Another Grandchild, Another Crib

[BarneyD]

Hi All,
We have another grandchild scheduled for arrival next Friday. Don't know which variety as the parents want to be surprised. So of course I received the "commission" to build the crib which I just finished. The design is loosely based off a photo that my DIL sent for inspiration. The wood is cherry with garnet shellac as finish. Thankfully I have a DF500 - there are 110 tenons in this thing. Now I have to crate it up and ship it to Philly.
Cheers,
Barney

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[rvieceli]

very nice Barney

 

[WarrenT]

Wow, That is a great job by a proud Grandfather !

I just bought a Domino two days ago, now I know what it can do.   

The design, the wood selection, and the finish combine nicely to make a beautiful project.

 

[Dogberryjr]

Very nice.

 

[BarneyD]

Thanks to all for the kind words.

 

[JimD]

Looks Great!  I am getting close to done on my first crib, third grandchild is due in November.  I went with the plans from Wood magazine which helped but I don't think they are great plans. 

It looks like you may have used cross bolts, I call them barrel bolts, to hold it together.  If so, did you have any difficulty?  The plans I used call for drilling the nut holes before assembly and the bolt holes after deeper than needed in both cases.  I had a variety of issues with my 8 bolts.  Biggest issue was nuts that did not want to come back out if pushed too far.  I think it was loose pieces from the bolt hole in the nut hole hanging them up.  I used hard maple which machined pretty well. 

 

[BarneyD]

Thanks, [member=45813]JimD[/member]

That was also my third crib. I've used the Wood Mag plans and also the Rockler plans. This one is my design. I did not use the barrel bolts. I used the RTA bolts and steel threaded insert nuts (from McFeelys). I also used Dominoes (without glue).

Have you found a source for the mattress support yet? For my first two cribs I purchased the supports from Products America, but they've since gone out of business. I've hunted high and low for an alternate source but have come up empty. We have an old unused crib here and I was going to use the mattress support from it, but it's an inch too long. I'm about to cut it down so it will fit the new crib. But if you've found a new source, I'd love to buy a new one.
Thanks,
Barney

 

[ultane]

That is beautiful!

 

[JimD]

Barney,

I did not even look for what I think of as a normal mattress support - steel with springs.  The Wood plans included a comment that they had not been able to find that part so they had a sketch for a wooden platform of 3/4 plywood with a hardwood edge.  I had more 1/2 than 3/4 plywood laying around so I used that.  I rabbeted the top edge of the hardwood frame and threw in a center support.  I am confident that it will support my grandson as long as he fits into the bed.  The hardwood I had dressed to 7/8 inch so the frame is also fairly stout.  I think the edging is 2 inches high.  I mitered the corners and put it together with a plugged screw in each corner and to attach the center support (finish is white tinted Resisthane and yet to be applied). 

Threaded inserts would be a lot simpler.  The plans used those for the mattress support attachment but the cross bolts for the headboard/footboard attachment to the cross rails.  I will do something different if I build another crib.  It was too hard to align holes on the finished parts.  I think bed rail fasteners might also work.

Jim

 

[BarneyD]

Thanks, [member=45813]JimD[/member]

I've also reconsidered my original plan and will make my mattress support from wood like you did.  I'm confident it will be plenty strong and last as long as needed. I tried the barrel bolts and, like you, I didn't like them (much too fussy). Thanks for the confirmation.

Cheers,
Barney