This project was built and designed by Jason from PatriotDIY. It’s a festive and flexible woodworking project that adds charm to your holiday decor while offering a creative outlet for makers of any skill level.
Whether you’re decorating your home or making gifts to sell at a craft fair, these wooden Christmas trees are a great way to bring a handmade touch to the season. With simple tools, angled cuts, and a little glue, you can build custom trees that stand out indoors or outside.
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Why Make Wooden Christmas Trees?
Wooden Christmas trees offer both style and versatility. They’re perfect as standalone decorations, grouped in sets, or used as rustic alternatives to traditional holiday setups.
You can leave them natural, stain them, paint them, or wrap them in lights. Once you get a few under your belt, they’re also easy to batch out for gifts or seasonal sales.
Jason’s design is especially approachable. It uses standard lumber and repeatable cuts, making it ideal for beginners while still offering enough detail for experienced woodworkers to enjoy.
Materials and Tools
The project starts with basic 1×3 boards or similar stock. You can use softwood for a rustic look or go with hardwood like oak for something more refined.
Other essentials include wood glue, CA glue (for quick-setting joins), clamps, a miter saw, a sander, and some finish of your choice. Jason recommends setting the miter saw to a 30° angle, which is used throughout the project.
There’s no need for exact measurements in advance—the size and shape of each tree can vary based on personal preference. That flexibility makes this project both forgiving and fun to customize.
Cutting and Preparing the Pieces
To begin, Jason sets his miter saw to 30° and cuts angled pieces to form the tree silhouette. He uses a stop block to make repeated cuts faster and more consistent, reducing the need to measure each board individually.
Clean, accurate cuts are important—especially at angles—so it helps to let the blade come to a full stop before lifting it after each cut. Once all the pieces are cut, they’re laid out to determine the arrangement and spacing.
The base of the tree is also prepared during this step. It’s typically a flat, solid piece of wood that helps stabilize the tree once assembled.
Assembly Process
Assembly begins with setting a straight edge along the work surface, giving the builder a flat reference to work from. This helps keep each piece lined up as the tree takes shape.
Jason secures the base and attaches each angled piece using a combination of wood glue and CA glue. The CA glue sets quickly, holding the slats in place while the wood glue cures for a stronger bond.
As the tree rises, each piece is added in layers, forming a symmetrical or slightly staggered pattern. The goal isn’t perfect alignment—minor variations give the finished piece a handcrafted look that adds character.
Sanding and Smoothing
Once the glue has dried, the entire tree is sanded down. This step removes sharp edges and prepares the surface for finishing.
Jason suggests rounding over the corners and edges lightly with a sander to make the tree safe and smooth to the touch. Sanding also helps bring out the grain if you’re planning on using a clear or semi-transparent finish.
Even if you plan to paint the tree, sanding is still key—it ensures the finish adheres properly and prevents a blotchy result.
Custom Finishes and Decor Ideas
Finishing options are wide open. You can apply wood stain for a natural, warm look or go bold with holiday colors like green, red, or white.
For a more whimsical feel, spray paint works well and can be applied in coats with minimal prep. Some makers add lights, tiny ornaments, or wooden stars on top for extra flair.
Jason also points out that these trees make great gifts or sale items. They’re quick to make once the process is familiar and can be easily customized to match different aesthetics.
A Seasonal Project With Yearly Appeal
This project offers a great combination of simplicity and impact. With a small stack of boards and a weekend in the shop, you can create timeless decorations that come back out every holiday season.
Jason’s walkthrough makes it easy to follow, even for first-time builders. And with the ability to scale or tweak the design, it’s a project that can grow with your skills.
Please support Jason by visiting his Etsy Store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/patriotdiy.