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My older son is a high school teacher teaching speech, debate, and forensics. Think about that; teaching teenagers how to argue! Scary!

At any rate, last summer he asked me to build him a podium large enough for his students to use in class, and this is the result. He was happy and tells me that it has worked out well through these last months of use in class.

Rather simple in design, it was intended to withstand the daily use and abuse subjected by oft times nervous students. The primary material is 3/4" cabinet-grade red oak plywood. The face frame is red oak solid stock as well, as is the bottom trim and the edge banding around the top.

The panels were joined with simple butt joints, glued and screwed. These were then covered with outside corner trim that I milled from some 4/4 stock that I had on hand. The bottom curb is miter jointed with the corners rounded over with a 1/2" roundover bit. It was attached with glue and screws from the inside to ensure strength.

The slant top is hinged with a full-width piano hinged. A piece of milled oak quarter round serves as a stop to keep the students' papers and reference materials from sliding off.

I covered the slant top with a piece of laminate that compliments the color of the wood. The laminate serves as a good surface material that allows the students to write on their notes without leaving impressions on the plywood underneath.

The entire piece is sprayed with two coats of lacquer sealer and then two coats of lacquer. No stain was used as we both like the natural tint of the wood. The lacquer will allow easy retouching should the podium's finish get banged up. Hope you enjoyed it.

Cheers!

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