@specialks1953 Woodworking safety is important. EVERY woodworking tool is safe. It's how they are used that causes problems. No one should use any tool without fully understanding it. Before I make ANY cut, I always do a "dry run" to practice where my hands will be throughout the procedure.
@bighousedaddy I use a Canon FS300...it's little and cheap, but takes pretty good video. Mostly, it's a lot of shooting a procedure, then setting up the camera for a close-up and shooting it again. I'm having a hard time making my hand positions match in the cuts, though!
@bighousedaddy The main thing that helps me is to set up my shot, make sure it's framed okay and then run around into the frame. For me, I don't tilt the viewscreen. It's just too distracting to look at myself...and my eye contact won't be into the lens.
I don't see how you manage to find the time to produce these every week just to keep us entertained. Once again, very well done. Thanks. Now how do you attach the dust buster holder for the crumbs?
After binging on so many of your more recent videos it's amazing to see how far you have come and how much you channel has improved. Also this gave me some ideas for the tray.
I was thinking the same thing! Before I realized how old this video was, my first thought ....."oh, great! it's a Steve Ramsey video, this will be easy and he'll explain everything." The video was more medium than easy (for a beginner like me) but I also got some good ideas to make my own laptop table.
Really awesome build Steve, nice and simple but so well executed with nice touches like the splines giving a little accent and just the overall finish looks great!
I think a nice upgrade of it would be adding some splits on the top board, in order to increase the ventilation (if you use it as a laptop-in-bed tray) or, of course, to increase the amount of crumbs falling on your bed if you're eating breakfast on it (kidding, that somehow could be fixed with a crumbs collector "drawer" just beneath the top board). Anyway, this is my first comment on one of your videos so it's a good chance to say that I love your channel and your humor (or humour, or aluminium). Hi from Italy!
Just finished making a modification of this. I got asked by my true love to make a laptop sit-stand arrangement, something that looks like a breakfast tray with long legs...so, I followed this design using mostly scrap timber (so maybe not as nice and as solid as Steve's oak). The trick was to make the legs overlap, so I used a flat strip rather than a cross-beam, which is not as solid, but there you go. I found it was useful to cut the dado for the tray plywood as tight as possible, so the plywood only just fits, it means you can assemble it and see how it all hangs together without any assistance. I also thought it was simpler to drill the hole *to* the width of the dowelling, to make it snug fit, rather than drill the hole and then worry about the kind of wood the dowel's made of. Lots of mistakes & defects (like I made the mistake of drilling right through the frame making the first hole for the dowelling), but if I ever make another one I'll have learnt how to use that spline-making jig and do those spline joints....I've put photos up on the Weekend Woodworker Facebook page...
Very nice! Improvement idea. A lot of laptop users (like me) still prefer to use a mouse instead of the touch pad. Would be neat if it had a slide-out mouse pad below the top surface. You could even make it go to the left or right depending on user preference.
Your videos are awesome and I have been watching them for a long time now. The only info I feel missing is the measurements, most people watch the video to get some idea on the dimensions as well, so when they try it themself they dont waste the material by making something which is not comfortable or short or something.
Cool project, love the splined corners, nice touch! Please try some brad point wood bits, they are far superior to the ones you use :) Take it easy Steve and thanks again! OH yeah, a little bar soap on the dowels will get rid of the squeak but not make them loose.
Don't have many tools, just a circular saw and a drill and managed to build one of these today for my girlfriend. Let me say, datos with a circular saw are quite the challenge
cheers for this, I built one yesterday pretty straight forward but how much to round off the legs was invaluable to me :) I dont see getting breakfast in bed anytime soon but now I dont need a piece of laminate under it so it does not over heat lol
That was great, and you're are highly entertaining. Love your workmanship. The only thing I would consider is the heat from your laptop, maybe some ventilation holes or shapes in the wood, would be good...hehe sounds weird.
@stevinmarin Steve, Why don't you get a remote controlled tripod and connect your camera to a LCD monitor so that you could frame your shots w/o having to run around your shop? This might be a real time saver for you. Cheers.
Steve this is a great project but I do have one question. The dowels are tight now because the project is new. wouldn't it be a good idea to put a "turn button" on the bottom of the panel to secure the legs after they have been opened a couple of hundred times and the dowels have worn down so that they are loose? I don't know where you come up with ideas for so many good projects...Keep up the good work.
Some people are old, some people are handicapped, some people are bedridden. And I've had some people say they want it for a puzzle tray so they can move it when they need to use their dining room table or wherever they would be making the puzzle they're not finished with.
