adauria

I am a pipe smoker. I think it would be cool to make a "pipe caddy." I see it as a board (I have plenty of leftover 2x6 pine boards to use) about a foot wide or so. It would have carved out "bowls" for an ashtray, my lighter, my tamper, some cleaners, and of course my pipe.

The problem is the "bowls." The bowls will just create some nice separate areas for things on the tray and will allow me to place things down without them tipping over or rolling away. They should NOT got through the piece of wood. I'm thinking they' go down many 7/8" or so into the nominal 2x6, leaving 5/8" or so under it.

I have a router (just got a used one, with a table, on CL) and think that would be the way to make these things. Am I on the right track? I figured using a round-bottom bit around the edge of each bowl, and then using a straight bit to clear out the wood in the middle. Does that sound like a good idea?

And for shapes, I am thinking the bowl for the ash tray would be round, and the other ones soft-edged rectangles or something like that. Not sure the best way to control the router to conform to these shapes. I don't have many accessories other than a decent collection of bits and the router table that came with it. There are no template collars or anything like that.

So, any ideas on how to do what I want? I wish I could draw it out or something...

-Andrew

hodgehj

You could do it with a router. If it was me I would make the 2x6 to two 1x6 or you could use two 3/4 boards. Mark out the cutouts you want on one. Use a jig saw, coping saw or Scroll saw to cut them out. Use some files/sandpaper to shape and glue the boards back together.

To route you would need some bearing bits or bushings and need to make template(s). Would take me a lot longer even though I have them.

Hope that helps.

adauria

That seems like an interesting solution. Now, I'll have to see if I re-saw my 2x6 with just a table saw (though the blade raises up 3.5", enough to cross cut a 4x4). I have definitely been pondering different options here, but this is an interesting one I hadn't thought of.

-Andrew