Large Lego Building Tray

This is a perfect gift for the avid lego builder! The building space is 30"x30" and the side trays are a generous 7 1/2"x 30". Of course the design can be scaled up or down to fit your needs and space, and you can even add some handles to carry the tray while also sliding it easily under a bed or a couch when not in use. It's a simple frame design with a plywood back...easy for even the beginning builder. The total cost for my project was 50.00 (including the lego base plates...be sure to check the link to my source below)!

Materials:

- (2-3) 1x2x8

- (1) 4x4 or 4x8 piece of 1/4 Plywood

- (9) 10"x10" Lego Base Plates (compatible plates from Compatible Toys on Etsy)

- Wood Glue

- 1 1/4" Pocket Hole Screws or 2" Wood Screws or 2" Brad Nails

- Wood Staples

- Wood Filler

- Sand Paper

- Paint or Stain

- Liquid Nails or another glue to attach the base plates

Tools:

- Tape Measure

- Pencil

- Square

- Circular Saw or Table Saw

- Rip Cut Guide (for use with circular saw)

- Miter Saw or Table Saw

- Kreg Pocket Hole Jig (if using pocket holes)

- Brad Nailer (if using brad nails)

- Screw Driver

- Stapler

- Sander

- Safety Equipment

First step is to piece together the frame for the tray. This is made out of 1x2s and can be attached using 3/4" pocket holes, 2" brad nails, or 2" screws...do what's easiest for you using what you have on hand. Be sure to use wood glue between all the joints for a nice strong bond.

Next, attach the 1/4 plywood to the back side (you could also use a thicker piece of plywood if you're worried about the amount of weight the tray will hold). Use plenty of wood glue and a fastener with a good sized head to grip the plywood. I used wood staples, but you could probably get away with a nail or screw that has a large head. Fasten the back to all the 1x2 frame pieces. Lay the tray down with the plywood underneath until the wood glue is dry.

Fill all the nail holes/pocket holes, sand well, and paint or stain your tray (leave the center bottom unfinished, this is where your base plates will be glued). The final step is to glue down the base plates in the center section of the tray. I used liquid nails for a strong bond, but I'm sure there are other ways to glue these down that work just as well.

Add handles and any other accessories and you're done!