Curved Rectangle 5 Pocket Valet Tray Router Templates (Clear Acrylic)

Curved Rectangle 5 Pocket Valet Tray Template - Clear Acrylic Router Template

Create small valet trays, catch-all dishes, and organized wooden trays with this curved rectangle 5 pocket clear acrylic tray template. This template is designed for routing recessed pockets into wood, making it a great option for compact trays that can hold keys, coins, jewellery, watches, desk items, or everyday carry pieces.

The curved rectangle shape gives the finished tray a softer, more refined look than a basic square or rectangle layout, while the 5 pocket design keeps the project practical and organized. Use it with dimensional hardwood, laminated blanks, or mixed-species glue-ups to create a finished tray that feels useful, clean, and easy to gift or sell.

What You Can Make With This Template

This tray template is made for routing recessed pockets into a wood blank, not for cutting a full board shape all the way through. It works well for small valet trays, decorative dishes, and functional organizers where you want clean routed compartments and a consistent layout.

• Small valet trays for keys, coins, wallets, and watches
• Nightstand trays for jewellery, glasses, and everyday accessories
• Desk organizers for clips, pens, coins, and small office items
• Entryway catch-all trays for daily essentials
• Small decorative dishes for display pieces or handmade gifts
• Multi-species tray projects using hardwood strips or accent strips

Why Use a Clear Acrylic Curved Rectangle Tray Template?

A clear acrylic tray template makes layout much easier because you can see the wood grain, colour variation, and any natural features in your blank before routing. This helps you position the 5 pocket layout exactly where it looks best on the board.

For smaller tray projects, accuracy matters. The curved rectangle shape, consistent border, and pocket layout all affect the finished look of the piece. A reusable acrylic template helps you keep the shape repeatable, whether you are making one tray as a gift or producing multiple pieces for your shop, market table, or online store.

• Clear acrylic helps with grain alignment and layout
• Reusable for repeat tray and dish projects
• Great for compact valet trays and small organizers
• Helps create clean, consistent recessed tray pockets
• Works well with hardwood blanks, dimensional wood, and glue-ups

Recommended Products to Use With This Template

For best results, secure the template properly, use the correct router bits, and choose a stable wood blank that gives you enough thickness for a clean recessed pocket.

• Template Tape - used to secure the clear acrylic template to your wood while routing.
• Pocketing Bit - useful for removing the majority of the material in larger pocket areas.
• Pocketing Bit for Inside Tray Profiles - used for the inside tray profile and leaves a 1/8" radius.
• Flush Trim Bit for Outside Profile - used when routing the outside profile of compatible template projects.
• Dimensional Wood - a natural fit for small tray and dish projects.
• Cutting Board Strips and Accent Strips - great for making custom multi-species tray blanks.
• Walrus Oil Cutting Board Oil - a good choice for food-contact boards and serving-style projects.
• Grand Finishing Hardwax Oil - a great option for decorative trays, valet trays, desk organizers, and non-food-contact projects.

How to Use This Curved Rectangle Tray Template

1. Choose a flat, stable wood blank that is large enough for the overall template size.
2. Place the clear acrylic template on the wood and adjust the position based on the grain, colour, and layout of the board.
3. Secure the template to the workpiece using Template Tape.
4. Use a larger pocketing bit to remove the majority of the material from the tray pocket areas.
5. Use the inside tray profiling bit to complete the pocket shape and create the 1/8" radius inside the tray pockets.
6. Rout in shallow passes to reduce stress on the bit, template, and workpiece.
7. Remove the template, sand the tray pockets and surface, then apply the finish that best matches how the tray will be used.

If the finished tray may be used for food-contact or serving-style use, choose a food-safe option like Walrus Oil Cutting Board Oil. For decorative trays, jewellery trays, desk organizers, and non-food-contact pieces, Grand Finishing Hardwax Oil is a strong choice.

Watch: How to Use Acrylic Router Templates

New to acrylic router templates or looking for a cleaner process? Watch this video for a helpful overview of how we use templates in the shop.

Template Details

• Template Name: Curved Rectangle 5 Pocket Tray Template
• Material: Clear acrylic
• Overall Size: 11.75" wide by 7.875" tall
• Border: 0.5" wide
• Template SKU: 10-015
• Best Used For: Routing recessed pockets for small valet trays, catch-all dishes, desk organizers, and decorative tray projects
• What’s Included: One 11.75" wide by 7.875" tall tray template

Helpful Router Template Guides

Want to learn more about choosing router templates, using the right bits, and getting cleaner results? These guides can help you get more from your acrylic woodworking templates.

• Template Guides
• Router Template Guide
• What Router Bit Do I Need?
• Template Routing for Beginners

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this template for cutting out the full tray shape?

This tray template is intended for routing recessed pockets into a wood blank to create a small tray or dish-style project. It is not mainly intended for cutting a full board shape all the way through.

What can I make with the curved rectangle 5 pocket layout?

This layout works well for small valet trays, jewellery trays, desk organizers, catch-all dishes, and compact gift items. The 5 pocket design gives you separate compartments while keeping the overall project size manageable.

How do I secure the acrylic template while routing?

We recommend using Template Tape. It holds the acrylic template to the wood without needing screws, which helps avoid extra holes in your workpiece.

What router bit should I use for the recessed pockets?

Use a larger pocketing bit to remove most of the material first, then use the recommended tray profiling bit for the inside profile. The inside tray profiling bit leaves a 1/8" radius in the tray pockets.

Can I reuse this acrylic tray template?

Yes. The template is reusable, making it a good option for repeat tray projects, small-batch production, gifts, craft shows, or shop inventory.

What type of wood should I use?

Dimensional hardwood is a great choice for tray projects because it gives you a clean, stable blank to work from. You can also glue up cutting board strips and accent strips if you want a custom multi-species look.

What finish should I use on the finished tray?

For food-contact or serving-style projects, use a food-safe option like Walrus Oil Cutting Board Oil. For decorative trays, valet trays, desk organizers, and non-food-contact projects, Grand Finishing Hardwax Oil is a great option.

The Curved Rectangle 5 Pocket Valet Tray Template is a practical way to turn hardwood blanks into clean, useful tray projects. Pair it with template tape, the proper pocketing and tray profiling bits, quality dimensional wood, and the right finish to create a polished piece for gifts, home use, craft shows, or small-batch woodworking products.