Finishing the project
Applying a finish is not essential, but it will prevent weathering. I used my favourite outdoor finish on this project, a 50/50 mix of turpentine and boiled linseed oil, applied in three heavy coats in as many days. Apply the liquid, allow to sit for 20 minutes and wipe off the excess, then allow to dry for 24 hours between coats. When the finish wears, apply more coats.
With your completed stand ready, all you need is a few guests and a great meal to serve in style.
An alternative joining technique
There is another option for joining the corners of this tray: brass pins. This technique combines ease of installation with classic beauty. You can use this approach with any kind of wood, although it looks striking against a dark species.
Although brass pin joints look exotic, they’re easy to make. The metal itself is nothing more than an ordinary flathead brass screw with the head sanded flush to the surrounding wood after installation. Start by drilling a pilot hole in the butt joint of the tray corner that allows the screw threads to bite into the wood without anything more than moderate friction. Brass screws are softer than steel, and they’ll break if you stress them.
When using softwood, you only need to drill pilot holes, but if you’re working in hardwood, countersink the edges of the hole slightly.
With the corners of your tray drilled, install flathead brass wood screws—two per joint, along with a little glue. You’ll find #8 or #10 x 1 1/2"-long screws work best. Tighten them as much as you can, then grab your belt sander. Carefully work the metal heads with an 80-grit belt until they’re flush with the wood, allowing the screws to cool after every five to 10 seconds of sanding. Ignore this tip and heat buildup in the screws will char the surrounding wood. Softwood compresses enough to allow a small amount of the angled, countersunk screw head to pull down below the wood surface automatically while tightening, leaving behind a tiny lip that holds the joint together after the sanding is done. Hardwood doesn’t compress enough for this to happen without a slight countersinking before screw installation. —Steve Maxwell
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