Hello,
Here is a preview of the next Project of the Month (for APRIL 2011), called the Rose Motif Serving Tray. This beautiful serving tray features a delicate rose carving relief on each side panel to lend a unique elegance to a fairly standard woodworking project! The side panels have recessed dados for easy assembly.
You may want to consider making one (or more) as a Mother’ Day gift to go along with a nice breakfast in bed served on the tray!
The project requires no special bits - the main components are carved and cut out with just the two standard bits that came with your machine. The finished dimensions of the assembled Serving Tray are about 18½" wide x 7" tall x 14" deep.
Main items you will need:
1) The Project Files (included):
• Serving_Tray_Side.mpc
• Serving_Tray_Rails.mpc
2) Boards with the following dimensions:
Sides (two): 0.75" x 8" x 22.5" (two needed)
Rails: 0.75" x 4" x 25"
Tray Surface :½" Oak or Birch veneer Ply:
cut to size... 12" x 17.5"
(NOTE: Do not use boards that are smaller than specified above, or if you are using a sled, you can subtract 7" from the length of the board and have the sled provide the extra 7" required)
3) Clamps, wood glue, sandpaper, wood stain and/or paint and clear finish
4) A Dremel-type rotary tool with assorted sanding wheels and bits to sand small details and speed up preparation for finishing.
Here’s what I used on my Rose Motif Serving Tray made from Oak veneer plywood and Select Pine:
• Minwax oil-based Red Oak stain #215 on tray surface
• No stain on the sides or rails - I left them natural
• 3 coats of Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic gloss spray
• 2 coats water-based Zinsser Bulls Eye Ultimate Polyurethane Satin (brushed)
Apply your choice of stains, paints and clearcoats. NOTE: The tray surface should be coated with a durable clearcoat to protect the surface and make cleanup of any spills an easy task.