep them from blowing away, a problem at just about any outdoor event. It also features a removable box with dividers for utensils.
This entire tray is made out of solid oak. I began by gluing together three boards to form the tray bottom. Plywood would be easier, but it might be harder to match its color with the solid wood tray sides.
I beveled the edges of the two short tray sides to 20°.
Then made 20° angles on the ends of the long front and back pieces.
Using my cutting template, I cut a curve on the front and back.
To make the handles on the sides, I drilled two holes then connected them using my jigsaw. I rounded over the edges with a roundover bit in my router.
The router can’t reach the areas in the corners, so I rounded them over with a rasp.
I cut 20° bevels in the bottom panel and dropped it into place, gluing the two short sides only.
The I drilled holes and pounded in dowel pins to reinforce the corner joints.
These holes are for the dowels that the napkin weight will slide down on. I only drilled these halfway through the wood.
The hold-down weight is just a rounded board with two holes.
Gluing on the tray dividers:
Nothing fancy about the utensil box. Just glued together butt joints.
Finally I glued in the thicker napkin dowels and sprayed several coats of lacquer over everything.
Free Plans:
- WWMM Picnic Utensil Tray (pdf)
- Sketchup file
- WWMM Picnic Utensil Tray (pdf) – METRIC
- Sketchup file – METRIC
July 29, 2016 @ 1:30 pm
The PDF isn’t working for me. 🙁 Can you email them to me?
August 30, 2017 @ 5:23 am
I am Sharing my personal experience about one of the wood working plan i am using for my project. it contains all woodworking plans include workbench plans, shed plans, chair … blueprints and detailed instructions for building all kinds of wooden,
check here to get all the wood working plans >> ( go2l.ink/wood )
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July 29, 2016 @ 1:46 pm
Love this one.
July 29, 2016 @ 5:44 pm
Steve, I hope this is a private e-mail conversation as I would like you to make a private comment to my post to you. I could not find another place on your site. Last week after I watched your video I got a comment on the screen that if I wanted to receive any more notifications on this channel I must sign up for or make but donation to this you tube channel. I did and pledged so much per month. I haven’t gotten any response or email reply. No acknowledgement about receiving anything from your channel
July 30, 2016 @ 9:38 am
I’m not sure what you donated to. Sounds like a scam.
July 31, 2016 @ 9:41 pm
Hi Steve
Can you tell me what the thickness of the board are?
January 8, 2017 @ 9:01 pm
I’m also wondering this…
May 1, 2018 @ 8:06 am
He mentioned he used 1×4 oak boards (which are nominally 3/4×3 1/2), and I think the boards are listed in the PDF plans. I’m planning on making the tray part out of redwood for a mothers day gift, but I’m having an issue with the height of the short sides. Sketchup says it’s ~3 3/16ths after making the bevels, and it’s 3 7/16ths before the bevel… Guess I’ll make them 3 1/2 and sand them to match the long sides of 3″. Time to start making! Hope this comment helps anyone else interested in making this project.
August 3, 2016 @ 6:28 pm
The PDF does not work properly for printing entire content for each page. This also means that you cannot print the templates at the correct size.
August 5, 2016 @ 7:20 pm
Steve, I love the build and plan on making it soon. I do plan on making one minor design change. The napkin weight will be the bottom of the utensil holder to free up the other side.
August 27, 2016 @ 8:06 pm
I made this as a bridal shower gift. It went over quite well. I made it out of oak might try cedar next time to save some weight,
September 9, 2016 @ 11:31 am
Hi Steve
I have been watching your videos for mere mortals and mere minutes for a few months now, i think they are great you seem to be right down to earth and i like that.
I am like yourself i am self taught and there is nothing more satisfying than starting with a length of timber then looking at the finished project knowing that you have done it yourself from scratch, and i just love the natural look of wood.
I have looked for your username on facebook, but i cant seem to find it could you please send me your facebook address so that i can have a chat with you, i was very mobile until 3 years ago that’s when i had to have an operation on my back so now i have 3 plates and a small cage keeping my spine together, but at least im not in a wheelchair, and now i have been left disabled, but im trying not to let it get me down, i can get about on my crutches although i cant walk very far, and i have found great joy and comfort watching your videos i always get a laugh. and you have put a spark back into my life, so i am attempting to try some small projects, like wooden toys and stuff,please get in touch if you can spare 5 minutes i would love to hear from you, i am having problems with my email at the moment but you can get me on face book or facetime that would be even better, my facebook is like my email address, i know if you cant get back to me that your a busy man and that’s ok i understand, o i just though i would mention it im from Edinburgh in Bonny Scotland cheers, Alex