Project Information
Even though I am pleased with the number of cutting boards I sold in a short amount of time last year, I am expanding my product line this year to include some non-cutting board items. I feel it is necessary to have a wider variety of choices that would appeal to a larger percentage of customers, both online and at crafts shows. In keeping with my interest in functional items for the home, the first new items are a soup and mug tray, along with a wine glass and snack tray. Both trays are 8 ½" x 11 ¼".
I designed the jig so I could make both styles of trays using one jig. It just depends on whether I cut a circular well for the mug, or a through hole and slot for the wine glass. The jig is made exactly like my dipping board jig using MDF and toggle clamps on both ends to secure the blank in the jig. The facing end in the picture has a removable block that is held in place with two screw knobs. You can see the two screws in the slots that the knobs are screwed onto. I just loosen the knobs underneath (not shown in picture) and slide the end block out, slide the board blank into the jig until it stops, clamp the front down, slide the block back in place, screw the knobs down to hold the block in place, and close the clamp on that end. Now the blank is ready to cut. I use a Freud bowl bit and a ½" straight bit with a brass PC template to follow the circle for the mug well. I use a 1 ¼" forstner bit to cut the wine glass hole and cut the ½" wide slot on the table saw.
The third picture is a revised tray based on TedM's suggestion. Good call!
I designed the jig so I could make both styles of trays using one jig. It just depends on whether I cut a circular well for the mug, or a through hole and slot for the wine glass. The jig is made exactly like my dipping board jig using MDF and toggle clamps on both ends to secure the blank in the jig. The facing end in the picture has a removable block that is held in place with two screw knobs. You can see the two screws in the slots that the knobs are screwed onto. I just loosen the knobs underneath (not shown in picture) and slide the end block out, slide the board blank into the jig until it stops, clamp the front down, slide the block back in place, screw the knobs down to hold the block in place, and close the clamp on that end. Now the blank is ready to cut. I use a Freud bowl bit and a ½" straight bit with a brass PC template to follow the circle for the mug well. I use a 1 ¼" forstner bit to cut the wine glass hole and cut the ½" wide slot on the table saw.
The third picture is a revised tray based on TedM's suggestion. Good call!