Steve, I have made instructional videos for about 4 years now and have in total 23 instructional videos and I've done it all on my desk using an Olympus FE-230... When I'm shooting it ackward hand sewing leather at arms length and keeping your hand in the shot... So I was wondering how you setup to video your projects... maybe I can learn something... Ken
Hi, Steve ! What a cool project...I'm trying to make a tray with feet...And things weren't so well but ...now wacthing you my mind opened...and let's try " again ". Congratulations ps.: sorry about my english
for the drill press part, did you need to move the stop block at all? if dry fitting the bit showed you that yoj were on the right track wouldn't you have been able to drill both holes the same way?
Somebody just asked me to make her one of these, but she wanted one like I had, which is slats rather than a piece of plywood. I like the slats because it lets the air in and keeps the computer cool and allows the crumbs to fall on my lap so I don't waste any. I have to figure out how you did those legs. Did you glue up the whole thing all at once?
Nice project Steve. Try next time to assemble the cross pieces before you quarter round the edges of your legs. You'll find that they will look more unified and refined that way. Constructive criticism.
U R just feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnttttttttttttttttttttttttttttaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssstttttttttttttttttttttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk , Mate ..... Love it ...... :)
I could use a breakfast-in-bed tray to do crafts I have trouble balancing on my lap while I list in bed watching TV during my sanity time while the kids have gone to bed.
Very Good steve... You know, I don't get it either... eating in bed is just dumb... Steve, can you tell us what cameras you use and how you place them to do a video... I'd like to see a video on making a video... combind it with a project... Ken
Thank you for posting this one.. I have someone asking me to do something like this for Her...is it possible that you post the plans? ( I have done some attempts...yet I don´t have a table saw,and all the cool things you have But I manage alright I guess)
I have a tray with no legs and I was like “oh it can’t be that hard to just make them myself” after watching this video I realized how difficult it will actually be lol. Considering I also don’t have any of the equipment 😣
I know this video is old as crap at this point, so the likelihood of you reading this comment is very low. But, you asked a question... The concept of breakfast in bed comes from a time period when ladies wore very elaborate clothing and changed their garments 5 or more times a day depending on the occasion. They had to get up VERY early in the morning in order that their lady's maids could help them dress and do their hair and make them presentable for breakfast. Being able to have a tray brought up to them was one of the perks afforded to a woman when she became the Lady of the house (when she married.) Since she no longer had to report to her parents what she would be doing that day, or be presentable in case guests she pay a call, and for the first time in her life she had rooms that were her very own, she could stay and relax a bit longer, have a leisurely breakfast, and have one less costume change that day if she chose to do so.
Yep! That's me!
Hehehehehe
Thanks again, Steve!
Your videos are awesome!
@specialks1953 Woodworking safety is important. EVERY woodworking tool is safe. It's how they are used that causes problems. No one should use any tool without fully understanding it. Before I make ANY cut, I always do a "dry run" to practice where my hands will be throughout the procedure.
@bighousedaddy I use a Canon FS300...it's little and cheap, but takes pretty good video. Mostly, it's a lot of shooting a procedure, then setting up the camera for a close-up and shooting it again. I'm having a hard time making my hand positions match in the cuts, though!
@bighousedaddy The main thing that helps me is to set up my shot, make sure it's framed okay and then run around into the frame. For me, I don't tilt the viewscreen. It's just too distracting to look at myself...and my eye contact won't be into the lens.
This is EXACTLY the video I was looking for. Thank you so much!
I don't see how you manage to find the time to produce these every week just to keep us entertained. Once again, very well done. Thanks. Now how do you attach the dust buster holder for the crumbs?
After binging on so many of your more recent videos it's amazing to see how far you have come and how much you channel has improved. Also this gave me some ideas for the tray.
I was thinking the same thing! Before I realized how old this video was, my first thought ....."oh, great! it's a Steve Ramsey video, this will be easy and he'll explain everything." The video was more medium than easy (for a beginner like me) but I also got some good ideas to make my own laptop table.
That purple heart wood is stunning!
So are you.
@@brianmosher4053 💀
Really awesome build Steve, nice and simple but so well executed with nice touches like the splines giving a little accent and just the overall finish looks great!
I like the idea of making the corners . Very nice table. Thanks for sharing.
@hornstra1 Yeah, it's an annoying squeak. Someone else suggested rubbing soap on it too.
The splines really make a difference on the look. Thanks
Bewdy, one of the kids wants one of these, this will be a cool project to do together. Thanks Steve!
@scuffle Yeah, I was kind of thinking about that too. Might be a good idea.
I knew I can count on you to make my life-work- easy.
thanx mr.Ramsey.
I think a nice upgrade of it would be adding some splits on the top board, in order to increase the ventilation (if you use it as a laptop-in-bed tray) or, of course, to increase the amount of crumbs falling on your bed if you're eating breakfast on it (kidding, that somehow could be fixed with a crumbs collector "drawer" just beneath the top board).
