DIY Child Sized Wooden Caddy

Today’s Gift Trug tutorial is brought to you byJaime from Jaime Costiglio. Jaime is a talented builder. A trug to hold tools, books, utensils… Anything goes. But in this case it’s more than likely a toy trug. The open concave curve actually makes the trug much more user friendly than the caddy.

How to build a Trug

Step 1.

Using 3/8″ plywood cut pieces:

2 sides: 7″h x 12″l
2 ends: 8″w x 12″h

Step 2.

Draw curve on end pieces.

(I used a plastic container top.)

Step 3.

Draw curve at top.

Step 4.

Use jigsaw to cut out curved parts:

Step 5.

Drill handle holes in end pieces.

I used 3/4″ dowel for the handle therefore a 3/4″ circular bit:

Step 6.

Construct. Pre-drill nail holes on ends to avoid splitting the side pieces:

Step 7.

Glue and nail, I used 1″ panel nails:

Step 8.

Cut your bottom piece out of 1/4″ plywood. Glue and nail to bottom using 3/8″ nails:

Step 9.

Slide handle into holes, mark about 1/4″ in from end pieces for dowel stopper holes:

10. Drill 1/4″ hole through handle at both ends for 1/4″ dowel stopper piece.

11. Paint. I choose to leave the interior natural and paint the exterior and handle two coats Behr signature blue.

12. Monogram.

Print out lettering (I used American typewriter font), position, trace letters with ballpoint pen leaving a slight indent in wood.

13. Paint inside indent.

14. Seal with Minwax clear satin poly.

Use and enjoy.

Detail of distressed edges:

This is a gift for our neighbor, hope he enjoys it!

Check out our other great gift ideas!

13 Comments

In my experience, the big box stores will cut down a sheet of lumber and maybe make a few length cuts on “stick” material but they will not do any kind of shaping cuts with a jigsaw.