5 simple woodworking projects I built without expensive tools

Published Nov 9, 2026, 10:00 AM EST Joe Fedewa has been writing about technology for over a decade. Android and the rest of the Google ecosystem have been a focus for years, as well as reviewing devices, hosting podcasts, filming videos, and writing tutorials. Joe loves all things technology and is also an avid DIYer and food blogger. He has written thousands of articles, hundreds of tutorials, and dozens of reviews. Before joining How-To Geek, Joe worked at XDA-Developers as Managing Editor and covered news from the Google ecosystem. He got his start in the industry covering Windows Phone on a small blog, and later moved to Phandroid where he covered Android news, reviewed devices, wrote tutorials, created YouTube videos, and hosted a podcast. From smartphones to Bluetooth earbuds to Z-Wave switches, Joe is interested in all kinds of technology. After several years of jailbreaking and heavily modifying an iPod Touch, he moved on to his first smartphone, the HTC DROID Eris. He's been hooked ever since. Years before I ever bought a roll of filament, I was making things with a much older material: wood. It's not something I do as much these days (I blame my messy garage), but I'm still a woodworker at heart. Here are a few projects that helped me get started. For reference, most of what I've learned about woodworking has been through YouTube videos. I took a couple of years of shop class in high school, but my best tricks and ideas have come from channels such as I Like to Make Stuff, Make Something, Laura Kampf, Michael Alm, and HomeMadeModern. You don't need formal training to build something cool. There's never just one way to make a cut Credit: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek Before I dive into the projects, I want to make a note about tools. Many of the Makers I watch on YouTube have tons of fancy, expensive tools. It's very easy to fall into the trap of thinking you can't make the same things if you don't have the same tools. Don't do it. One of the best things about woodworking as a hobby is how many different ways there are to do just about everything. Don't have a table saw to make a long rip cut? Use a circular saw with a guide — or better yet, a track saw. Don't have a CNC to cut out identical pieces? Make a template to follow with a router. Don't have a Festool Domino? Use a simple doweling jig. We're always looking ahead to that next tool purchase, but don't let it stop you from building something right now. You can do more than you think with the tools at your disposal. Monitor stand Cheaper than Amazon Let's start with a project that requires nothing more than a small piece of plywood. I made this monitor stand with scraps that I already had lying around. In "woodworker math," that means it was free. There are tons of different ways to design and build a simple monitor stand. I decided to showcase the layers of plywood, rather than try to hide them. First, I cut out the top rectangle. Then I cut several narrow pieces to stack for the sides. To assemble, I used glue and brad nails (except for the top). After the glue dried, it was just a matter of sanding and applying a coat of polycrylic. Sofa arm table When you can't fit a side table If you have a sofa that can't fit a full side table next to it, you're well aware of the "where do I put my drink?" conundrum. I solved it with three pieces of wood. Again, there are many different ways to design something like this (and 3D printing might help, too). My version consists of two boards glued together in an L-shape. On the side you can't see, there's a smaller, vertical board tight against the sofa arm. It's attached to the top board with a couple of pocket holes and screws. Speaking of which, a pocket hole jig is an excellent tool for woodworking beginners. They're affordable and make it super easy to join wood. Banana tree Bananas deserve to be in trees Next up is the simplest project yet: a banana tree. This is a good excuse to practice with a jigsaw, scroll saw, or band saw. The jigsaw is probably my least favorite woodworking tool, but I don't have room for a band saw. So that's what I used. To make the banana tree, I took some measurements from a few that I found on Amazon. For the arm, I simply drew a shape that I liked directly on a piece of poplar. The base is a rectangle cut from a scrap glue-up. For bonus points, I used a router to put a decorative edge on the base. The arm is connected to the base with screws from the bottom. Dog treats and leash holder Pet organization If you have a dog and a backyard, you likely have a specific door that they go out of. That's the case at my house. To get my dog to come back inside, I always shake a jar of treats and give him one when he arrives. I wanted a way to keep the treats by the door, so I designed a simple little holder. To make something similar, you'll need to cut four parts. The back plate, a C-shaped bracket to go around the mason jar spout, a small shelf for the jar to sit on, and a coat hook-shaped hanger. I took measurements for the jar pieces, and just copied web image results for the hook. Everything was screwed through the back plate. Serving tray Looks more impressive than it is I'll end with something a bit more complicated, but easier than it may seem. That’s exactly what makes this a great project. It’s not super difficult on a technical level, but the result is pretty impressive to anyone who doesn't know much about woodworking. You'll need a bottom board that will determine the general size of the tray. I glued two boards together for mine. The long side rails could simply be chopped from a 1”x2”. For the short sides, you can make it look however you want. I went with rounded corners and a basic handle cut out. For assembly, glue and clamps are your friends. Be careful not to get too much squeeze-out on the inside, as that will be hard to clean up with sanding. You can do this The cool thing about woodworking is that, as you learn more, you’ll realize a lot of things are easier than you thought. Demystifying the hobby will make you more confident and open up your mind to making more complex things with the tools you already own. ​