Handcrafted Shaker Trays - Materials, Manufacturing, and Viral Designs

What are Shaker Trays?

Shaker trays, also sometimes called rolling trays, are small trays often made of wood, glass, acrylic, or other materials that are used to hold and transport a marijuana smoker's paraphernalia. The term "shaker tray" comes from the fact that many of these trays have lids, allowing you to close them up and shake them to shuffle around the contents inside.

Popular Uses for Shaker Trays

There are two main uses for shaker trays in marijuana culture:

• Holding your marijuana smoking accessories - Things like rolling papers, pipes, lighters, ash trays, and bud can be neatly organized inside a shaker tray.
• Easy transportation of your supplies - Shaker tray lids allow you to securely transport your marijuana gear from place to place.

Shaker Tray Materials

Shaker trays come in a wide variety of different materials. Some popular options include:

• Wood - Basswood is a common choice for handmade wood shaker trays. Cedar and maple are also sometimes used.
• Glass - Glass shaker trays might be made from clear glass so you can easily see inside, or tinted glass for style.
• Acrylic - Acrylic shaker trays are lightweight but very durable. They can also be tinted in different colors.
• Silicone - Flexible silicone rubber shaker trays provide protection against drops and dings.

Custom Handmade Shaker Trays

In addition to mass-produced shaker trays, there is a thriving market for custom, handmade shaker trays, often sold on sites like Etsy or at local craft fairs. These artisanal shaker trays showcase a wide range of original artwork and designs.

Shaker Tray Art Styles

Some popular design styles and artwork for custom shaker trays include:

• Pop culture themes - Handmade trays featuring imagery from popular movies, TV shows, bands, brands, etc.
• Psychedelic designs - Trippy patterns and optical illusions commonly appear on shaker trays.
• Nature landscapes - Scenic depictions of mountains, forests, beaches, etc. bring peaceful vibes.
• Marijuana-themed artwork - From stylized pot leaves to cartoon smoke clouds, shaker trays embrace stoner culture.

Shaker Tray Manufacturing Techniques

To produce these handcrafted shaker trays, artisans utilize various specialized techniques such as:

• Resin casting - Two-part liquid resin is combined and poured into molds, then allowed to harden into plastic.
• Wood burning - Pyrography tools are used to draw and write on wood by burning it.
• Laser engraving - A laser etches patterns and designs into various materials.
• CNC machines - Computer numerically controlled tools carve intricate designs.

Growing Popularity on Social Media

In recent years, handmade shaker trays have gained a surge in popularity thanks to promotion on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. When skilfully crafted shaker trays catch the eyes of marijuana enthusiasts on their feeds, the vivid colors and trippy designs earn a flood of likes, comments, and follows.

Viral Shaker Tray Videos on TikTok

Clever marijuana accessory makers have capitalized on TikTok trends to create viral videos showing off their creative shaker tray designs. TikTok's quick videos and popular hashtags like #rollingtray or #shakertray make it easy for this style of marijuana paraphernalia to gain momentum on social media through shares and reactions.

Shaker Trays on Instagram

The visually rich environment of Instagram likewise provides the perfect backdrop for shaker tray artisans to exhibit their wares. Thousands of shaker tray makers fill Instagram with brilliant photos of new fabrications featuring gleaming paint, lush hydrographic film effects, and show-stopping UV resin swirls. An active collector community eagerly snaps up limited edition drops of these eye-catching trays.

The Future of Shaker Trays

As the legalization of recreational marijuana continues expanding across North America, demand for marijuana accessories only shows signs of increasing. Small businesses centering their offerings around creatively designed shaker trays cater perfectly to this growing consumer market.

With the power of social media allowing independent artists to build audiences around their unique shaker tray brands, the future looks very bright for these specialized merchandise makers!