Nuts and Bolts Christmas Tree

Add contemporary style to your holiday decorating with this Scandinavian-inspired pine Christmas tree. Its movable branches offer endless variety.

Nuts and Bolts Christmas Tree

 

This idea brings simple elements like pine craft boards, nuts, washers, and a bolt together to create a contemporary, Scandinavian-style Christmas tree. The look of the piece is fully customizable with its movable branches and millions of decoration possibilities.

Nuts and Bolts Christmas Tree

Build the Base.

To make it extra sturdy, we used two “X”-shaped bases and secured with T-nuts.

1. Cut the 1" x 2" x 6' board into four 16-inch-long pieces.

2. For all four pieces of wood cut half-lap joints: Using a table saw with a dado blade, cut a 3/8-inch-deep by 1-1/2-inch-wide (or the actual width of the board) groove for a flush fit. Center the groove 7-1/4 inches from either end. Glue and clamp the half-lap joints together.

3. Drill 3/8-inch hole in center of each base.

4. Using a hacksaw, cut the 24 inch threaded rod to 19-1/2 inches.

5. Using a 1-1/8 inch spade bit, drill a circular groove 1/8 inch deep in the center of each base piece to accommodate the T-nut.

6. Stain wood if desired.

7. Thread base pieces onto rod securing each base piece with a T-nut.

Cut the Branches.

8. Cut the 12 pieces of select pine craft boards into the following branch lengths (there should be two of each length):

  • 18 inches
  • 16-1/2 inches
  • 15 inches
  • 13-1/2 inches
  • 12 inches
  • 10-1/2 inches
  • 9 inches
  • 7-1/2 inches
  • 6 inches
  • 4-1/2 inches
  • 3 inches

9. Drill a 3/8 inch hole in the center of each branch.

10. Drill holes to cradle ornaments. Drill 7/16 inch holes 1/2 inch from the end of 10 to 12 branches to cradle ornaments.

11. If desired, stain the branches.

12. Build the tree by screwing parts in this order: washer, nut, washer, pine branch, repeat. Start with the 18-inch-long branches and finish with the 3-inch-long branches. Top with nut only. Decorate with LED tea lights and small ornaments.

Nuts and Bolts Christmas Tree
Nuts and Bolts Christmas Tree
Nuts and Bolts Christmas Tree

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Project Details
Skill level: Beginner
Rough cost estimate: $69
Tools You’ll Use:
  • Tablesaw
  • Dado blade set
  • Hacksaw
  • Drill
  • 3/8" drill bit
  • 7/16" drill bit
  • 1-1/8" spade bit
  • Glue
  • Clamp
Lowe’s List:
  • 24" x 3/8"-16 threaded rod/bolt (#215901)
  • 12 3/8" x 2" x 24” select pine craft boards (#50226)
  • 1 1" x 2" x 6' pine board for the base (#1205)
  • 2 3/8-16 T-nut for the base (#58105)
  • 23 3/8"-16 hex nuts (#56107)
  • 43 3/8" x 1 1/2" washers (#14277)
  • MinWax Green Tea water based stain (#164686)
  • LED Tea Lights (#60191)
  • Assorted mini ornaments (#311157)
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