Tension Trays, ***Photo Heavy***

[Toddy]

These are the simplest of things to make, use up scrap materials, can be made with anything from willow to dockens, and are very useful indeed.
The little one that I show being made here takes about ten minutes, and will keep a hot pot off the tent floor, insulate a pot or mug from the chill of the ground, can be used as a plate or a steamer or draining tray.
Larger ones make dry comfortable seats or kneeling pads, boot racks, dish drainers, a dry bit under a hammock to put your stocking feet down onto, will stop a hot stove sinking through snow or provide a dry bed for a fire or a prop for one of those disposable bbq's.
As I said, useful :approve:

Basically make a hoop. Cross two sticks through it and then fill in alternatively weaving pieces above the cross stick and then below. Trim the ends so they stick out a bit, thin the tips of the cross piece and thread back through. Finished, secure and takes little time.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_P3k-joCv0Zg/ScjPtCfiv5I/AAAAAAAAA9Q/cmHgbKUkmEI/s800/IMG_9019.JPG
Offcuts of willow from basketry making, one long rod.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_P3k-joCv0Zg/ScjPiqDeo7I/AAAAAAAAA9I/fOoaRmmQ8V4/s800/IMG_9020.JPG
The rod made into a hoop.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_P3k-joCv0Zg/ScjPXbwewaI/AAAAAAAAA84/03laR6F5oYw/s800/IMG_9021.JPG
The cross piece in place.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_P3k-joCv0Zg/ScjPDoV3RtI/AAAAAAAAA8o/OEnch5o6bUg/s800/IMG_9023.JPG
Next two weavers are threaded through. Notice they're threaded over, the cross is under.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_P3k-joCv0Zg/ScjO6Pkp6tI/AAAAAAAAA8c/TWxngCnzwmA/s800/IMG_9025.JPG
More weavers threaded into place. They could be cut to length when they're threaded.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_P3k-joCv0Zg/ScjOrVpz3KI/AAAAAAAAA8M/n6yf5pLh1fM/s800/IMG_9026.JPG
Finished threading weavers in until the gaps are filled.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_P3k-joCv0Zg/ScjOZWH7rNI/AAAAAAAAA8E/_oSEAyRyGBM/s800/IMG_9028.JPG
Tided off the ends of the weavers, leaving the original cross rod until last.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_P3k-joCv0Zg/ScjONZVNS2I/AAAAAAAAA70/wF_m1EodBdc/s800/IMG_9029.JPG
Trimmed the cross rod to 7 or 8 cms.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_P3k-joCv0Zg/ScjN6Fm-QRI/AAAAAAAAA7k/1YI-vbHu-ss/s800/IMG_9031.JPG
Cross rod thinned down and threaded back on itself. Not necessary but it stabilises things.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_P3k-joCv0Zg/ScjNmjmCuiI/AAAAAAAAA64/HTGCqLAvOig/s800/IMG_9032.JPG
Pared ends pushed parallel with the rod, nice and tidy and secure. Finished tray :D

The biggest one I've made was about 70cms and it lasted for about three years :cool:

I generally use willow, it's food safe, but I have used dockens in season, privet and split hazel (very firm ), marram grass and cat tail rushes for the weavers. It's one of those useful what do you have sort of makes.

The knife is a Bruseletto Troll and is another firm favourite :D :D

cheers,
Toddy

[Andy2112]

Cracking idea Toddy, i like it. :)

[Shewie]

Thanks for that Toddy, looking forward to having a go at that

[Buckshot]

Wow great
I was expecting to see circular weaving after I saw the central cross but this is easier and quicker. I guess the trade off is it's not quite as strong but then if it only takes 10 mins to make...

Great stuff

Mark

[harryhaller]

Thanks Toddy, I was looking at the photos on the other thread wondering how you made them - they're great!

[w00dsmoke]

Fantastic Toddy! That looks really usefull (esp for cooking trout over an open fire!

Thanks for that!

[MartinK9]

Great tutorial, thanks Toddy

[stuart f]

OOH now i have made one of those before :lmao: ;)

Thanks again Mary for showing us that at the weekend.
Cheers Stuart.

[pwb]

Really multi purpose, I like it .

Definitely going to have ago at making one :) .

Cheers, Pete.

[sandbender]

Great stuff :)

Many thanks :You_Rock_

[Toddy]

Thanks folks :D

Sometimes the simplest things are awfully useful :approve:
Stuart f's photo shows a larger one of them in use

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq106/bushcrafter1/salmon1640x480.jpg

cheers,
Toddy

[craeg]

Great tutorial Toddy, thanks. Not very bushy shoes those ones are they ;)

[Toddy]

In the back garden it's usually my bare feet :o but it was cold today and I was standing around making the tray and trying to photo things as I went along. Those were just the pair that were at the back door. I couldn't seem to get a clear shot without my feet in it :rolleyes:

cheers,
Toddy

[jdlenton]

great stuff toddy fantastic as always:cool: also loving the shoes btw :D

[locum76]

i've just made a couple with the volunteers, i guess there will be tension tray 'flower pot holders' at a farmers market near you soon. :approve: :rolleyes: :thanks:

[Toddy]

I find them quite good for stacking apples and pears on too, the slight curve stops them rolling off, and I have a friend who swears that they're the bees knees for persuading ducks not to nest in the mud :dunno:
Handy as a cooling rack for breads and bannocks when out as well.

