Lap Desk for Kids

 

 

Prepare the Parts (Continued)

6 Using your table-mounted router with a 1/8" round-over bit, rout along the top front edge of the lid rest (D), where shown on Drawing 1. Then switch to a 1/4" round-over bit, and rout along the top back edge of the lid (E). Now mark centerpoints for two #6x3/8" flathead wood screws in the top face of the lid rest, where dimensioned. (The screws align with magnets you'll install in the bottom of the pencil box later.) Drill the countersunk pilot holes at the centerpoints.

7 To form a finger recess on the front (C), first lay out a 1x5/8 " area centered on the front, where dimensioned on Drawing 1. Then chuck a 1 1/2"-diameter sanding drum with a 150-grit sleeve in your drill press. Holding the front against the drum at approximately 20°, sand the recess.

8 From 1/4" plywood, cut the bottom (F) to size. Then, from 3/4" stock planed to 1/2", cut the divider (G) to size.

9 To form the turn buttons (H), plane 3/4" stock to 3/8". Then cut a 2x6" workpiece. Make two copies of the full-size turn button pattern, Drawing 3 . Spray-adhere the patterns to the workpiece, aligning the straight edges with an edge of the workpiece. Drill countersunk shank holes through the buttons. Next, using your scrollsaw with a no. 3 blade, cut the buttons to shape. Using the sanding drum in your drill press, sand the edges smooth. Now hand-sand a 1/16" round-over along the top rounded edges.

10 From 3/4" stock resawn and planed to 1/4", cut the front/back (I) and ends (J) to size for the pencil box. Then, from stock planed to 1/2", cut the bottom (K) to size. (Your partner will drill the holes in the bottom for the magnets later.)