If you’re short on space or just want another addition to your Christmas tree collection, how about making a small wooden Christmas tree? This project is perfect for beginner and experienced woodworkers alike. Made from small pieces of wood, this Christmas tree is great indoors or outside. You can put it in any room in the house. The one I made stands 17- inches tall and 14 ½ – inches wide. That includes the base. The best part about this small wooden Christmas tree is that I can fold it flat for storage. It is only 1-inch thick when folded flat; 2-inches if I lay the base on top. I wish all my trees could do that! It takes up so little space that if I don’t pack it with my other holiday decorations, I almost forget I made it.
Tools
I used a measuring tape, circular saw, drill, and palm sander to make this small wooden Christmas tree. You can use a hand saw or a jigsaw to cut the wood. If you don’t have a palm sander, you can easily sand this small wood project by hand. However, you will definitely need the drill. I will be honest and tell you that the only reason I used the measuring tape was to determine how tall the small wooden tree was going to be when I had it completed. Actually, I just used the tree pattern I sketched out before I started to determine the size of my small wooden Christmas tree. I have since changed the way I make my pattern. I will explain that further in the article.
Wood
I used 1-inch by ½-inch lumber pieces to make a small wooden Christmas tree. You can make a larger one if you use 1-inch by 1-inch lumber. The wider your lumber pieces are, the taller and wider the wooden Christmas tree will be. I wanted my tree to sit on a side table, so I used the smaller wood.
I used pine wood because that is what I had on hand. Feel free to use any wood you like. You can add more interest if you make the small wooden Christmas tree from a variety of wood pieces. It is especially pretty if every other piece was dark wood, and the remaining pieces of wood were lighter in color.
You will need a thin dowel rod that is approximately two to three inches longer than your small wooden Christmas tree. This is because at least 1 ½ inches of the dowel rod protrudes from the bottom of the tree and another inch or two protrude out of the top. I’ll explain this in a minute.
Finish
I used linseed oil to finish the small wooden Christmas tree that I made. I love that it still leaves that natural wood look, but the linseed oil also brings out the wood grain. I’m a sucker for natural wood. It’s been that way all my life.
You may decide to paint your small wood project in festive holiday colors. Or you may want to use a particular color of wood stain to match your decor. Then again, just a good coat of quality wood wax is all you need to bring out the beauty of the natural wood. The choice is yours. Maybe when you make your first small wooden Christmas tree, you might want to make more. In that case, you could create a forest of Christmas trees in every color and shade available. (My family already told me I wasn’t allowed. They haven’t seen my stash of wood yet!)
The Process
I start by gathering the wood to make the small wooden Christmas tree. I choose wood pieces that are 15-inches long or shorter and no smaller than ½-inch thick. I look for warping or other blemishes that may result in the wood breaking when I start the process. I toss those aside because I am sure I will use them in another small wood project in the future.
I line the wood pieces up side by side because no matter how many times I have made these small wood Christmas trees, there is always one or two pieces that are just a bit thicker than the others. I replace them with wood that is the same thickness. I want the pieces to all lay snug against each other. This is so the wooden tree is more uniform when it is complete. I lay them so the longest piece is at the bottom and work my way up so that the shortest piece is at the top.
The Pattern
I cover the entire wooden area with a sheet of paper and draw a triangle to make the simple shape of a tree. I do this for two reasons; I will see how tall and how wide my small wooden Christmas tree will be. If I want it taller, then I just add more wood pieces to the formation. I do know from experience that it is easier to add to the top than it is to the bottom. I can always cut wood shorter, but I cannot make it longer. (There is no such thing as a board stretcher!)
Once the wood is where I want it and there is enough of the wood to make the tree that I want, I run two pieces of masking tape down each side of the middle, in a “V” shape, to hold the wood together. I cut the pattern from the paper and lay it on the wood pieces and draw the outline of the tree shape onto the wood. I remove the paper and flip the entire section of taped wood over and run masking tape on the other side in the same manner as the first.
Cutting the Wood
You can use a miter saw, a circular saw, or a jigsaw to cut the wood pieces into the shape of a Christmas tree. Just follow the pencil lines down the front side of the wood. The ends of the wood pieces will be cut at an angle. If I use the circular saw or the jigsaw, I leave the wooden pieces taped together while I make the cuts. It is easier to cut them all at once, this way.
Drill the Center
Before removing the tape from the wood, I draw a straight line right down the middle of the small wooden Christmas tree. I do this on both sides. (This is a personal preference; You may find an easier way) I use a ¼ -inch drill bit or smaller and drill down through the middle of each piece of wood. A dowel rod runs down the hole to keep all the pieces of the small wooden Christmas tree together. The bottom of the dowel rod also extends about one inch down into a 15-inch by 15-inch piece of wood that acts as the base or stand, for the Christmas tree.
Sanding
You can sand each piece of your small wooden Christmas tree separately or run the dowel rod through them, lay them flat, and use a palm sander on both sides and the edges. This is the method I prefer when I make these small wood projects. I also tend to round the edges a bit because I prefer that look.
Finishing Up
Once the sanding is done and you have wiped off any dust or debris, the rest is simple. You can stain, wax, or paint your small wooden Christmas tree just as you want it to look. You can drill holes in the ends of some of the “branches” to hang ornaments. You can wrap the tree in lights and garland or keep it plain. I prefer leaving it plain. This is a great way to add a little bit of festive fun to a small area that is usually neglected during the holidays. Once the holidays are over, simply x spin all the branches together, pop the dowel rod from the base, and lay everything flat in a storage box until next year.