Hey Friends, does anyone else feel like Spring is in the air ?  (Granted it is only February  but I live in Florida, so I get a pass.) Anyways, as I was saying… Spring.  I was pulling out my decor and was looking at my poor misshapen metal tray that typically sits on my coffee table.  For the past  few seasons I have told  myself that it just adds “character” to it… and what I really mean by that is my two little characters happened to it.  That poor tray has been used an “umbrella” in a rain storm,  a “shield” in nerf wars, dragon wars, lego wars… let’s just say it has seen a lot of battles. And let’s not forget the time they attempted to use it  as a “sled” on the stairs. (That was a little terrifying.)  So,  I have decided to retire the old  tray and it will now exist in whatever make believe capacity my kids can create in their  toy room. It will  no longer be  the central focus of the room.  RIP old boy. But it’s not all sad news,  it means that I got to create  a new central focus for my table.  So I submit to you my new DIY Farmhouse Tray.  Ta-DA!

 

So let’s do this shall we ?

 DIY Farmhouse Tray 

SUPPLY LIST:

• 1″x 4″ Standard Board
• 1″x 3″  Standard Board
• 1″x 2″ Standard Board
•  5/8″ Dowel Rod
• Sand Paper
• Stain and/or Paint

TOOLS RECOMMENDED:

• Miter Saw
• Finish Nailer &   1 1/2″  nails
• 5/8″ Forstner Bit

CUT LIST:

Cut from 1″x 3″  Board 

• (x2) @ 18″
• (x2) @ 11 “

Cut from 1″ x 4″ Board 

• (x3) @ 16 1/2″

Cut from 1″ x 2″ Board 

• (x2) @ 12″

Dowel Rod @ 19 1/2″ 

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STEP 1: DIY Farmhouse Tray Frame

First construct the frame.  I add a small amount of  wood glue to the joints, and then reinforce with a 1 1/2″  18 gauge nails.

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STEP 2: Slats

Next add the center slats. Again, add a dab of glue  or hell if you are a risk taker  go ahead and skip this step…  (But seeing as  already divulged the gauntlet my kids put the last tray through  I would strongly suggest it.)   After  you have glued, or not glued, whatevs,  I would reinforce with nails.

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STEP 3: Handle

Next up the handle.  On the side handles ( 1″x 2″ boards)  you will need to drill a hole to accommodate  your dowel rod handle.  I used a 5/8′ forstner bit to drill mine.   I place the hole  approximately 1-1/2″  down from the top of the handle and centered it.  Once the holes are drilled finesse the dowel rod into both of the side handles on each end. (Again I would suggest a dab of wood glue.)  Once the handle is assembled attached it centered on the previously assembled tray.

Then you know the drill,  glue, and reinforce.

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STEP 4: Finish

The finish featured on my  tray is 2 coats of  Weather Oak by Minwax. After I lightly distressed and then dry brushed on Miss Mustard Seed’s White Wax.  It gave it  a used,  but not dingy feel, and I love it !

 There you have it folks a quick and easy build  that is seriously stunning, and so fun to style!

  

 Take Luck,

 Corey

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