I got an email from Daniel Pozzobon in Brazil a while ago. He asked if I could build a small table on which he can use his notebook computer in bed. He says his town get very cold in the winter and he likes to stay in bed using his laptop. The problem is that it is not a good idea to use a laptop on the blankets; it can cause overheating.
Really this is just a breakfast-in-bed tray. Eating meals in bed is not something that has ever thrilled me, but the idea of a laptop tray is appealing. So maybe it should just be simply called a bed tray.

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Cutlery Tray

At the request of my girlfriend, I have been busy making a wooden cutlery tray out of Pine - my first commissioned piece!

As with the small toolbox I used box joints for the sides and chopped mortises with a chisel for the dividers to fit into. This time I made sure I used an aesthetically pleasing number of fingers for each side of the corner joint.

Unfortunately, my clamps were not big enough for glue-up, so another online trip to Axminster tools was in order to buy three Sash Clamps. Also unfortunately, the three clamps and some glue I was buying didnt come to the £50 required for free postage.

Soooo ... I was forced to purchase one of these.

I have a feeling that I will be using this little shoulder plane a lot, it will definitely be handy for my next intended project - a Coffee Table using Mortise & Tenon joints.

The major lesson learnt from this project is not to use too much glue. The squeeze out stuck the wooden blocks I was using to the project and I had to separate them with a chisel. The small scar on the facing side in the photo will be my reminder. Luckily, the cutlery tray has been made to fit tightly into a sideboard draw and the mark wont really be seen.

Im learning so much and gaining confidence with each small project, another few projects with increasing complexity and size and I will be ready to buy some decent wood such as Oak. It can be quite frustrating using Pine, especially Pine that has been rescued from the dump!

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Football party snack tray

Just in time for the Super Bowl next week! This snack tray is hinged for storage and each side features the colors of opposing teams. If your party is likely to be biased, you will probably want to use only your teams colors!
Limited tools projectI wanted this project to be accessible and easy for anyone to build. If youve never made any woodworking projects, this would be a fun way to get started.
Wood: 3/4" thick board, either solid lumber or plywood, and a 1/4" thick board for the backs. 7.5" wide X 30" long for each will be plenty.
You will need a jigsaw to make all of the cuts. A jigsaw is a great "first tool" to own. With it, you can cut just about anything: straight cuts and curved cuts. The other tool you will need is a drill to bore an entry hole for the jigsaw blade.
This project requires quite a bit of sanding which will go much quicker if you have a power sander: either a palm sander or a random orbit sander. But if you just want to use sandpaper and elbow grease, that will work fine.
To attach the cutting template, you will need some spray adhesive. Use wood glue to join the wood together. Carpet tape will be handy for holding the two trays together while you sand them. You could also clamp them together.
I used a 2 1/2" brass hinge on my tray. And of course, you will need paint. I finished the tray with spray lacquer. This will make it easy to wipe clean with a damp rag.
Cutting template

• WWMM Football Party Tray template (pdf)

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