Replies

1. 
   fussy | Feb 06, 2007 07:09am | #1

   You guys are gonna sleep in it, so do it the way you want (rather the way your WIFE wants).  Seriously, it would look as good horizontal to me as vertical.  That's why we build stuff--to get it the way we like it. 

   Steve

   Two ways to make your wife happy:

   1.  Let her think she's having her own way.

   2.  Let her have her own way.

2. 
   SteveSchoene | Feb 06, 2007 07:25am | #2

   Absolutely nothing out of place about running the grain in the head board horizontially.  Many, many headboards are made with solid wood, not frame and panel.  With the solid wood the grain must run horizontally, or the width of the bed would change too much with the seasons.

1. 
   Starrman | Feb 09, 2007 09:36pm | #6

   Thanks for your reply. I will probably frame up all but the field and as starburn suggested hold up the field to get a "view" of the way I what the grain to run.

3. 
   Kaleo | Feb 06, 2007 09:54am | #3

   You most likely see the panel have there grain running vertically because those panels are veneered. You only have to remember wood movement. If the wood is pretty straight grained then the wood will always move 90 degrees to the grain. If you remember that and build around it, you'll be fine.

   Kaleo

   http://www.kalafinefurniture.blogspot.com

4. 
   starburn | Feb 07, 2007 04:37am | #4

   The orientation issue can only be decided subjectively.  It comes down to what pleases your eyes.  Can  you lay the wood out horizontally, then kinda squint just right and visualize it in it's final form?  Sometimes different is way cool, but sometimes different is just different.  And maybe it's because, like you, all the beds I've ever seen seem to have vertically aligned grains in those areas, so I would feel strongly influenced to go through all the movement calculations and special joinery strategies, to make it look "right".  Hope you'll post a pic, when you're done, who knows, maybe you'll start a trend.

1. 
   woodman2263 | Feb 07, 2007 04:32pm | #5

   This is the bed I just finished, maybe this might give you some ideas.

    

   
2. 
   Starrman | Feb 09, 2007 09:41pm | #7

   I already calculated the movement issues and know I have room to work the way I want the grain to run. I was just torn as to why most other beds don't have the grain horizontally. I will try the squint technique just to double check my self anyway. <!----><!----><!---->

   I will glad to post the pictures after, maybe in the next week or so if I can get SHOP time…!!<!----><!---->

    

1. 
   starburn | Feb 10, 2007 08:45pm | #8

   Funny, just after I made that post I ran across a photo of a kingsize mahogany bed that had the head and foot panel grains run horizontally and it didn't look odd, the guy did a great job.  If I can run across the pic again I'll copy and post it for ya.