Anyway, this is my first comment on one of your videos so it's a good chance to say that I love your channel and your humor (or humour, or aluminium).
Hi from Italy!
I really like your table/lap top table project I will do it for my grand kid
@jorgeargemiro Gracias. Usando una computadora en la cama parece ... bueno, acogedor!
Steve Ramsey - Woodworking for Mere Mortals omg you know spanish?!
In stead of breakfast in bed, you could use it for late night sanding in bed.
And everyone knows sawdust in your bed is far better then bread crumbs.
😂
@Buzzsawman That's a good idea. Maybe a little spinner in the middle.
Hi Steve. I´m from Brazil too and I love your videos. Kee them coming.
Thanks .
Just finished making a modification of this. I got asked by my true love to make a laptop sit-stand arrangement, something that looks like a breakfast tray with long legs...so, I followed this design using mostly scrap timber (so maybe not as nice and as solid as Steve's oak). The trick was to make the legs overlap, so I used a flat strip rather than a cross-beam, which is not as solid, but there you go. I found it was useful to cut the dado for the tray plywood as tight as possible, so the plywood only just fits, it means you can assemble it and see how it all hangs together without any assistance. I also thought it was simpler to drill the hole *to* the width of the dowelling, to make it snug fit, rather than drill the hole and then worry about the kind of wood the dowel's made of. Lots of mistakes & defects (like I made the mistake of drilling right through the frame making the first hole for the dowelling), but if I ever make another one I'll have learnt how to use that spline-making jig and do those spline joints....I've put photos up on the Weekend Woodworker Facebook page...
Very nice!
Improvement idea. A lot of laptop users (like me) still prefer to use a mouse instead of the touch pad. Would be neat if it had a slide-out mouse pad below the top surface. You could even make it go to the left or right depending on user preference.
Good video. Thanks for sharing this.
Great Vid Steve. The splines were a nice touch.
i don't even wood work often, yet i love watching your videos. keep 'em up :)
Very nice work Steve.
Hi, thanks for video.
Laptop bed tray.
Where can I sizes of timber.
Regards Terry
Ur videos jst got it today its excellent , July 02,2021, cool man
Your videos are awesome and I have been watching them for a long time now. The only info I feel missing is the measurements, most people watch the video to get some idea on the dimensions as well, so when they try it themself they dont waste the material by making something which is not comfortable or short or something.
I reccomend adding a piece of hardboard as a base for the jig. My first one went a little pear shaped.
Buen trabajo. Muchas gracias.
@K22productions Well, I will certainly have a Halloween video...probably not a project though!
@startreking2007 I'm very exact about my measurements...
@steveyodog Don't forget the dowels!
Cool project, love the splined corners, nice touch! Please try some brad point wood bits, they are far superior to the ones you use :)
Take it easy Steve and thanks again!
OH yeah, a little bar soap on the dowels will get rid of the squeak but not make them loose.
Don't have many tools, just a circular saw and a drill and managed to build one of these today for my girlfriend. Let me say, datos with a circular saw are quite the challenge
cheers for this, I built one yesterday pretty straight forward but how much to round off the legs was invaluable to me :) I dont see getting breakfast in bed anytime soon but now I dont need a piece of laminate under it so it does not over heat lol
That was great, and you're are highly entertaining. Love your workmanship.
The only thing I would consider is the heat from your laptop, maybe some ventilation holes or shapes in the wood, would be good...hehe sounds weird.
Love the corner accents. Great work.
I like the wood inserts you put in ! Gr8 idea
Hey Steve! Great video loved it. But one thing could you put the plans for the project on your website or in the description???
@stevinmarin Steve, Why don't you get a remote controlled tripod and connect your camera to a LCD monitor so that you could frame your shots w/o having to run around your shop? This might be a real time saver for you. Cheers.
Hi! I am waching all your videos and you are really great. Keep on the nice job!
gracias la idea de la mesa es genial para el portátil
Looks great, Wish you sold them online, I'd love one for my laptop!
Steve this is a great project but I do have one question. The dowels are tight now because the project is new. wouldn't it be a good idea to put a "turn button" on the bottom of the panel to secure the legs after they have been opened a couple of hundred times and the dowels have worn down so that they are loose? I don't know where you come up with ideas for so many good projects...Keep up the good work.
I love coffee in bed and need some where to sit it we in in a RV this will work 🤣
Some people are old, some people are handicapped, some people are bedridden. And I've had some people say they want it for a puzzle tray so they can move it when they need to use their dining room table or wherever they would be making the puzzle they're not finished with.
Steve, I have made instructional videos for about 4 years now and have in total 23 instructional videos and I've done it all on my desk using an Olympus FE-230... When I'm shooting it ackward hand sewing leather at arms length and keeping your hand in the shot... So I was wondering how you setup to video your projects... maybe I can learn something...
