Small projects for the table
Start with a finished set, then choose a flat inlay, a recessed rim or a stack that stores neatly.
Creating an Easel account is free. No credit card required.
Start from a blank workpiece
Draw a round coaster in Easel, add a ring groove, a shallow recess and the letter M, then preview it in 3D.
Creating an Easel account is free. No credit card required.
Made by Easel gallery makers
Compare finished builds with different surfaces, materials and storage. Each project links to the maker’s page and the actual Easel design. The coffee set and monogram examples include V-carving stages, which require Easel Pro.
Set of 4 coasters with holderby Chris BeckmanA set that has somewhere to go between drinks. Chris Beckman cuts the coasters and layered holder from half-inch material. Cork pads on the bottoms fit inside the recess of the coaster below, so the stack stays together. The Easel file includes the coaster circles and holder parts; add your own face design.
Inlaid Playbook Coastersby Mo StychMo Stych pairs a wooden pocket with a thin two-color acrylic insert. Carving exposes white playbook lines without paint filling. The file separates the playbook artwork, acrylic cutouts and wooden coaster pockets into workpieces, so each material gets its own cut.
Corian Coasters with Walnut Inlayby Fred HouselFred Housel uses scrap quarter-inch Corian, narrow walnut strips and a cork base for a 3.75-inch desk coaster. The CNC cuts the round body and channels; the walnut strips are cut to length and glued in separately. This is a useful option when you want a flat surface rather than a recessed cup pocket.
Hardwood Stacking Coastersby Thomas QuinnThomas Quinn gives each coaster a top pocket and a bottom that nests into the next one. This is a two-sided carve: make the bottom first, cut a locating pocket in inexpensive stock, then fasten the coaster in that pocket to carve the top. All three workpieces are present in the Easel file.
Mustache Inlay Coastersby Jeremy RichardsJeremy Richards builds contrast with a light-wood inlay inside a darker coaster, then machines the face flush after glue-up. The shared file provides the coaster and pocket shapes. Follow the maker’s instructions to mirror and prepare the separate inlay, clamp it into the pocket and add a recessed cork bottom.
Kooky Coastersby Kevin Cleary JrKevin Cleary Jr uses repeated curves and stepped lines to turn small pieces of wood into textured coasters. The file includes paired layouts and individual designs for a matching set. His build uses quarter-inch stock and a small end mill; retain the zero-depth masking rectangles that keep the grooves separated.
Beer Sign and Matching Coaster/Bottle Openerby John CoffeenJohn Coffeen combines a coaster and bottle opener with a matching illuminated beer sign. The file includes separate coaster artwork and a light-ring/coaster workpiece. Start there for the coaster shape and hardware recess; the metal opener insert and sign lighting are separate purchases and assembly work.
Coffee Coaster Set-of-4by Christopher FethChristopher Feth pours resin into carved coffee artwork, then keeps the finished set in a matching wooden holder. His build uses laminated spruce; the file separates artwork, straight-bit carving, V-carving and cutout stages. The CNC creates the recesses and outlines, while finishing and resin pouring happen afterward.
Simple Inlay Coasterby Thomas L.Thomas L.’s maple coasters use walnut initials rather than a repeated picture. The file includes separate inlay and pocket/cutout workpieces, plus alphabet layouts for choosing a letter. This is a different fit problem from thin acrylic: keep the plug and pocket paired as you personalize the initials.
Pop / Beer Cap Coastersby Wayne TaylorWayne Taylor makes a grid of pockets for caps from favorite drinks. The file has the square outline and circular cap pockets; the maker’s instructions describe fitting the caps after sanding. This lets the collected caps supply the decoration rather than carving a graphic into every coaster.
Coaster holdersby Michael whittingtonMichael whittington carves holders sized around separate four-inch resin coasters. The CNC file supplies holder shapes, not the butterfly coasters themselves. It is a useful alternative to a stacked wooden set if you already cast coasters and want them stored upright.
See more coaster search results →
Creating an Easel account is free. No credit card required.
From the makers’ comments and project notes
Read the project comments without an account. Log in to post a question in the project discussion; replies are not guaranteed.
John McWhirter recommends a sharp chisel for the first pass over dried glue around an inlay: it cuts the glue rather than smearing it across the wood. Brian Adle adds that wet glue is easier to wipe away, but partly dried, gummy glue is better left to dry before using the chisel. The cleanup method depends on when you catch the squeeze-out.
Comment by John McWhirter: read the source.
From Simple Inlay Coaster by Thomas L..
Ask a questionCreate a free Easel account, copy a community design and adapt it to your material and hardware.
Creating an Easel account is free. No credit card required.
