How to Make A 3-Tiered Tray Using Vintage Tins

Learn how to make a 3-tiered tray using vintage tins!

In this DIY I’ll show you how to make a beautiful tiered tray using vintage tins that you can pick up for just a few dollars at almost any garage sale or flea market.

As a base for my tray, I decided to use an old wooden paper towel holder that I found at the thrift store. I actually see these a lot at Goodwill and other area thrift stores in my area but not to worry if you can’t find one! Just pick up a wooden dowel from the hardware store.

Another thing to think about is a stable base for your tiered tray. Tin has a little give to it so adding some kind of base will help stabilize things. You can use anything from a square of plywood to a round disc of woodcraft board.

So gather up your vintage tins and take a look at the photos and detail below to learn how to turn them into a fun 3-tiered organizer!

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Supplies

• 3 tins (cookie and coffee can tins work well for this DIY)
• A wooden paper towel holder– or a 7/8-inch dowel
• plywood for the base or a round disc of woodcraft board (if using a dowel)
• A Chop saw 
• A drill and different size drill bits 
• A vice grip 
• One 3/16 x 2-inch dowel screw (pointed on both ends)
• Long Philips head screws (if using dowels)
• Screwdriver
• Pliers

How to Make a 3-Tiered Tray Using Vintage Tins – 5 Easy Steps

STEP 1:

If you’re using a wooden paper towel holder, take it apart by unscrewing all of the pieces.

Next, cut the center dowel down to size using a chop saw. My two dowel pieces are 5 inches long which gives me plenty of room between tins.

Note: If you’re using a wooden paper towel holder like this one do not cut the screw ends. Cut the dowel in the middle. We will be using the original screws and parts.

STEP 2:

Drill holes into the center of each tin.

STEP 3:

Pre-drill a hole (straight down) into the center of both dowels (the ends that you just cut). Drill at least 1 inch deep.

Note: You want to drill a hole that is slightly smaller in diameter than your dowel screw so the screw will go in easily but have wood to catch onto. I found that a 9/64 bit worked well when using a 3/16 x 2-inch dowel screw.

Tip: Use two cellulose sponges to protect your dowel from damage when using a vice grip.

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STEP 4:

Use pliers to screw the dowel screw into the end of one of the dowels that you pre-drilled.

STEP 5:

Now it’s time to assemble everything! Here, I used the existing screws on my paper towel holder to secure the top and bottom tins and a dowel screw in the center to connect the two dowels that meet in the middle.

Screw the top dowel in place by screwing it onto the end of the dowel screw.

Secure the top tin. Here I used the topper from my paper towel holder but if you are using candle holders or dowels, pre-drill a hole and secure the tin with a long Philips head screw and add a metal washer for more stability.

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MORE CRAFTS TO TRY:

• How to Make a Wine Cork Tray Using a Stretched Canvas
• How to Make Marbled Solar Mason Jar Lights
• DIY Farmhouse Wood Signs – Free SVG Files
• How to Make Vintage-Style Clipboards
• 6 Unique DIY Tiered Trays Made With Flea Market Finds

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