Another simple project to clean off your shelves

[dhellew2]

Edges are rounded with a 0.1875 radius plunge roundover bit. Edges can be cut before or after pockets are cut.
Pockets are cut with 1/2" ballnose, spiral bit.
First tool path has a 0.375 stepover, pass depth of 0.25".
The second tool path (finish) stepover is 0.025 with a depth of 0.1875.

Tray on the left is made from unknown softwood from South America that comes in as shipping dunnage. Boards are full dimension 2x4x8' but full of knots, pitch pockets, checks, etc.
Tray on the right is black walnut, mahogany, and two unknown hardwoods also dunnage from South America.
Unfinished stacked trays are pine, South American figured red gum, unknown South American really hard and dense hardwood, and more of the softwood (same as the finished one).

Trays are 14" diameter. I made the rough parts 15" x 15" allowing for 1/4" waste on each side. Tray thickness is up to 1.6", bottom, side, and partitions are 3/8" thick. Some are full thickness others are laminated. Design is made by edge gluing the different colored woods together then cutting them at a 30° angle, flipping every other one and gluing them back together. Plane the surface and glue the black walnut layer on top. This is the same procedure used to make bowls.

Dale

[mboydraska]

Geat idea, like the look of ALL the trays gives me some ideas for gifts.

Thanks for posting.
Mike

[Butch]

Thanks for the post.
I have been asked to do some serving trays and been thinking about the process. Looked in here at your post and answered all my questions. Very good process detail and very nice product.
I appreciate the effort on your part.

Butch

[dhellew2]

Glad you like the ideas.

Correction: the outer ring and dividers are 7/16" thick.

Dale