Projects of Betty Dyson

These projects are from Betty Dyson betty@eventmusic.com of Orlando, Florida, USA.

"I made this lectern for my daughter to use in her elementary classroom, that's why the wide base, so that it cannot be knocked over easily. It's only use is to hold her reference book closer to her eyes when she is standing.

MATERIAL LIST: (all red oak) 1 - 1"x12" x 2'-0 (table top), 2 - 1"x2" x 2'-0 (lower lip of table top, and bracing beneath table top) 5 - 1"x4" x 4'-0 (4 for uprights [legs] and one for the two feet [base]) 1 - 2"x2" x 2'-0  (crosspiece near bottom) 1 - 1" x10" x 2'-0 (nameplate) 1 - 5/8" dowel (cut into 4 -3 3/4" lengths) (to afix crosspiece) #8 x 1 1/4" woodscrews (everywhere) #8 x 2" (for bracing into table top from beneath) woodglue, wood letters.

I am happy with the outcome but had some issues due to lack of experience. The screws were not good with oak. Even though I countersunk the holes and predrilled the wood the screws would not go all the way in without some of the head stripping. I tried to back them out and begin with new screws before they became impossible to turn. Wound up having to use an extracter on two. If anyone knows what type of screw to use with oak, I would love to know your answer. I could not in everycase sink the screws enough to use plugs. I forgot to erase a couple of pencil marks; thankfully they were on the underside. My sawline along the edge of the table portion was not precisely straight or even. I did remember to use a square and level before adding the name plate, which is both decorative and a stablizer.

Used almost every inch of material. Cut the uprights across the top with a chop saw set at 22 degrees. I loved using the Minwax polyurethane with stain already in it. I also like that I could use steel wool between coats to even them out. 

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