Hi, I’m excited to be part of this 18 Easy Build Christmas Projects using Ryobi tools blog hop! I sure do love my Ryobi tools, they make up a majority of my tools. I thought it would be fun to make a rustic Christmas Tree decoration this year. This is a fairly easy project, a bunch of cuts at the same angles create the chevron tree shape.
How to Build a Rustic Christmas Tree
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You’ll need:
- barn wood or pallet slats
- 1 x 4 x 8′ (actual 3/4″ x 3 1/2″)
- wood glue
- brad nails, length depends on the thickness of your wood.
- 2″ brad nails
You can easily build this tree out of old barn wood or weathered pallets will work great too. I used barn wood from the same barn that I made my son’s cool bed from.
I ripped the boards into 4″ boards and 3″ boards, if you use pallet slats, you probably won’t have to rip the boards.
Now it’s time to make the miter cuts. For the 1st layer of wood, the pieces are all 4″ wide. Make 2 of each cut.
I used my Ryobi sliding compound miter saw to make the 60 deg angles (set at 30 deg). 
I used the table saw to make the 30 deg angles, it was a little easier that way, having each saw set up at an angle. 
The first layer of the rustic christmas tree, dryfit together.
Next, use the 3″ wide boards and cut the pieces for the second layer.
Dryfit the 3″ boards. I spaced my board ‘V’ about 2″ apart.
Cut a 1″ x 4″ furring strip, or any other scrap wood to about 50″. I made a point at the top to match the angles of the tree. Apply plenty of wood glue. Place the 1st layer (4″ boards) onto the furring strip meeting at the center, nail in place with 1 1/4″ brad nails or screws.
Once you’re finished with the first layer, glue and nail the second layer boards into place using 2″ nails. Allow the glue to dry, and that’s it!
This Rustic Christmas Tree is a fun decoration by itself, add hooks to hang ornaments, advent counters, or drill holes for lights. I plan on adding lights, but I haven’t found the perfect ones yet.
Have a Merry Christmas!
Hop on over to the other awesome Projects on this Christmas Hop.
DIY Vintage Sled Pattern– Fynes Designs
Wood gift tag– Being Spiffy
Rustic scrap wood Christmas tree– Dukes and Duchesses
Snowflake String Art– DIY on the Cheap
Silhouette Stand Nativity– My Day Lights
Instagram stocking holders– Frenchie Wraps
Wooden sign– Poofy Cheeks
Repurposed Gift Carry All- Let’s Go Junking
Rustic Christmas Tree Decoration-Her Tool Belt
PB Inspired Wall Art– Create and Babble
Woodland Reindeer Ornaments-Whats UR Home Story
Advent calendar– Carissa Miss
DIY Stackable Slatted Fruit Crates– Pink When
Joy wood slice sign– Dandelion Patina
Gold Reindeer Décor– Simply Designing
Wooden Christmas Tree Display– Lauras Crafty Life
Pallet Wood Christmas Tree– Roubinek Reality
Christmas countdown chalkboard– Dogs Don’t Eat Pizza
Caddy with Herb Infused Oils– 365 Days of Crafts
Linked to My Favorite Link Parties, remodelaholic, savvysouthernstyle. homestoriesAtoZ
This is the funnest project!! I’m totally taking notes how to write a decent DIY tutorial, you rock! Love the tree, I must make one too!
I love projects like this that look difficult, but really aren’t!
I love this! Might have to make one for our house. 🙂 Great job!
I really love the dimensions of this! I’m going to give it a try!
I’ve got the pallets and my Ryobi tools and I’m going to make this! Thanks for the great tutorial and the dimensions.
I adore this rustic Christmas tree! It looks so perfect for the upcoming holiday. Great job!
Thanks!
Fabulous tutorial!! Can’t wait to try!!
beautiful! Gotta love Ryobi AND Christmas! I love your projects;)
Thanks Carissa 🙂
Beautiful! I love that you kept the wood original and rustic looking.
Thanks!
Love this tree! Great job. 🙂
Love it!! Such a cool piece- featuring you at WIW this week – thanks for sharing it with us!
Thanks!!!
So impressive! Just love that it’s handmade! Thanks for linking up. I’m featuring you on Friday!
Brilliant as always Amy! Just had to feature this on Creative Spark Link Party this week. Hope you stop by today to link up and enter our giveaway! http://bit.ly/1GNpmUs
Thanks Michelle!
Hello! I made one of these with just a chop saw, and it was a bit difficult!! Now that I have a table saw to do the 30 degree angle cuts, I have a question 🙂 How do you hold the wood at 30 degrees on the table saw? Did you just use the miter bar, or did you rig up /build a cool miter box? I’d love to see it if you did, or hear how you made the cuts 🙂 Thanks for posting this. I found it via Pinterest last year and made my wife one. She loved it, and now her and her friends “need” more. 😉
Matt
Hi Matt,
Oh I totally understand the ‘need’ more issue 🙂
No cool miter box, although I do have one from Rockler but rarely use it. The miter gauge bar that came with my table saw rotates from 90 deg to 30 deg (opposite from a miter saw that starts at 0). I rotate it to 30 and hold the wood tight against it. (I’ll add a pic in the post.) But honestly if your miter doesn’t go to 30, some people sent me pics where they modified it to 40 instead and the trees still look great, just not as steep. Another idea, but will take longer. Mark a line for 30 deg and use a circular saw to follow the line.
Thank you. Building another today!
Matt
These are so fun to make! The first one I made I used the 45 degree angle. I didn’t know how to do a 60 degree cut with my saw. I watched a few YouTube videos and now onto my second tree! So I’ll have a short fat tree and tall and skinny! I love them!!
Oh that will look great, variation is a good thing! I’d love to see a pic when you’re done hertoolbelt at gmail dot com
I really like the design of the Christmas tree. It looks simple but easy. I am making one and I wanted to know where start nailing the tree sections to the furring strip?
Hi Matthew, I started at the bottom of the furring strip and nailed the small triangles first and worked my way up the tree.
Just wondering, what is the final height of the tree in the tutorial?
It’s about 52″.
This turned out really cute !
Thank you
I made a quick video building your plan, Thought you might like to see it.
https://youtu.be/b2UCsAvaDR8
That’s more or less the missing bit of the puzzle!
Done well guys.
I love this idea. I could spend the entire year just making these and getting ready for the holidays all year long. Our home has rustic decor and this would fit in nicely. Thank you for sharing.
-Ralph Roofing Durham