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Watercolor pan grid

Keep labeled replacement pans in a color order and remove one pan without tipping its neighbors. All files are free, including your customized plan.

Half-lap grid

Keep labeled replacement pans in a color order and remove one pan without tipping its neighbors.

Short cells isolate small pans on two axes, while a low overall height makes their sides reachable. This stores dry pans away from the wet painting area.

For A watercolor painter maintaining a small set of spare dry pans. Default clear opening: 60 mm × 57.33 mm × 36 mm.

Adjust dimensions and stock ↓
Measure before you start
  • Measure the largest pan or removable pan holder rather than its nominal size.
  • Include its paper color label and the space needed for a finger pinch.
Tools and access
  • A saw and guide for straight cuts
  • A square, measuring rule and caliper
  • A controlled-depth saw or router plus a chisel for the open-ended half-lap slots
  • Clamps and an offcut for a slot-fit trial
Using this organizer
  1. Let pans dry according to the paint maker's guidance before storage.
  2. Arrange them in a fixed color sequence with a label in each cell.
  3. Lift a chosen pan into the working palette and return it dry after use.
What a useful result needs to do
  • Each pan has enough side clearance to be pinched out.
  • An empty color position remains easy to identify.
  • Grid intersections sit flush so a pan does not rock over a raised crossing.
If the fit is wrong
  • If the pan cannot be gripped, enlarge its cell or reduce the overall wall height before building.
  • If moisture appears beneath a pan, remove it and dry the contents and tray before refilling.
Ready to make. All 10 parts fit the listed stock.
Watercolor pan grid — thumbnail assemblyDimensions are in millimeters. Read the stated measurements; this drawing is not a full-size cutting template.Half-lap grid · Assembled view300 × 220 × 48 mm · thickness 12 mm

Your parts

PartCut lengthCut widthThicknessQtyGrain
300 mm48 mm12 mm2Along length
196 mm48 mm12 mm2Along length
276 mm196 mm12 mm1Unrestricted
275.7 mm36 mm12 mm2Along length
195.7 mm36 mm12 mm3Along length
Watercolor pan grid — dimensionsDimensions are in millimeters. Read the stated measurements; this drawing is not a full-size cutting template.Overall dimensions and clear openingsTop view · front edge at the bottomP1300 mm220Front section · halfway through depth (110 mm)F1F2P1GX1GX2300 mm48Clear width 60 · depth 57.33 mmClear height 36 · plywood 12 mmRead each opening and part from the plan before cutting.

Item allowance: Dry removable watercolor pans rest flat with their color labels — 45 × 35 mm, plus 6 mm of handling space per axis.

A feasible cutting layout

Numbered cuts span their parent region. Coordinates use the sheet's top-left origin. Trim all four edges of each sheet you use first. Keep unused sheets whole. This layout does not claim the lowest possible material use.

Compare your stock choices

Try this same inventory with offcuts first and standard sheets first. Each result is a feasible estimate; the solver may miss a better layout.

Sheet S1.1

Feasible cutting layout S1.1S1.1 · 1200 × 600 × 12 mmC1C2C3C4C5C6C7C8C9C10C11C12C13C14C15C16F1F2P1276 × 196L1L2Hatched bands: 3 mm kerf · trim 5 mm on every edgeGrain arrows · small-part locations: @ x,y mm from sheet top-leftF1 · 300 × 48 mm @ 5,5F2 · 300 × 48 mm @ 308,5GX1 · 275.7 × 36 mm @ 611,5GX2 · 275.7 × 36 mm @ 889.7,5L1 · 196 × 48 mm @ 284,56L2 · 196 × 48 mm @ 483,56GY1 · 195.7 × 36 mm @ 682,56GY2 · 195.7 × 36 mm @ 880.7,56GY3 · 195.7 × 36 mm @ 284,107
Cut sequence
CutParent regionDirectionCoordinate (mm)First childSecond child
C1N1horizontal53N2N3
C2N2vertical305N4N5
C3N5vertical608N6N7
C4N3horizontal252N8N9
C5N8vertical281N10N11
C6N7horizontal41N12N13
C7N12vertical886.7N14N15
C8N15vertical1165.4N16N17
C9N11horizontal104N18N19
C10N18vertical480N20N21
C11N21vertical679N22N23
C12N23horizontal92N24N25
C13N24vertical877.7N26N27
C14N27vertical1076.4N28N29
C15N19horizontal143N30N31
C16N30vertical479.7N32N33

