Sofa Arm Tray with Cup Recess
€12,00
Sofa Arm Tray with Cup Recess
€12,00
Cost: about US $122 to $174 new, US $86 to $90 with the bit, hole saw, finish and sandpaper on hand (line by line on page 4). A gift for anyone who watches TV with a drink in hand: it is cut to their own sofa's arm, holds the drink in a recess, and comes with honest tipping numbers.
An original Square & Furrow plan: designed for today's homes, every step drawn, cut list for standard lumber, imperial and metric.
At a glance
- Size: 14 1/4" (362 mm) long, W + 1 3/4" wide, 1 5/8" (41 mm) above the arm; arms 4 1/2 to 10"; a 3 lb (1.4 kg) drink
- Skill: Beginner
- Build time: A weekend, then 21 days for the finish to cure
- Materials: approx. US$122–174
- In the plan: 13-page PDF, US Letter, 12 illustrated steps, imperial, with metric in the lists and steps
Inside the 13-page plan
- An exploded drawing that shows how every part goes together
- Dimensioned views of the finished build, in feet and inches
- Materials list and hardware schedule, with standard lumber sizes and metric equivalents
- Cut list for standard lumber, so you can cut everything before you start assembling
- Clear illustrated step-by-step assembly drawings: one job per step, every part drawn, fastener positions marked
Safety: Drinks in the recess only. Not a seat or a step: 20 lb (9.1 kg) along the middle, 10 lb (4.5 kg) anywhere, an elbow on an end included. Arms 4 1/2 to 10" (114 to 254 mm) only; under 5 1/4" (133 mm): firm-tested, drinks up to 1.6 lb (0.7 kg). Not rated: 30-40 oz insulated tumblers. Bumped sideways, the drink tips before the tray. First drink, and hot drinks, after the finish's 21-day cure. Tested in steps 11 and 12.
The PDF plan is a digital download; nothing ships. An original design by Square & Furrow, produced with AI-assisted tools and checked by our build model.
Illustrated step by step
Imperial + metric
Cut list & checklist
Instant PDF download
Built to work
Sofa Arm Tray with Cup Recess
Built in home workshops more than a century ago, and redrawn for the way you build today.
RenderingStep by step
Every part drawn. Every fastener marked.
Each step is one job with its own clear drawing: the parts it adds are shaded, every nail and screw position is marked, and the hardware and tools sit right beside it. An exploded view shows how the whole build goes together before you make a single cut.
Before you build
Your tools & materials checklist
Tick what you already have. Whatever is left is your shopping list. Your ticks are saved on this device, so you can come back to it from the lumber yard.
0 of 0 on hand
Tools
Materials
The drawing above: every size there is also in SIZES (p4) and the CUT LIST (p6). One tray for an arm 4 1/2 to 10" wide; buy flat, straight boards (sight along each). Cutting layout: Fig. 2. Work safely: clamp everything you saw and drill; the hole saw at low speed, both hands on the drill, the slat clamped; glasses on; small parts in a miter box, never held by hand. Proof test remedy: a screw that spins: a toothpick or two with a dab of glue in the hole, dry overnight, drive it again, retest; a flap that moves: check its screws are 3/8" from the slat ends (over the flap's middle); a crack: make that part again. Kids: a drink tray, not a toy or a step. Upholstery. Only felt and rubber touch the sofa: the felt on the flaps (keep its 1/16" of play), the rubber under the pads (it grips, spreads the load to under 1 psi and covers the screw heads). Try a corner of each on a hidden spot of leather or velvet first. Piping on the arm's top edges: the felt rides on it. A rolled arm: the flaps bear on its curve, as measured. A wood-cap arm: the felt and the rubber keep wood off the cap.
Questions about this plan
What are the finished dimensions?
14 1/4" (362 mm) long, W + 1 3/4" wide, 1 5/8" (41 mm) above the arm; arms 4 1/2 to 10"; a 3 lb (1.4 kg) drink. The drawings are dimensioned in feet and inches; the materials list, cut list and steps give metric sizes alongside.
What skill level do I need, and how long does it take?
It's rated beginner. Expected build time: A weekend, then 21 days for the finish to cure. Each step names the tools it uses, so it's written for first-time builders.
How much does it cost to build?
Roughly US$122–174 in materials at typical US lumber-yard prices. Prices vary a lot by region, so price the materials list at your local yard before you start.
What tools do I need?
Pencil; Speed square (the flaps plumb, step 1; the bit plumb, step 9); A level (a sloped arm, step 1); Painter's tape (the depth flags on the bits); The weighed proofs: a bathroom scale, a luggage scale, three straps (one a ratchet strap), two 14" sticks cut from a pine 1x2, a bench top or table 4 ft (1219 mm) or longer to strap round (step 11); a kitchen scale and two bags of rice, 4 1/2 and 15 lb (step 12); Handsaw against a clamped square (the 1x6), or have the store cut it; Miter box and its saw (the 1x3 flaps, back slat and gauge); Utility knife and a straightedge (the rubber sheet and felt); Sanding block; Sandpaper 120, 180 and 220 grit; Foam brush, rags, four scrap sticks; Drill/driver; 3/16" (5 mm) clearance bit; a 1/8" (3 mm) drill bit 6" (152 mm) long, chucked about 1" deep (7/64" (2.8 mm) in pine); a countersink; a #2 Phillips bit; 3 3/4" (95 mm) hole saw with its arbor and 1/4" pilot bit; 2 bar clamps, 18" (457 mm) opening or more, jaws 2 1/2" (64 mm) deep or more; A scrap board to drill into; Bought with the wood: 14 #8 x 2 1/2" (64 mm), threaded at least 1 3/4" (44 mm) from the tip, and 8 #8 x 1 1/4" (32 mm) flat-head wood screws; a 1/8" (3 mm) self-adhesive neoprene rubber sheet, 12 x 12"; 1" self-adhesive felt tape, 1/16" thick, 10 ft; cork coasters (optional); water-based polyurethane, satin, a half pint (two for arms over 7 1/2"); plus a tape, pencil, safety glasses, hearing protection and gloves. The interactive checklist on this page lets you tick off what you already own.
Where does this plan come from?
It is an original Square & Furrow design for today's homes, produced with AI-assisted tools and checked by our build model. You get a materials list, metric sizes, a cut list for standard lumber and clear illustrated step-by-step assembly drawings, every part drawn. Sizes are in feet and inches, with metric alongside.
Can a beginner follow it?
Yes. Each step is a single job with its own drawing: the parts that step adds are shaded, the nails, screws and bolts it drives are marked where they go, and the hardware for that step is listed beside it. An exploded drawing at the front shows how the whole build goes together before you cut anything.
What do I get?
A 13-page print-ready PDF (US Letter) to download after purchase. It prints well at home or at a copy shop, and reads fine on a tablet in the workshop.