TANSU PET FEEDER
This project started summer of 2000 and finally finished up summer of 2002 (can you tell I move from project to project randomly?). It's the same basic tansu design as the aquarium stand but in mini-form and used as a cat feeder.  The frame is solid 3/4 red oak, the side panels are 1/4 red oak faced plywood, the top is cypress,  and the trim is solid bloodwood. I used my planer, router table, free hand router, drill press, sanders and bench saw for this project. the project is finished in four coats of Bartley's Gel Stain. DESIGN IMPROVEMNT: Although I joined the case with wood dowels (you can see the walnut plugs in the pic to your left) I later discovered that it was much easy and faster to make each side (rails, stiles, and panels) separately and then join them together with a biscuit joiner. This took at least 40% off of fabrication time for later units I made. I was a little concerned about gluing hardwood trim directly to the plywood panels but after several years, there is no sign of wood movement damaging the pieces or creating unsightly gaps.
	Here's the feeder with our first cat, Storm -  doesn't she look thrilled? She's was an averaged sized cat so this gives you some reference to size. Ultimately, I think this size would work fine for a small dog as well as cats.
	Here's a better shot from the front.  The frame is joined with dowels and the panels are set in a 1/4" deep rabbit.  The bloodwood trim is simply glued into place.
	The 4" holes on the top were cut using a Jasper Model 400 circle cutting jig.  The accommodate standard size 1 pint stainless steel food dishes available at just about any pet supply store.
	Here is another red oak unit but with purpleheart trim, this was actually the first attempt but I inadvertently switched the measurements for width and height so it was too tall for the cat to use comfortably - doh!. Fortunately, it found a purpose in life as a music storage box for my wife.