20 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Turned out awesome 4D. Very clean looking design. It'll be right smart looking with the finish.

Thanks.  I like the clean lines although it is almost boring without a detail that stands out like the top of the outer legs on the cherry version.  I found that unexpected details make a design more memorable when I was a student entering design competitions.  The outer legs are the best place for variation, although the top could have an inlaid detail.  I've been thinking about a subtle QR code inlay on all of them that when scanned would lead to the blog post about them.  Thinking that whomever ends up with them after me might enjoy finding the story of their creation. 

Going back and forth between using a clear finish or adding a maple stain (a bit orange) and a clear top finish. 

4D

23 minutes ago, 4DThinker said:

Going back and forth between using a clear finish or adding a maple stain (a bit orange) and a clear top finish. 

Yes, tough decision. Might try both on some scrap to compare.

10 hours ago, 4DThinker said:

I've been thinking about a subtle QR code inlay on all of them that when scanned would lead to the blog post about them.  Thinking that whomever ends up with them after me might enjoy finding the story of their creation. 

 

Now that's a cool idea 4D.  How long do you expect the blog posts to be up after you've "moved on"?

47 minutes ago, Cal said:

 

Now that's a cool idea 4D.  How long do you expect the blog posts to be up after you've "moved on"?

I did get an email from Google awhile back mentioning something about how long they would preserve an account after seeing no activity on it for some period of time.  Paid no attention as I didn't care then. I suspect that is info I can find with a google search.   You make a good point though as I doubt they'll be out there until those TV Tray tables crumble into dust.   

4D

Finally took the time to stain and seal the maple version.  Backed my Chevy Bolt out of the garage.  Set up a folding table.  Threw a tarp over it to work on. 

One coat of pre-conditioner as maple can look blotchy when stained.  Two coats of Honey Maple stain.  First coat still looked light and didn't even out the underlying differences in hard and soft maple.  Top seal with spar varnish as I had a quart of it on hand.  Sanded the top lightly with 400 grit paper after the finish had dried to knock down any rough surface.

Definitely prefer this over the raw white color. 

4D 

10 minutes ago, 4DThinker said:

Definitely prefer this over the raw white color

Yep, have to agree. Turned out very nice 4D.

9 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Turned out very nice 4D.

Thanks.   One thing I have enjoyed about making 4 variations of this design was the invention/discovery of new solutions  encountered along the way.  I've got 3 past furniture projects (all award winners, done when I was in college) that I used bolts into threaded inserts or cross dowels or cap nuts on.  A folding lounge chair, a folding desk, and an unfolding side chair.  While none are dynamic and articulate during use, the bolts do tend to unscrew just a bit every time they are folded up (or unfolded).  The cherry version of the TV Tray Table spurred the use of my rotary axis to put a groove around a bolt shaft so the bolt could be inserted then trapped in place with an intersecting binding bolt.  This idea could solve that unscrewing flaw in all of those previous designs.   My folding desk is similar to the TV Tray design, except it won't invert and initially didn't need a tension strap/cable brace to keep it from collapsing.  Should you pick up the front edge though the design does collapse.   I solved that with a crude snapped-on leather strap.  If I make another one I'll use the grommets/straps idea from the red oak version. Still easy to install/remove, but should be simpler and more reliable than what I'm using right now.  I have no real need for four TV tray tables. Yet the iterative path through their creation brought new ideas I can use in future (and past) projects. 

4D