Glad they seem to have potential to other folks too :D

cheers,
Toddy

[WhichDoctor]

This is a grate idea :You_Rock_

Fantastic tutorial Toddy, so inspiring when I looked at a pile of dogwood I cleared yesterday this is all I could think of.

So here's the result.
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4164/dscf4134.jpg (http://img516.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf4134.jpg)

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4374/dscf4135.jpg (http://img516.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf4135.jpg)

It took about twenty minutes to make, which I didn't think was too bad for a total novice. Its not too pretty but works and it feels pretty bomb proof.

[Karl5]

Now that's nice!! :)
And with such a good tutorial, even I can do it.
Thanks, Toddy!!

[Cobweb]

Fantastic Toddy, I've only just seen this and it's a wonderful thing! :D

[rcs]

I made one, its not perfect but i do like it. Thanks for the thread Toddy, your a star.

Sorry about the spoons but i only took one photo.

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff346/zaramascara/May094029-1.jpg

regards,
Rob

[maddave]

Nice tutorial Mary.... I'll definately be giving this one a go :D

[Toddy]

I made one, its not perfect but i do like it. Thanks for the thread Toddy, your a star.

Sorry about the spoons but i only took one photo.

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff346/zaramascara/May094029-1.jpg

regards,
Rob


Nice spoon and spreaders collection :approve:
This thread's from last year......kind of nice to be reminded of what my garden will start to look like in a couple of months :D

Glad the trays are of use :cool:

cheers,
M

[Native Nathan]

Great Tutorial Toddy, Thanks for sharing it

[Boreas]

Those are all excellent uses, I especially like the trout over a fire idea. I've made these in the past as well. I made two and some cordage, then stuffed dry fall leaves and made a sandwich of sorts that was compressed with the cordage at four points. I used it as an insulating door cover to a wigwam that I made and slept in.

[Spikey DaPikey]

Like it lots :)

[Cyclingrelf]

I missed this when you posted it - great idea! Thanks Toddy:cool:

[bigtony]

great idea....I'm off to prune the willow :rolleyes:

[boiledbeef]

excellent idea,
thanks for sharing...

[bramble]

Thanks Toddy, I am going to have a go with the `Twiglets` (twins) that is. It is just up my street... hand made, multi-use and free.. just the job. :) Thanks again.

[Gill]

You make that look very easy Mary,looks like something i need to try.

[Bravo4]

Super thread :)

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/9612/tentray.jpg

[stuart f]

Hi Mary,:thinkerg:i think people would might like you to demo these at the Scottish skills weekend :D :pokenest:

:sad6: :jacked: ;)

Cheers Stuart.

[Toddy]

Hadn't thought of that........okay, I'll bring some stuff along and we can see what we can scran.
Come to think on it, there are lots of simple basketwork things we could do. I'll see what I can organise. Match hasn't been about much but his basketry was good :D

cheers,
M

p.s. Thoroughly enjoying seeing other folks examples :D

[Fizzlebang]

Excellent post Toddy, I feel all inspired!

[nevetsjc80]

Cool good work i recon.

Smart bushcraft boots i dont think i own a pair like that LOL :)

[Whittler Kev]

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_P3k-joCv0Zg/ScjNmjmCuiI/AAAAAAAAA64/HTGCqLAvOig/s800/IMG_9032.JPG

Brill Tutorial Toddy.goodjob
:news: One thing........Those don't look very sturdy bushcraft boots in the pic. Mind you don't twist an ankle :crutch: or get wet feet. :rofl: :lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao: :lmao::D:mexwave::mexwave:

[Toddy]

Yeah, yeah, yeah :D I know ........ballet pumps don't count for bushcraft :rolleyes: They're comfortable though and I walk miles in them.

You try finding size 3.5 boots, and I don't mean in the munchkin's dept. I want black magnums with the side zips :D

HWMBLT says forget it :sigh:

cheers,
M

[Everything Mac]

Yeah, yeah, yeah :D I know ........ballet pumps don't count for bushcraft :rolleyes: They're comfortable though and I walk miles in them.

You try finding size 3.5 boots, and I don't mean in the munchkin's dept. I want black magnums with the side zips :D

HWMBLT says forget it :sigh:

cheers,
M

you would be better trying lowa's

much better boots.

but according to this website http://www.copshopuk.com/acatalog/Magnum_Stealth_Force_8.0_Side_ Zip_Boot.html you can get black side zip magnums in a size 3.

[Amon81]

Thanks for this. I'll have to give it a try next time I'm out and about.

[Alfredo]

Nice! It's just the kind of stuffs that I like! Brava! goodjob