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These little wood trees are pure scrap-bin decor — three feet of any 1x board makes the small one, and you can use 1x2, 1x3, 1x4, or anything wider depending on how chunky you want it. The whole set is nothing but miter cuts and glue.
The geometry is simpler than the cut list makes it look. Every tree is a stack of angled branch rows over a trunk and base, and the two angles never change: the top point is 40° off square, and every other cut is 25° off square. Set your saw, cut all the 25° pieces, then reset for the two 40° top cuts. Rotating the saw to the angle and cutting the boards flat is all a standard miter saw needs; a compound saw lets you bevel if you want a faceted look.
Because the sizes share the same angles, you can invent your own sizes by starting at the top and working down. And they're designed to nest — the smaller tree sits inside the profile of the larger one — so the whole set stores flat in a drawer.
| Item | Qty |
|---|
| 1x board (1x2, 1x3, 1x4 or wider), 3 ftSmall tree. Use 4 ft for the medium, 6 ft for the large. Wider stock = chunkier tree. | 1 each |
| Wood glue | 3 oz |
| Brad nails, 1-1/4" | 1 box |
| Paint or stainOptional. Raw wood, white-washed, or painted all read well. | 1 kit |
Overall cost: $. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Small tree — top (long side)1x boardLong point to long point; one end 40°, other end 25° off square. | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 6 3/8" |
| Small tree — top (short side)1x boardLong point to long point; one end 40°, other end 25°. | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 5 3/8" |
| Small tree — branch rows1x boardLong-to-short point; ends parallel, both 25° off square. | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" |
| Small tree — base1x boardLong point to long point; ends NOT parallel, both 25°. | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 5 1/2" |
| Small tree — trunk1x board | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 2 3/4" |
| Medium tree — top (long side)1x boardOne end 40°, other 25°. | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 9 1/8" |
| Medium tree — top (short side)1x boardOne end 40°, other 25°. | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 8 1/8" |
| Medium tree — branch rows1x boardEnds parallel, both 25°. | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 4 1/2" |
| Medium tree — base1x boardEnds NOT parallel, both 25°. | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 9 1/2" |
| Medium tree — trunk1x board | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 4 3/4" |
| Large tree — top (long side)1x boardOne end 40°, other 25°. | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 12 3/8" |
| Large tree — top (short side)1x boardOne end 40°, other 25°. | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 11 3/8" |
| Large tree — branch rows1x boardEnds parallel, both 25°. | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 5 1/2" |
| Large tree — base1x boardEnds NOT parallel, both 25°. | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 13 7/8" |
| Large tree — trunk1x board | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 6 3/4" |
Buy 2 boards at 8 ft.
2 boards
Start with the two top pieces. The top point is cut at 40° off square and the bottom of each at 25° off square. Rotate the miter saw to each angle and cut the boards flat; a compound saw lets you bevel instead for a faceted top.
To make your own sizes, start here at the top and work down — the angles stay the same, only the lengths grow.
Measure and mark down 1/2" from the top piece and glue-and-brad-nail on the first row of branches. Work down the tree adding each row the same way, keeping the outer points aligned.
Attach the base to the bottom of the branch stack, then add the short trunk piece between the base and the lowest branch row. A brad and glue at each joint is plenty for decor weight.
Finish however you like — raw, white-washed, or painted. Build the medium and large trees the same way with their longer cut lists. Since they share the angles and nest together, the trio stores flat when the season's over.
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Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →