How to Make a DIY Dice Tray

*Clatter Clatter Clatter*

Dice. Quite important in a lot of role playing games.

Quite noisy on tables - a problem if you're recording a YouTube series or  podcast. Or at least a problem for whoever's stuck with editing duties.

That's what FURN Gaming does and FURN's own Nathan Lucking taught me how to make a dice tray. Here's his step-by-step guide, plus meatballs! - Robin

1. Meatballs and Picture Frames

Step 1) Go to Ikea, get meatballs, wait no no, go find some nice picture frames we went with 24x22 Ribba frames as they were fairly deep (which is the most important feature to look out for in this so dice don't bounce out).

2. Meatballs and Scissoring

Step 2) Get meatballs, wait no still no! When you get home get a cutting board (or good piece of cardboard) sharp scissors, flat head screwdriver, PVA glue - and something to spread it with, card serves well here too - and felt, we have green as it was what was to hand.

3. No Meatballs, No Clips

Step 3) Remove the clips and stand from the back of the frame using the screwdriver, lay this on your felt and cut out leaving around 1 inch excess on all sides.

4. Central PVA

Step 4) apply the PVA to the back board, spread evenly, making sure not to have too much excess here, and place the board in the centre of the felt you cut just a few minutes ago.

5. Time for a brew

Step 5) apply weight and leave to set - that large hard back book you've not read, the games console in the corner, a small child (probably not the best but work with what you have) - the weight should be spread evenly across the surface, leave to dry for 5-10 minutes (aka time for a cuppa).

6. Bringing felty back

Step 6) with the felt covered back facing down wrap the excess felt over nice and taught, pinch it together in the corners and snip with the scissors (adult supervision warning) so that the fabric can now lie flat to the board, apply PVA underneath these flaps and reapply the weight and let dry.

7. Bring it all together

Step 7) bringing it all together, place the felt covered backboard into the frame again, it should be a snug fit. use the metal clips to secure it in place, and use the screwdriver to go round the edges pushing them down lightly.

Job done!

Congratulation you now have a dice tray, you've had a cuppa (some meatballs), and it cost you about £3.50 look at you, you savvy spender.

Additional notes:

*Two pairs of hands makes this much easier, but it is entirely possible with just the one pair.
*You may also need to remove the acrylic/glass front from your frame which we did after our first session using them. The depth wasn't quite enough to stop dice from bouncing out of the tray on the odd occasion.
*depending on the frame you decide on, it may have a cardboard surround - you will want to remove this.