Building a Bed, Part Two

It has been a week since my first post on building the bed (read it here), as was pointed out by Bill in the comment section. During the week, I was handed many fine ideas to contemplate and discuss with my wife.

It seems many of you find lights mounted to the headboard of great use. Thank you, but I have nightstands on both sides of the bed to hold furniture books and copies of Popular Woodworking magazine (at least that’s what’s stored on my side). Also found on those nightstands are lamps. I have plenty of illumination by which to read. Most designs that include lights are a bit too contemporary for my tastes.

Martin, in comments on the previous post, suggested the design was stiff  (which it is) and I should add some curves to the plan. While I appreciate his idea, I’ll again have to pass. My favorite designs in furniture are Queen Anne, Chippendale, Shaker and country. There are not many curves in those designs. Granted the headboard of my previous pencil-post bed did curve, but I don’t see how that design is possible given the top cap that was requested by the spouse.

DavidB sent me an email with photos of his recently built, king-size bed. He used three divided panels across the headboard and footboard. That caused me to rethink what I had set up. Upon further discussion and evaluation, I believe the two-panel design is fine due to the wider rails and stiles and to the additional mouldings designed to wrap the panel areas. (But, don’t be surprised if my bed turns up with three panels.)

In the previous post, I didn’t get into the method I’ll use to attach the head and footboard to the rails. As in early bed designs, I’ll use bed bolts to assemble the parts (shown at the right is a depiction from “Illustrated Cabinetmaking” (Fox Chapel Publishing). The headboard and footboard are each a single unit with the rails being removed and replaced when moving is necessary. Yes, CWilson, I am going to build this bed to be disassembled. The average American moves households every seven years. And Spring-cleaning rolls around at least once a year.

So the big question is how far have I gotten in the first week. Not far. I’ve milled the posts and located the mortises for the rails. And please don’t look for extensive progress next week either. I’ll be out of town the entire weekend and that wreaks havoc on my shop time.

– Glen D. Huey

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