DIY Woodworking TV Tray

A wooden TV tray can be a great introductory woodworking project. It will get you started in your workshop and provide a functional tray for snacking or dining in with a dinner and a movie. Wooden trays can be basic with plain sides or have ornate decorative sides for a more traditional approach. Select hardwood for your TV tray so that it will be durable enough to hold up to the abuse that a food tray must withstand on a regular basis. The tray measures 12-by-18-inches and has 2-inch deep sides but you can modify it to suit your size preferences.

Instructions

1

Adjust the miter saw to make a 45-degree angle cut. Lock the saw in place. Lay each hardwood board flat on the table of the saw and cut each end of each board at a 45-degree angle. The angles on the ends should be on one 2-inch wide side of the board and opposing each other so that the long side still measures 12 and 18-inches long respectively. The 12-inch boards are the ends and the 18-inch boards are the sides.

2

Lay the ends out 18 inches apart parallel to each other on a work surface with the long sides facing out. Position the sides on either end of the ends to form a rectangular box. The angled ends should fit together like a picture frame.

3

Apply wood glue to the joints of the sides and ends and fit the boards back together. Clamp the assembly with a frame clamp. Allow the glue to dry for 24 hours and remove the clamp.

4

Sand the assembly lightly in the same direction as the wood grain with fine-grit sandpaper.

5

Lay the assembly flat. Run a bead of wood glue around the 1-inch edges of the assembly. Align the 1/4-by-12-by-18-inch plywood over the assembly and press it in place. Hammer finish nails every 2 to 3 inches around the perimeter of the assembly through the plywood into the sides and ends. Allow the glue to dry for 24 hours.

6

Sand the entire assembly in the same direction as the wood grain with fine-grit sandpaper until it is completely smooth. Wipe the tray down with a tack cloth to remove the dust left from sanding.

7

Brush on an even coat of wood finish with a paintbrush. Allow the finish for four hours and apply a second coat.