Ottoman Tray.

[Inspector]

My wife bought an Ottoman to put in front of our couch. They are nice to put you feet on when reading a book but they are lousy at putting a beverage on so I made a tray that sits on top. A Quarter Sawn Oak panel framed in Bak Walnut, Boiled Linseed Oil and Paste Wax finish.

One thing I do for panels that most people don't do is to put a small dowel (1/8") in the centre of the groove on the end of the frame pieces and notch the centre of the panel. That ensures the panel is centred when I glue it up. Most people would, if anything, use SpaceBalls or bits of O-ring etc. Any seasonal movement of the panel will always be even. It isn't so important in a flat panel like this but if it is a raised panel the reveal may not be even if provision for centring wasn't taken into account. One of the pictures shows a mockup in scrap. The dowel in the finish piece being glued and trimmed flush.

Pete

 

[Andy Kev.]

What a clever idea, well executed!

Did you do the upholstering yourself?

If so, how difficult is it?

 

[John Brown]

Nice idea, but why not drill the hole in the bottom of the groove? There can't be much force on it, and then there'd be nothing showing.

 

[Inspector]

Andy the Ottoman is a purchased item so I didn't upholster it. The tray just sits on top (gravity holds it) and it can be removed.

John I hadn't thought of that but the little bit of dowel showing isn't much.

Pete

 

[John Brown]

Andy the Ottoman is a purchased item so I didn't upholster it. The tray just sits on top (gravity holds it) and it can be removed.

John I hadn't thought of that but the little bit of dowel showing isn't much.

Pete

To be honest, I'd probably catch the side of the groove with the drill bit...