Connections and machining

Half-lap grid · 10 pieces · 12 mm plywood. Two crossing sets of dividers have complementary open-edge notches. Seat the notches together before lowering the grid onto the base.
Watercolor pan grid — connectionsDimensions are in millimeters. Read the stated measurements; this drawing is not a full-size cutting template.Half-lap grid · connection detailsMatching top and bottom notches form the crossing joint.GX · opens from top12.3 wide × 18.15 highThrough 12 mm thicknessUncut bridge 17.85 mmGY · opens from bottom12.3 wide × 18.15 highThrough 12 mm thicknessUncut bridge 17.85 mmLower bottom-notched GY over top-notched GX. Align the stripbottoms, then lower the unglued grid onto the base.Joint reference spans · length × width (mm)F + L · 12 × 48F + P · 276 × 12L + P · 196 × 12GX + GY · 12 × 17.85GX + P · 275.7 × 12GY + P · 171.1 × 12
Watercolor pan grid — machiningDimensions are in millimeters. Read the stated measurements; this drawing is not a full-size cutting template.Grooves and notches · after cutting the blanksDimensions in mm · use the machining table for every coordinate.GX1, GX2 · Across-width grid stripM1M2M3x · length 275.7 mmy 36Origin (0, 0): bottom-left of the face shown.12.3 × 18.15 × 12 mm · slot length × width × depthFace: through · opening: top edgeGY1, GY2, GY3 · Front-to-back grid stripM4M5x · length 195.7 mmy 36Origin (0, 0): bottom-left of the face shown.12.3 × 18.15 × 12 mm · slot length × width × depthFace: through · opening: bottom edge

Coordinates start at the bottom-left of each face shown in the machining drawing. x follows the blank length; y follows its width. Depth runs through the sheet thickness.

Operation / piecesCut on facex / y (mm)Length × width (mm)Depth (mm)OpeningTool / sequence
M1 · GX1, GX2Half-lap notch · through59.7 / 17.8512.3 × 18.1512top edgejigsaw · 3 mm · 1
M2 · GX1, GX2Half-lap notch · through131.7 / 17.8512.3 × 18.1512top edgejigsaw · 3 mm · 2
M3 · GX1, GX2Half-lap notch · through203.7 / 17.8512.3 × 18.1512top edgejigsaw · 3 mm · 3
M4 · GY1, GY2, GY3Half-lap notch · through57.03 / 012.3 × 18.1512bottom edgejigsaw · 3 mm · 4
M5 · GY1, GY2, GY3Half-lap notch · through126.37 / 012.3 × 18.1512bottom edgejigsaw · 3 mm · 5

Put it together

Watercolor pan grid — exploded assemblyDimensions are in millimeters. Read the stated measurements; this drawing is not a full-size cutting template.Half-lap grid · Exploded assemblyF1F2L1L2P1GX1GX2GY1GY2GY3300 × 220 × 48 mm · thickness 12 mmTwo crossing sets of dividers have complementary open-edgenotches. Seat the notches together before lowering the grid ontothe base.Part labels match the cutting list. Use numerical dimensions.

  1. 1. Measure and mark

    Measure 12 mm main plywood. Mark every part and its grain direction; recalculate before cutting if either thickness changes. Trial the smallest planned pan in a full-depth cell mock-up and check the half-lap slots on scrap.

    Parts: F, L, P, GX, GY · Start here

  2. 2. Cut and label the blanks

    Follow the rectangular cutting map and label every instance. Machine the separate notches or grooves only after the blanks are cut. Follow the tool manufacturer’s setup and workholding instructions.

    Parts: F, L, P, GX, GY · After measure

  3. 3. Cut the complementary notches

    On GX cut down from the top; on GY cut up from the bottom. Each notch is 12.3 mm wide and 18.15 mm high through the sheet. Preserve the opposite uncut bridge; square the notch corners and test scrap first.

    Parts: GX, GY · After cut

  4. 4. Dry-fit the case

    Check the 300 × 220 mm footprint, square corners and centered inset base. Base clearance is 0 mm per edge; confirm the selected adhesive can bridge that gap.

    Parts: F, L, P, GX, GY · After machine

  5. 5. Assemble the base and walls

    Bond the base and wall contact faces, keeping the base underside flush with the wall bottoms. Clamp square and follow the adhesive cure instructions.

    Parts: F, L, P · After dry-fit

  6. 6. Interlock the loose grid

    Outside the case, lower the bottom-notched GY strips over the top-notched GX strips. Align their top and bottom edges; keep the 0.3 mm clearance free of glue.

    Parts: GX, GY · After machine

  7. 7. Lower the grid into the tray

    Lower the assembled grid vertically onto the base. Verify every end gap and check that the grid lifts out without force.

    Parts: GX, GY, P · After glue, interlock

  8. 8. Cure, finish and check the fit

    Follow the adhesive cure instructions. Smooth edges, test the intended objects and apply a compatible finish without filling the clearances. Fit four felt pads. Use only for light desktop items; no load rating is provided. Use for dry spare pans. Keep rinse water and wet mixing outside the grid.

    Parts: F, L, P, GX, GY · After seat-grid

Materials and supplies

  • Uses 1 standard sheet(s) and 0 existing offcut(s). Check your inventory before buying.
  • S1: 1 of 1 used · 1200 × 600 × 12 mm plywood (standard sheet).
  • Four self-adhesive felt pads.
  • Adhesive suitable for the selected plywood. Use the actual bond faces and the adhesive label; keep sliding and removable joints free of glue.
  • Compatible finish and abrasive. Keep joint clearances open after finishing.

Take the complete plan

Parts, stock, cutting sequence and machining CSVs, connection and assembly diagrams, a printable plan and editable JSON. No sign-up.

For PDF, open the print page and choose Save as PDF in your browser. Use A4 or Letter.

For light desktop storage. Geometry checked; physical assembly and durability untested. Follow your tool, sheet and adhesive instructions. Adhesive quantity and curing time depend on the product you use.

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