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Often (lately) I'll be working on a project which gets stalled waiting for ordered parts or a finish/glue to dry.

This was one of those times.

I had some bubinga veneer applied to a 12"x12" piece of 1/4" plywood sitting on the bench (layered in sawdust of course) and was thinking of what I could make with that.

A tray of course!

Something quick 'n' easy so I figured I'd try some compound mitered sides.

The sides are jatoba, milled down flooring about 5/8" thick and 2-1/2" wide.
Poly used for the bubinga for protection and oil/wax for the sides. Corners are maple splined which was more important for aiding in clamping than added strength.

The angles
Easy enough, try for 60 degree slant, set the blade and miter angles, chop and go right?

Not so fast 8^)

A quick check with an online calculator informed me the blade angle was to be 37.76 degrees and the miter was to be 26.57 deg.

Side note:

Plenty of angle calculators available, but many/most provide too much info and can get confusing when you are just after a "quick" answer.

This calculator was perfect for my needs, just the info I required, nothing extra.

I have several good angle gauges to set the blade and a vernier miter which allowed for easy setting of the angles.
Problem is that if any one is off by even a few 10ths, the fit up will have gaps.

Well, I had some annoying-to-me gaps, small but annoying. With two interacting angle setups, changing one will affect the other.
Anyway, with a few "bumps" in the settings I was able to get closure (literally 8^)

A PITA, but it works!

I made a second tray with some modifications in this process that made things much easier. I'll show the details when I post that project soon.

As always, thanks for dropping by!

Gallery

Comments

· Premium Member
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1,433 Posts
good looking tray - thanks for sharing the link
 

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18,919 Posts
beautiful tray and some nice work on the joinery.
 

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188 Posts
Nice looking tray. I love the grain pattern.in the bottom and the compound miters
 

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3,307 Posts
very well done…..love the wood combinations!
 

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7,336 Posts
Good looking tray, Splint! And if it helped you figure out a better way, well worth the effort.
 

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4,502 Posts
Thanks guys!

I've got a rather large stash of these burl veneers and try to use them wherever I can. Anything flat can be dressed up and when used as panels they can really set something apart. Best thing is they are so easy to make and they are inexpensive. Equipment requirements are minimal.
 

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3,558 Posts
Got to love bubinga, and that burl is killer! Well done.
 

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Thanks Steven!, I've seen enough bubinga to appreciate not having to resaw and prep dimensional stock. It would be like the time I thought ipe was the great substitute for walnut I was looking for 8^)
 

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191 Posts
Bazinga!
 

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Amazing what a little veneer and some angled cuts can do to a simple thing like a serving tray. Well, that and your talent for coming up with amazing designs and wood choices. The splines and the short offset bevel on the top edge really caught my eye.

I'm supposed to make a charcuterie board for Christmas. I think I'll go back and look thru your projects for inspiration.
 

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Splint,

That is one fine tray!! DT3 for sure.

The compound miters I am sure were tough. But they look great.

+3 on the Bazinga. Got some Charcuterie Boards with QS Bazinga in them will post soon. It may be my next favorite wood.
 

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Thank you Earl!

My wife and various readings taught me to eliminate sharp edges. She just points and says "oooo pokey!" and I whip out the beveling tools…
 

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The veneer is beautiful - I also like how the geometry is displayed in the 3rd photo. Very nice!
 

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Thanks Steve, The "bonus" with the top bevel is it leaves a 90 deg, edge on the part after cutting to length and mitering. This makes the dado for the bottom easy as there is good material against the fence for reference. I did bevel the lower edges to 30 deg so it can sit flat and have space for some felt feet.
 

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Another "wow" project with carefully crafted details. Thanks for once again making your post both educational and inspirational.

Now, I have to say, having some random amazing bubinga on my bench gathering dust…well, I don't have any bubinga!!! ;) Your shop has many treasures and you always put them into the best light with your work.
 

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Home run Splint, that puppy is outa here.

Thanks for the link too, amazingly quick, and putting a few in I knew the answers to, appears to be dead on.
 
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