How to make a condiment tray

June 29, 2012, 1:07 pm Yahoo!7

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The temperature is rising and that means the outdoor entertaining season is in full swing. Whether you're firing up the barbie or having a relaxed picnic, you'll definitely be needing sauces and some salt and pepper shakers on the side. And what better way to keep these essential ingredients together than in their own mini picnic table? It's time to get saucy!

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Gather your supplies

Legs (4) 20 x 8 x 180mm (overall) pine

Top rails (2) 20 x 8 x 115mm pine

Seat rails (2) 20 x 8 x 280mm pine

Seats (2) 65 x 8 x 350mm pine

Supports (3) 12 x 12 x 250mm pine

Tabletop 190 x 19 x 350mm pine

Notes:

The legs are 180mm in length overall, but will have a finished length of 175mm along the sides once the angles have been cut.

Here's How

Step 1: Using a mitre box, cut end of 1 leg 22.5° off perpendicular with a fine-tooth saw. Measure 175mm along 1 side of the leg and make another angled cut in the same direction. Repeat for remaining legs. Cut each end of top rails, but with angles in the opposite direction to the legs.
Step 2: Use the mitre box to guide straight cuts for seats, seat rails and supports. The tabletop will have to be cut outside of the mitre box, because of its width.
Step 3: Plane a 45° bevel around underside of tabletop so it appears less thick. To do this, hold a plane at an angle to work in
from each side to the centre of the ends, without crossing far sides, to avoid tearing out grain. Once each end is done, plane along the grain.
Step 4: Assemble one A frame by gluing 1 top rail to 2 legs, using leg angles as a guide. Nail into position with two 15mm nails per joint. When fixed in place, the legs should be 232mm apart at the bottom. Repeat for second A frame.
Step 5: Centre 1 support on seat rails, then glue and nail into position with 30mm nails. Position remaining supports 30mm to each side of centre support, then glue and nail into position.
Step 6: Position seats either side of supports, making sure there’s an equal overhang, then glue and nail into position with 15mm nails.
Step 7: Place one A frame on an offcut of 50 x 100mm or similar, apply glue and push seat assembly over frame until it’s in contact with legs. Nail into position with 15mm nails and repeat for other side.
Step 8: Measure diameter of your sauce bottles and select a hole saw that is slightly larger. Mark up 2 holes on tabletop, 85mm in from each end, along centre line. Drill holes. Repeat process to make another 2 holes, in-between sauce bottle holes, for salt and pepper holders. We used 60 and 50mm diameter hole saws.
Step 9: Place tabletop face down on bench and centre frame on underside of tabletop. Glue into place and nail into position with 30mm nails. Sand table, then coat with paint or clear polyurethane.