04-05-2017, 01:44 PM
I'm working on a small box (approx. 9" x 12" x 3" tall) and want to add a till or tray that rides on some wall inserts. The inserts are approximately half the height of the box and about 5/32" thick. I had planned to make the trays out of 1/8" thick contrasting wood approximately 9" x 9" with a grid insert as separations. I plan to make the bottom for the tray out of solid wood approximately 1/8" thick. I'm stuck trying to make the best decision on how to put the bottom into the tray. Can it simply be glued into a small rabbet in the tray walls or should a very small groove be cut into the sides to inset the bottom? On one hand, I think that gluing them in place would be adequate since they will never hold anything heavy but I'm concerned about expansion contraction of that very thin bottom and so I'm thinking a groove would be better. All the wood is very dry and stable so seasonal movement should be minimal. Alternatively I guess another option would be to purchase some very thin plywood to use as the bottom and assume that could be glued in place with minimal chance of expansion. Would the solid wood bottom need to be set in a groove or would gluing it in place work? Or should I just locate some thin ply to serve as the bottom? Thanks in advance.