Ken
Hi, Steve ! What a cool project...I'm trying to make a tray with feet...And things weren't so well but ...now wacthing you my mind opened...and let's try " again ".
Congratulations
ps.: sorry about my english
@superdav721721 Oh you'll be seeing it soon...Porter Cable! Buy one now!
Amazing job, great idea, thanks for sharing
Thanks again Steve, another great one. Where's the new router?
you could also use it as a normal tray when the legs are folded in
Is there a cut list? I have all the materials I want, I am just horrible with making a parts list.
cool ideari will defo trie
for the drill press part, did you need to move the stop block at all? if dry fitting the bit showed you that yoj were on the right track wouldn't you have been able to drill both holes the same way?
should have put some slots in the top for cooling
awesome laptop table build
Would u put a finish on these or treat them like cutting board?
Somebody just asked me to make her one of these, but she wanted one like I had, which is slats rather than a piece of plywood. I like the slats because it lets the air in and keeps the computer cool and allows the crumbs to fall on my lap so I don't waste any. I have to figure out how you did those legs. Did you glue up the whole thing all at once?
Thanks! This really helps, I'm going to make a similar one (except I think mine will have a draw ) for my GCSE project :)
Where do you get such nice wood from Steve? You have so much variety
@Buzzsawman good comment, do you can illustrate that "turn button"?
thanks
Plans?
Love the tray!
Really cool
Nice project Steve. Try next time to assemble the cross pieces before you quarter round the edges of your legs. You'll find that they will look more unified and refined that way.
Constructive criticism.
U R just feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnttttttttttttttttttttttttttttaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssstttttttttttttttttttttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk , Mate ..... Love it ...... :)
woodworkers are amazing 😭✊💛👏
That is a neat try. PS I hate crumbs n my bed too
please name the bolt, dimensions and type of wood used so i can get the Fabrication work done from my Carpentet
Top notch bed tray, the legs though look thicker than 1/2 inch, could they be 3/4?
Great video Steve, but it looked like your fingers were pretty close to the blade when you were cutting the slot for the splines ... be careful! :-)
Steve is a router hig cost? and whats a good name brand for one
I could use a breakfast-in-bed tray to do crafts I have trouble balancing on my lap while I list in bed watching TV during my sanity time while the kids have gone to bed.
Steve, I just found you're channel and I do have to say good going dude!!!!
Very Good steve... You know, I don't get it either... eating in bed is just dumb...
Steve, can you tell us what cameras you use and how you place them to do a video... I'd like to see a video on making a video... combind it with a project...
Ken
Where do I get the dowels
What was your production time on the tray?
I think some of the newer laptops run so hot they need the airflow on the bottom - sort of like one of your trivets on legs....
Thank you for posting this one.. I have someone asking me to do something like this for Her...is it possible that you post the plans? ( I have done some attempts...yet I don´t have a table saw,and all the cool things you have But I manage alright I guess)
An idea for stopping that sound it's making while opening the legs: vaseline on the dowel..
Works fine over here.
Perhaps some finger or dovetail joints would make the tray stronger without the need for the splines.
Sure would. Actually I thought the same. Yet those splints are a nice touch and non woodworking people have something to wonder how it is done. ;)
Excelent!!!
I don not epeak english but can you give me measures of all parts of the table please???
Tanks
What about a usb fan for extra cooling
Спасибо
Well when you're sick and you can't get up to get anything is it good idea to have a bed tray so you can be catered
My mom is sick and hardly get off the bed, we have to bring food to her. This video help a lot
I have a tray with no legs and I was like “oh it can’t be that hard to just make them myself” after watching this video I realized how difficult it will actually be lol. Considering I also don’t have any of the equipment 😣
Can I ask for the measuremnts of all parts.
@stevinmarin i like your halloween video that you show to loose a finger as marc spagonolo and other guys. Was really funy.
maybe the whiter one is sap wood and the darker one is heart wood
ME ENCANTÓ
Wonderful :)
Try dovetail splines next time
Plans, dimensions????
Dimension please
first!!! but awesome wood work. i got many ideas from u for woods class
I know this video is old as crap at this point, so the likelihood of you reading this comment is very low. But, you asked a question...
The concept of breakfast in bed comes from a time period when ladies wore very elaborate clothing and changed their garments 5 or more times a day depending on the occasion. They had to get up VERY early in the morning in order that their lady's maids could help them dress and do their hair and make them presentable for breakfast. Being able to have a tray brought up to them was one of the perks afforded to a woman when she became the Lady of the house (when she married.) Since she no longer had to report to her parents what she would be doing that day, or be presentable in case guests she pay a call, and for the first time in her life she had rooms that were her very own, she could stay and relax a bit longer, have a leisurely breakfast, and have one less costume change that day if she chose to do so.