Silverware Tray

Is this for a drawer or for display? If it’s for a drawer, your options are more limited in terms of aesthetics.

Last year I made a couple of pencil trays out of oak 1x’s that I resawed into slats a bit more than 1/4". Pretty much the same sorry of project. Be creative. Uniform boxes are boring. Make the boxes for the utensils the exact size to store them so you end up with a more interesting pattern of lines.

This was made to fit into a drawer.

That’s a great idea Brian, it looks like it may fit your needs with a few mods Gary.

Not for display but actual use. My major concern is how to fasten the dividers etc. Brads may work if you are very accurate with the nailer but I am thinking more in the line of a dado groove and glue. Any thoughts.

Tempered Masonite is the same thickness as a table saw blade and glues up nicely. It may be the idea you are looking for for the dividers. Then you wouldn’t need to route the dado’s just cut them with the saw.

All the dividers in my pencil trays are just glued to the bottom, sides and each other. No dados. Of course, it doesn’t take the daily abuse of a silverware tray, but it’s pretty solid. Just make the pieces fit as tight as possible and figure out a way to clamp them tight during glue up. Use waterproof glue since sometimes the silverware will go into the drawer after washing and won’t be 100% dry. In my house at least. ;-)