Introduction: Portable Painting Palette I Made at TechShop Chandler

A wood painting palette with a glass surface I use for oil painting. Made at TechShop Chandler, www.techshop.ws

Step 1: Supplies

For this project I bought 2x 1x2's (pine or poplar), some 1/8 birch plywood, and a sheet of replacement glass (16x20)

Step 2: Miter Joints

Take your 1x2's and measure the length you need, for this project I needed 4x of each length, 2 for each side. I measure my length from the inside edge of the miter because I needed the sheet of glass to fit inside.

The easiest way to do this is to set the miter/chop saw to a 45 degree angle, set up a stop, cut your wood and then flip it over. and do the other side

Step 3: Gluing the Joints

Next grab your corner clamps/90 degree clamps, apply glue to the ends of your wood and clamp them. Double check that they are clamped square. I chose to nail mine also, you don't have to.

Step 4: Optional Nailing

Step 5: Sanding

Once all corners are clamped use a palm sander to make it pretty. Hopefully under the glue blobs you will have some nice pretty joints

Step 6: Cutting and Gluing

Next cut your birch plywood to a little bigger than your 1x2 rectangle, slather some glue on and clamp them together

Step 7: More Cutting and Routing

After the glue is dry cut your sides a little closer on the table saw if there was a lot leftover like mine. Then grab a 1/4 flush trim/bearing bit and stick it in a router. You want the bearing to follow along the 1x2's underneath the birch plywood. When you route it will trim your birch plywood perfect to the edge of the 1x'2s

Step 8: Optional Rounding of Edges

If you want your edges to be a littler nice and not as sharp put a rounder bearing bit in the router next and take another lap around those edges. I didn't do the full radius of the big, just enough to take the edge off.

Step 9: Screw Hinges In

I bought small hinges at home depot, pick the ugliest side and make it the back.

Step 10: Finishing Up!

Once the 2 sides are screwed together via hinges all you have to do is stick your glass in! I chose to put a layer of cardboard with a piece of white paper on top of that and then my glass. This just gives the glass a little forgiveness, and since I usually start a painting on a white surface I wanted to mix my colors against a white. Some people put 50% gray paper instead, or brown paper if they do a lot of under paintings.