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Small Shop Plans

Open trays

Choose a construction, check what needs to fit, and take a complete plan to your workshop.

Match my plywood and the items I need to fit

Checks the default plan's clear opening in the orientation shown. Add handling space to your item measurements. You can customize the plan afterward. All plans use plywood. Sliding lids also need the thinner sheet shown on their card.

8 complete plans

Open desktop tray — thumbnail assemblyDimensions are in millimeters. Read the stated measurements; this drawing is not a full-size cutting template.Open tray · Assembled view400 × 250 × 100 mm · thickness 12 mm
Open tray

Open desktop tray

5 parts·12 mm plywood

Collect the things that otherwise remain scattered, then return the whole desk to use.

Clear opening 376 mm × 226 mm × 88 mm
Low pencil box — thumbnail assemblyDimensions are in millimeters. Read the stated measurements; this drawing is not a full-size cutting template.Open tray · Assembled view250 × 105 × 42 mm · thickness 6 mm
Open tray

Low pencil box

5 parts·6 mm plywood

Keep pencils lying flat and visible so a short pencil can be selected without digging through a tall cup.

Clear opening 238 mm × 93 mm × 36 mm
Flat A4 paper inbox — thumbnail assemblyDimensions are in millimeters. Read the stated measurements; this drawing is not a full-size cutting template.Open tray · Assembled view330 × 245 × 55 mm · thickness 9 mm
Open tray

Flat A4 paper inbox

5 parts·9 mm plywood

Keep a short stack of A4 sheets flat and ready for the next review.

Clear opening 312 mm × 227 mm × 46 mm
US Letter paper inbox — thumbnail assemblyDimensions are in millimeters. Read the stated measurements; this drawing is not a full-size cutting template.Open tray · Assembled view315 × 250 × 55 mm · thickness 9 mm
Open tray

US Letter paper inbox

5 parts·9 mm plywood

Collect US Letter pages in a shallow inbox with enough corner clearance to remove a batch.

Clear opening 297 mm × 232 mm × 46 mm
Index card box — thumbnail assemblyDimensions are in millimeters. Read the stated measurements; this drawing is not a full-size cutting template.Open tray · Assembled view165 × 110 × 90 mm · thickness 6 mm
Open tray

Index card box

5 parts·6 mm plywood

Store a flat stack of 3 by 5 inch cards with loose section tabs and remove a working set.

Clear opening 153 mm × 98 mm × 84 mm
Recipe card holder — thumbnail assemblyDimensions are in millimeters. Read the stated measurements; this drawing is not a full-size cutting template.Open tray · Assembled view190 × 145 × 70 mm · thickness 6 mm
Open tray

Recipe card holder

5 parts·6 mm plywood

Choose a 4 by 6 inch recipe card from a flat collection and return it after cooking.

Clear opening 178 mm × 133 mm × 64 mm
Veneer sample flat tray — thumbnail assemblyDimensions are in millimeters. Read the stated measurements; this drawing is not a full-size cutting template.Open tray · Assembled view350 × 245 × 40 mm · thickness 6 mm
Open tray

Veneer sample flat tray

5 parts·6 mm plywood

Keep a small labeled set of dry veneer samples flat so a comparison sheet can be lifted without catching its edges.

Clear opening 338 mm × 233 mm × 34 mm
Sandpaper flat box — thumbnail assemblyDimensions are in millimeters. Read the stated measurements; this drawing is not a full-size cutting template.Open tray · Assembled view325 × 260 × 50 mm · thickness 9 mm
Open tray

Sandpaper flat box

5 parts·9 mm plywood

Keep full abrasive sheets flat by grit and remove one without rubbing its abrasive face across the next sheet.

Clear opening 307 mm × 242 mm × 41 mm

How this construction works

A clear, open floor for items you pick up together. Four walls surround an inset base.

Every plan includes dimensions, stock layouts, joint details, a machining schedule and an editable file. Check the actual material and dry-fit the parts before committing to the assembly.