Cutting Board & Serving Templates

A router tray template is a rigid guide that mounts over a wood blank and constrains your router to follow the inside perimeter of the shape. The router bit removes the interior material to a uniform depth, producing a cleanly excavated tray cavity that matches the template's profile.

A straight or upcut spiral bit is the standard choice for initial waste removal inside tray templates. A bowl-and-tray bit with its angled cutting profile produces smooth, slightly radiused interior walls. Choose a bit with a diameter appropriate for the template's interior curves. See the full carbide router bits collection for options.

Both. Templates like the Round Cutting Board Templates are designed specifically for functional cutting boards. Standard rectangular tray shapes also work as cutting boards once the interior recess is routed and finished appropriately.

Yes. The collection includes seasonal templates for Christmas, Halloween, and other occasions. The 4-piece Christmas Tray Template Package and 4-piece Halloween Tray Template Package are popular choices for seasonal craft projects.

Hardwoods such as maple, walnut, cherry, and oak are the most common choices for serving trays and cutting boards because they resist denting and take a clean cut. Avoid softwoods for items that will see heavy use. Ensure the blank is flat and properly dried to minimize warping after routing.

Typical serving tray interiors are routed to a depth of 3/8" to 1/2", leaving enough material for structural integrity. The appropriate depth depends on your blank thickness and the intended use. Multiple shallow passes produce cleaner results than a single deep pass.

No. Tray templates are designed for handheld router use. The template clamps to the workpiece and the router moves freely inside the opening. For tips on handheld router technique, visit the Infinity Tools learning blog.

Yes. Once the tray interior is routed, use an edge-forming bit to profile the outside perimeter of the tray. A roundover or ogee bit is a popular choice for serving trays. Browse the edge-forming router bits for compatible profiles.

Yes. The 6-piece Tray Template Package is a good starting point, covering a range of everyday tray shapes. Individual templates like the 1/4 or 1/3 tray proportions are also available separately.

Yes. Infinity Tools backs its products with a quality guarantee. See the quality guarantee page for full details on coverage and returns.