joins for a criss-cross shape

I am making a thread rack for my spools simialar to this one (Cedar House Sews: Threading Up), except with a criss-cross base instead of a square. The vertical part that holds the spools is a piece of rectangular timber 3.5cm ² x 50cm length which will have drill holes for dowel pieces to hold the spools.


The original plan was to have the base as a criss-cross except I am having trouble figuring out a way to join the criss-cross and place the rectangular rack vertically in the joined base. I don't want to simply nail/screw the pieces together as I want something that does not add extra height. Any ideas? Could I make a rotating base?


Also how do I drill holes on all 4 sides at the given angle (60 degrees) and depth (mid-way) without them intersecting in the middle of the timber. does it matter if they do intersect? (the will be all on the same level). Would too many holes weaken the wood?

Base - if you are using two pieces, the simplest way to join them is to rebate both pieces 50%. Then you can join using (my preference) screws, nails or staples with or without glue. If your work is to a tight tolerance, you might be able to use glue alone.

Hole drilling - this is probably best achieved by either using a drill press or a jig. For what you are doing it should not matter if the holes join in the middle but if you set a stop on your drill press or bit if using a jig this should not happen. The holes should not weaken the wood to any degree (unless you are supporting an industrial sewing machine on top).

You could join the base to the upright using pocket holes and 4 pieces of timber to get the cross effect stand. The other alternative would to make the base using 2 pieces of timber and a lap joint, but this would increase the height as the vertical would then sit on top of that.

I made a much larger version of that to hold my collection of electric chain saws. The post is about 90mm square, and the dowels are 25mm or so, at a shallower angle, holding the handles. I drilled the holes on a drill press with the table tilted, and it doesn't matter if they intersect.

For the base, I used four pieces of wood (~35mm x 90mm vertical) in pinwheel fashion around the post, screwed to the post, and extending about 300mm to some casters to maneuver it about the shop.

A smaller version should work fine for your spool storage.

Cheers,
Joe

As woodentree is a new member and might not know woodwork terminology, lap joints, pocket holes, etc, plus may not have access to a drill press.
What state and where is "by the lake"?
For the base I'd screw one end of a piece of 11/2" (40 mm) X 3/4" (19 mm) to the post with a bit of PVA glue, then work your way around till you get the 4 pieces. Once the 4 pieces are attached, screw into the end of the pieces of 11/2" (40 mm) X 3/4" (19 mm), just make sure that they are flat on the bottom, so it won't rock. The 11/2" is the vertical piece, so the 3/4" sits on the table
The pieces will look like a cross with the arms offset.
Pictured below is a lap joint, which will raise the holder by 3/4" (19 mm)
Attachment 418007

A simple angled drilling jig is pictured below.
Attachment 418008
Without knowing what tools you have access too, makes it hard to describe what could be an easy fix or a hard way of doing something.
Kryn

Here are a couple pictures requested by Kryn.

Could something like this work for you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4lOeUYoDME