My First Serving Tray

Wow, that turned out fantastic! Great work!

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

Interesting, Jenn has just requested that I build her a serving/laptop tray. I like your mixture of woods and the overall appearance of the tray. Did you design this ahead of time or is it something that you just created on the fly? Either way I really like the looks of it.

-- ...it's rennovation time!!!

Thanks for your comments so fast, Guys.

Mark – I learned a LONG time ago, from my Uncle, that you always build first, then make the plans when the project is done, that way you are always perfect with the plans.

In all actuality I do SOME work in Sketchup, but just a basic mock-up mostly, and often time, in the middle of the project, so I can see how something would work, without burning through the expensive woods.

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

Very nice, well done.

Woody.

-- Woody, UK

gorgeous. And I like your progression pictures as well as the “long winded ramblings” which didn’t sound like ramblings OR long-winded!!.

Keep them coming

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Inspires me for the set of trays I’ve been planning… How thin are the bottoms?

-- Derek, Bremerton WA --

Thanks folks, I realize looking at the first picture, that the button looks like it might be in an odd place, but it was set on the walnut so it could be seen, so people would know that’s what was used for covering up the screws.

MsDebbie, I agree that progression pictures are nice. I don’t often think about pics until it’s too late, but I kept my digicam around pretty often when I was working this particular week. So I got plenty of pics pf the progression on this one, as opposed to my mini wine rack, where I only have pictures of just before and after the finish went on. See, Rambling! hehehe

Derek, It’s always nice to inspire and be inspired. The overall dims for the tray are 19" x 15 1/2" . The Dados in the side and end oak are slightly more than half way through the wood. It's only 5/8” thick for the oak, as well as the tray portion itself.

The sides are @ 1” longer in front than they are in back, so as to slightly wrap around you are you are being served breakfast in bed. There’s also a small angle relief cut on each side for some detail. Really a straight cut just under the top, with an angle that faces down. Like a notch in a way.

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

A very nice combination of different wood species…very pleasing to the eye. Without being critical, when you build your next one, you might consider leaving the corners open. Serving trays can be subject to spills, crumbs etc. & open corners eliminate having to go into them with a toothpick to clean them.

Lee

-- Lee

I like what you did with the ends extending past the sides. Unexpected and looks nice!

-- Jason

Very beautiful serving tray with good combination of woods. The extra one inch at the sides is unique.
Sharad

-- patanjali

Nice work!

Thanks for the post

Callum

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