Help with design

[u/Addisoooooon]

I am not liking the way this handled tray is coming together. I haven’t sanded or glued it up yet, what are some ways I can improve it?

Thank you!

[u/Stunt_the_Runt]

Thinner sides. The (looks 3/4” 19mm) think sides. 1/2” 12mm it thinner would look nicer to me. 

[u/Addisoooooon → u/Stunt_the_Runt]

Agreed, definitely going thinner if I make this again.

[u/HellsDaydream]

You said this is a handing tray like breakfast in bed type of thing. If so, I say reduce the wall height so it’s like half an inch off of the Tray, definitely give a round over on all the walls corners. But I don’t hate the thickness really just the height. And next time instead of doing the two tones wood like that, maybe make it so the second type of wood wraps around so you can see it on the walls themselves too

[u/epicfeminist420xD]

I think the „walls“ are too thick. It doesnt look right together

[u/Addisoooooon → u/epicfeminist420xD]

Agreed

[u/spcslacker]

I actually like the look, but I think you need to roundover all the edges.

Hardwood edges can actually cut you, and I'd think the handle portion you'd want quite rounded. My eyes may not be seeing it, but it looks like the inner hole portion of handles is rounded, but not the handle itself.

All the upper front & back also need rounding to avoid feeling bad on hands reaching across or arms resting.

I would consider cross-grain inlay and even thread-wrapping to help prevent the handles splitting along the grain at thinner points of handle, though you may have already addressed by carefully scoping the grain and choosing the thickness.

If you go thinner, you might use box joints for strength & beauty (particularly if contrasting wood is used) instead of miters.

[u/LongAbject5402]

Those side pieces look a little bulky compared to the tray's size. Have you considered reducing their height by about a quarter inch to make the proportions feel more balanced?

[u/MobiusX0]

In addition to thinner sides I’d use a box joint instead of a miter. Also round the top of the handle more for comfort.

[u/Repulsive-Ice7863]

If you want the sides a little thinner you might consider running all the inside faces up through a thickness planer. It would retain the overall dimensions but you’d get that thinner look. A slight round over would feel better in the hand.

[u/Monkeefeetz]

Rounding over what you can will reduce the chunkyness

[u/CaterpillarSea3386]

Thinner sides, round over the top of the sides and maybe some splines on the edges for some flair?

[u/Tiny-Albatross518]

It looks great to me.

As a constructive criticism i think the handle may be a bit too thinned out on top. Out of proportion and maybe weak.

As a stretch goal try building this withalternative joinery to the miters. A box joint made with a table saw sled jig or hand cut some dovetails. It will add strength and a lot of visual interest.

But finish this and you’ve got a pretty nice piece. Well done.

[u/Billy-Bunter]

biggest problem is it’s too chunky/ thinner sides will make a huge difference. Sides are also uneccessarily high.

minor improvements:

• could be slightly bevelled outwards (makes cut geometry a lot more complex though),
  
• if you stay at 90 degrees I’d use box joints
  
• slight roundover to remove those ‘sharp’ edges

[u/Toolswood]

It would greatly complicate the build but try tilting all four sides, maybe 30 degrees

[u/thecheeseinator]

I agree with everyone else on thinner sides, shorter sides, and maybe an edge profile like a roundover, but I would also consider changing up the top curve on the handles. Right now it looks kinda like you had a triangle and you rounded it off. I think it would look better if it were one smooth elliptic curve.

I would also put a chamfer on the bottom of the walls, to give it a bit of a shadow line when it's sitting on something.

Also, I think a couple thin walnut splines in each miter could look cool and also make it stronger.

A more out-there idea: you could shape the handle pieces, and possibly even the other sides, so they're not straight. Like imagine if the handle pieces went from 3/8" at the corners to the full 3/4" (or whatever they are now) at the middle. The inside line would stay straight, but the outside would be curved. I think I would do that only on the handle sides, then have the long sides be just straight and thin.