I have just finished building a bed from reclaimed barn woood (except for the top boards whuch are from the unterior of a grain elevator) for a small log cabin we have as a summer home. Never tried this before, but the mortise and tenon work was worthwhile doing because of the rigidity it adds. The square pyramid plugs were a modification of someone else’s advice here in the past.
However, the attachment of the side rails is low, and the posts are fairly massive. I attached brackets x 4, but I’m not happy with the instability. Had I known this, I would have planned for mortise and tenon work here as well.
Does anyone here have a suggestion for a heavy duty steel bracket that will work? Or should I try long countersunk timber screws through the front of the posts into the sideboards and plug?
Thanks very much.
Replies
Rails
Don't drill through the posts. I would drill for three 1/2 in. dowels in the end of the rail and sync up three holes in the post. Than with a 4 inch long "L" bracket on the inside I would secure from post to rail -
SA
Rails
Thanks for that!
Dave
Rails
I was thinking about this technique. It's 180 miles from home and shop. Any suggestions for lining up the dowel holes perfectly doing it freehand with a hand drill? I can use ratchet straps to pull things together.
Thanks again,
Dave
Dowels
Dowel centers work well but if you don't have dowel centers than it's just a matter of marking and transferring the marks fom the end of the rail to the post. While the rail is attached to the post.... draw a pencil line on the post around the rail end. Find the center of the drawn rectangle - space + lay out the center of each hole that needs drilling for both ends - I like using a spade bit or a brad point bit to stay exactly centered.
SA
Dowels
Thanks very much, SA.
Looks like I will never ever move this bed agaoin, once it's dowelled together!
Dave
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