Building Crib – NEED SOME HELP with a couple JOINERY and CUTTING questions
Hello all,
I am planning to build the attached crib for my brother’s new baby due in a few months. I am unsure of how to achieve a few of the things in the design.
As labeled in the image:
A. How do I join the side rail and the front post with the curve in the post? How do I cut the mortise and tenon and that kind of curve?
B. The back and front top rails have a concave and convex side. How can I cut these curves into the long rails? I do not have a shaper, is there another way to do this?
A/B. How should I join the ends of the rails with the posts? Given the curve, should I just cut a mortise and tenon before cutting the curve into the shape?
C. How should I join the top rail to the rail beneath it (the one that the slats go into). Should I just do a long tongue and groove?
Thank you so much everyone. I am newer to woodworking so I really appreciate any seasoned people giving advice.
Mike
Replies
I wouldn't do mortise joints on the front, maybe exposed dowels.
Repeated cuts on the table saw and plane the waste would do the outside curve, then maybe cove cut on the table saw for the inside radius.
Very nice design, I may be needing to do something similar.
There are new regulations issued by the Consumer Products Safety Commission relating to the manufacture of baby cribs. As a builder, your are subject to the regulations. The bottom line is that as a manufacturer you must secure a third party certification that the crib is safe for children. Makes no difference if you give it away or if it is for your own child.
Go here for more details.:
http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2011/06/the-new-crib-standard-questions-and-answers/
There are also new regulations relating to anything made for children 12 years old or younger. Again third party certification is required.
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/CPSIA/smbus/manufacturers.html
I understand precautions, and I wouldn't build a crib that had any moving parts, but I surely am not going to stop building toys for the grand kids. I think this crib example is very good and will probably do something similar. Have fun building it, don't let the thought of going contrary to government edicts throw a wet blanket on the process.
Government regulations like this have their place, they can't exempt certain groups, I'm fine with them, and I will take the consequences of running afoul of them.
I agree with Shakespeare...
"First thing we do, kill all the lawyers"
I understand manufacturers and sellers falling under safety regulations. I could even understand publishing guidelines for slat spacing and other safety needs. But third party certification for a grandfather in his woodshop is overstepping the level of regulation that we should tolerate.
Crib Construction vs Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
I have researched these new standards, and quit frankly this is a classic example of a bureaucracy gone crazy! Bottom line If I want to build a "crib" for my grandchild as a family heirloom, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) can stick it where the sun don't shine.
Howie is correct as to what the standard requires though. To meet the standard you must build at least 2 (ea.) Identical Full Size Baby Cribs, send 1 (ea.) to a 3rd party testing lab for testing to insure it meets all the "requirements" of the standard. IF the "crib" passes the testing, which will destroy the test bed btw, the Lab will issue a "certification" for that design only. As the Builder you assume all cost for both construction, shipping, and testing. While I have no idea what the 3rd Party Lab testing would cost, a copy of the ASTM Standard is about $60.00
OVER REGULATION
I agree with the over regulation for crib design, however the project may already be approved. Where did you get the plans and Photo? May be approved already.
Regulations
I appreciate everyones comments on this, very helpful.
I just found the design by searching Google images, so I have no idea if it has been approved. I would think it has, however, I am only building it from looking at it, not from a set of plans.
I can follow the basic regulations, but I don't think I am about to build two of them and send one to a testing lab. That seems a little crazy to me!
Thanks,
Mike
Joinery and design
My sense of the basic design, Mike, is that it is attempting to look like a "sleigh" bed, without really incorporating the curved panels that typify that bed design. Curving the front slats wouldn't work for a crib, of course. But, the curves in the side stiles (?) or vertical members give the sense of the "sleigh" curves. The orientation of those pieces, however, doesn't provide much thickness for a stopped tenon to grab onto. Thus, I'd lean toward "through" tenons, with wedges to maximize the strength of those joints.
The curved "cap" sections of the front and rear top rails could be a simple butt joint, similar to the glue up of a panel. The trick is for the cap section to be thicker material, say 8/4, glued to the thinner lower section to form an inverted "L" shape. Once glued up, the cap section can then be formed to provide the pleasing curves. Think in terms of multiple passes of a router with different bits here.
One thing that is unclear in the photo is how the mattress is supported. It looks like they have no mattress support on the outer frame, but rather a box structure dropped in from the top for the mattress to rest on. If so, that would make the frame subject to excessive lateral or diagonal movement, and potential failure.
All that practical stuff aside, I agree with you and the others - the CPSC has grossly overstepped its purpose with excessive regulation. I can envision legions of grandfathers going to jail over what they've made for their grandkids, and the press having a hayday with the video.
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