How to Build A Coffee Mug Tree

Learn how to build a DIY coffee mug tree with this simple step-by-step tutorial. Perfect for beginners, this quick woodworking project makes a great Christmas gift or stylish mug organizer!

If you’re looking for a fun and easy project that’s perfect for gifting, this DIY coffee mug tree is perfect!

It’s a great way to show off your favorite mugs, save some cabinet space, and add a little charm to the kitchen counter.

The best part? It’s super simple to make and only took me about half a day to put together (and I was filming the video the entire time, which makes everything take 10x longer). Oh, and there was that extra trip to the store because the dowel I had wasn’t long enough.

But apart from the dowel, which was about 4″ too short, everything else came from my scrap wood pile.

I think the only challenging part of this entire project was getting the dowels to attach at a slight angle instead of at 90 degrees. After a bit of trial and error, I figured out an easy, reproducible way to get that angle with just a power drill.

Whether you’re new to woodworking or have some experience, this is a quick, fun project, and it makes such a thoughtful Christmas gift, too!

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How to Make the Coffee Mug Tree

Step 1: Make the Cuts

• Make the cuts on the boards per the plans.

I pretty much found all my pieces in my scrapwood pile except the 3/8″ dowel.

Originally, I had also intended to use a 1×8 board cut to 7-1/4″ to add another layer to the base, but I decided not to. You can add this if that is the look you are looking for.

• I used a chamfer bit in my router on the edges of the base to add a little character, but this is totally optional. See how to use a router.

• Sand all the boards stepping through the various grits. See how to sand wood.

Step 2: Make Holes for the Dowels

This is the only part of the project that can be a little challenging. Ideally, you want the dowels to go into the center post at a slight angle.

One way to achieve this angle is to use a drill press and a jig to keep the board at an angle as you make the holes. But I wanted to make this process as simple as possible. So, I made a drill guide to angle the hole into the board.

To make the drill guide –

• Set the miter saw at a 15° angle.
• Cut a small piece of a 2 x 2 board. The width of the board should not be more than an inch. But it does not need to be exact. You can just eyeball it.

• Mark the center of that 2 x 2 on the slanted side.
• Clamp the piece of 2 x 2 onto a scrap board with the flat side downwards.
• Using a Brad Point 3/8″ drill bit, make a hole straight through the piece.

This is now a drill guide to help you make the 15° angled holes for the dowels.

• Clamp the guide with the angled side facing down onto the 2×2 center post. Pay attention to the direction of the angle.
• Add masking tape on the drill bit to work as an indicator of depth.
• Drill and make the holes for the dowels through the jig.

These holes will be angled so that when you insert the dowels, they will be at an angle as well.

A note about the drill bits – Before you start making the final holes, test out your drill bit and dowels to make sure that they are a tight fit. I found that one 3/8″ drill bit was making holes that were slightly larger than the dowel. I had to go to a different drill bit for a tighter fit. On the other hand, the new dowel I bought had a tighter, better fit than the old dowel.

Step 3: Assemble the Wood Mug Tree

• Mark the center of the base and predrill a hole.
• Mark the center of the bottom of the post and pre-drill a hole.

• Insert a 2 1/2″ wood screw through the base until it is just going through
• Apply wood glue to the base and align the screw to the predrilled hole and tighten the screw.

• Add wood glue into the holes and add the dowels.

Be sure to clean up all the wood glue while it is wet to make sure it is easy to stain.

If you like, you can add an additional 1×8 board to the base, a finial, or a knob to the top. I decided to keep the design simple and minimal.

Step 4: Final Finish

You can now paint or stain in the color of your choice. I stained it a light brown.

Apply a top coat. I used High-Performance Top Coat, but on second thought, it would’ve been easier, quicker, and better to use a spray version.

And that’s it—that’s the coffee mug tree!

It’s such a simple project, but it makes a thoughtful gift or a great addition to your own counter.

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