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Thanks for looking at this project. Any comments and suggestions are appreciated and welcome. I will reply to all of you Lumberlanders out there who take time to "have your say" in the next 24 hours, so check back for feedback.

At the end of this posting, there is a tutorial index of some of my previous postings that will show you how to build the jigs and learn techniques for building boxes.



Pictured is a removable quarter sawn white oak tray (15×10 1/2×3) with a Bubinga burl veneered tray bottom. The side pockets (15×14) and support structure are also White Oak. The corner splines are ebony. The idea is that you will have a removable TV tray and a convenient place to keep remotes for various devices. This unit is designed to hang over the arm of a couch that sits next to Ken's favorite TV chair. (For these pictures we used a random chair. The unit fits Ken's furniture much better.)



Story: After we took some measurements and had approximate sizes we quickly made a plywood prototype to try out. It worked, but we talked it over and decided that it could be improved.



We could add a snazzy removable tray, tweak the angles and sizes, and make it possible to adjust the dividers for future remote sizes.



Ken is a perfectionist and gave the whole project a flawless finish with several coats of Minwax Wipe-On Poly. It really shines.



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.Tutorials: For methods used to make boxes like the one pictured just click on the blue links below. They are arranged by topic.
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Making a jig to cut spline slots:
Jig for 45ing corners:
Making splines with a simple jig:
Finishing tips:
$5 band clamps:
Combining Wood Colors:
Sizing Tea Boxes and Dividers From Venetian Blinds
Making Kleenex boxes:
Making music boxes
Routers and Rounding edges
Why round box corners?
Organizing a glue-up table:
Adding splines to a box:
Measuring for spline slot cuts:
Installing an attached top: like that pictured above.
Cutting off the box top and sizing piano hinges
Adding finger indents:
More about finger indents.
Mortising and installing hinges:
Tips on making sliding trays: for inside boxes:
Swapping Wood By Mail:
Making a serving tray with angled sides.
Roy Underhill's tool tote.
Teaching Boxmaking

Gallery

Comments

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2,984 Posts
Well this certainly turned out great! It's beautiful and functional and a great idea. I'm sure Ken will get a lot of good use out of it!
 

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7,502 Posts
That is mighty fine Al. I guess you could use one o those cubbies for an ice cold brewski… lol. Luv the design and funtion of it all.
 

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12 Posts
What an awesome looking and useful piece. Love the look of that tray. Now that it's done is there any reason to get off the couch?
 

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Your work is always so beautiful, classy, mouth watering, but this is really ingenious on top of it all.
 

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4,727 Posts
Nicely done as always.
 

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Replies:

Dean, thanks. It did turn out well. The bubinga is really beautiful and so full of figure. Ken put enough coats on it to make it bead water. Ken took it home today and will be trying it out.

Roger, ...about that beer… guess Ken and I forgot to build in a small refrigerator. Maybe on the next version. The original did have a cup holder, but we opted for a tray.

Steve, you are so right. Why leave the couch? However, you are assuming someone will bring you the food and drink that fits on the tray. Ken and I also forgot to build in a rest room, but maybe on the next version we will add that and the refrigerator both.

Jerry, thanks for the kind words. Practicality and utilitarian purpose are always foremost in my work it seems. I am not prone to making things that are just pretty to look at. I think it is channeling my inner Shaker or something.

Don, always nice to hear from you. Hope your area is starting to thaw out. We are in the midst of a beautiful spring. How about posting another box that demonstrates the Golden Ratio and tellings us about that?
 

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4,124 Posts
I like it! This is probably not a one size fits all?
 

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This is absolutely gorgeous. Interestingly enough, the only thing I would put on it would be a book or maybe a drink with a coaster, as I use the internet for most of my visual input, not the TV. Three of my top listed woods, to boot. That bubinga (looks like waterfall) is the best! I want to build a dining room table from a piece of waterfall bubinga, if I live long enough to get to it.
 

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Great idea and build Al. Nice for those chairs that don't have a table next to it. How about one with a swivel top that could be used as a lap tray also?
 

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Doc, I think you would have to vary the dimensions and angles for various sizes of arms for chairs, so one size wouldn't fit all very well…just like trying to put me into to a one-size-fits-all T-shirt. It is not a good idea, and certainly not pretty.

Bosum, I like the clocks you posted. Did you consider putting one in a box? I put clocks in the side of some of my Kleenex box covers. Looks good and works well with kid's desks.

Dark/Light, thanks. I liked your spectacle cases. Have you thought of adding a magnet to keep the hinged lids closed?

I have made several boxes from this bubinga burl scrap that a friend gave me. While you are pining away for your bubinga dining table, keep putting money in the bank. That stuff is expensive, but I agree it is one of Nature's most beautiful woods.

Greg, the swivel is a good thought, thanks. Part of the idea of the removable tray is that you can move it to your lap for a meal, and use it to carry food and plates back and forth. Hope your show are going well. You certainly have been building a wide variety of boxes lately.
 

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Al,

That would be like me actually dancing a jig, instead of making one. LOL!
 

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That is beautiful. How you can take something that is always so boring looking and make it amazing is incredible. Great work. Thanks for the inspiration
 

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Doc, I'd kind of like to see you dance a jig. Better entertainment than me squeezing into a too small shirt.

Kaleb, thanks for the compliments. Just because it is useful doesn't mean it can't be a pleasure to see and a joy to touch. I enjoyed seeing the wide assortment of projects you have posted. The candle holder, boxes, and shop projects were especially interesting. Hope you enjoy teaching as much as I did. I never went to work…I just went to school.

Charles, thanks for the pleasant thoughts. It is nice when a design turns out to be useful and pretty. Ken really did a great job on all the finish work. That always makes a project look good. Having Bubinga to work with helps too.
 

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4,010 Posts
this turned out really nice, i like the design, it works good with the recliner, the top is nice and colorful, great job !!
 

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Matter of opinion , yours or mine? LOL!
 

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Ken is one lucky fellow, to have such a great artist make this for him.
 

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Grizz, always nice to hear from you. I too like the colors, and the design does work. Shows what happens when you draw it out, make a prototype and then refine it again to make the final project. It is a process that takes time, but the results are worth it.

Doc, so true.

Blackie, I have enjoyed following your addition to your shop. Nice job. Ken and I had fun working on this and he is repaying me by making a video of some of the steps for making a box. Ken is a camera wiz. I hope to add those videos into some postings soon.

To all: thanks to all of you for your support and comments. Woodworking can be a solitary process, and it is nice to have feedback and help from fellow woodworkers.
 

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I love the wood choices, especially the bubinga, it really sets it off. Great job Al.
 
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