Replies

1. 
   Splintie | Feb 21, 2003 11:33am | #1

   I made several trays this last Christmas season. The largest waere 14" x 22". I resawed stock to get 3/8" or slightly less and mitered (simple not compound, but that shouldn't matter). I put two keys in a 2" tall lip and it worked fine.

   I think your base is very thick and will contribute to this being too heavy to easily use, as well as not being a good match with the thin sides. I would not make it more than 1/2" thick at most. Strength lengthwise is not a problem, and the 12" width is easily spanned with the 1/2" or even less thickness.

1. 
   BG | Feb 21, 2003 01:59pm | #2

   Splintie,

   Thanks, that is exactly what I was hoping to hear.  The last tray I did had 5/8" sides and looked a little klunkie...but it could accomodate the reverse raised panel.  Yes, your right, the 1" is too heavy I'll go to half inch for the base. 

   Any thoughts on attaching the base?  I'm thinking of either dadoing or rabbiting into the sides but I might be better off with a piece of stock that extends slightly beyond the sides and is just flat?  thanks

1. 
   Splintie | Feb 22, 2003 04:12am | #3

   Well, that's where i took the easy way out. I had some exquisite walnut veneer ply (hauled over to Japan as lumber, hauled back as ply), nominal 1/4" thick, left over from another job. I used this in a 1/4" wide by 3/16" deep groove. I recall i dabbed a bit of glue in the center of the groove before assembly though...which you could only do in two grooves with solid wood. I would recommend space balls or even a dab of silicone to stabilize the panel.

   I also had a couple of tray side pieces that tended to bow, so i cut the goove to the convex side of the curve. When it was assembled, the bow pressed in against the panel and straightened out. Better that having it bow out..and i wasn't about to cut up any more ribbon mahogany!

   I took a picture of the keys. The kerfing detail i call "blanket stitching".  

   Edited 2/21/2003 8:14:07 PM ET by SPLINTIE

   
1. 
   BG | Feb 22, 2003 01:28pm | #4

   Splintie,

   I cut the angles in the sides yesterday...little bit of tearout.  I held off on the base in anticipation of your suggestions.  This is all dumpster stock...they don't do ply so I'm stuck with solid wood....lol.

   Anyhow, this is just for fun...I'll plane some half inch glued up boards and bevel the edge to the slope of the sides (ie. 10 degree).  I can't afford a whole lot of space for expansion in the sides...the 3/16ths depth will be about it..I can under cut the base by a 1/16" on the long sides..

   The Blanket Stitchng is beautiful, thanks for sharing