Back to my bed making questions again… <!—-><!—-> <!—->
The head board panel will end up being 17in wide by 66in long, so I know I need to make room for wood movement. I will have a top rail and bottom rail each 6in wide that will be mortised into the posts. I also want to mortise the panel, and need advice on the panel tenons. Should I do a 4in center tenon with a haunch below and above or should I do a double tenon with haunch between, above and below? <!—-><!—->
The other idea I had was to create a dado in the top and bottom rails as well as the posts, allowing the panel to float free in between.<!—-> <!—->
I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.
Replies
Allowing the panel to float in a dado is definately the way to go. You're asking for trouble if you lock it in place. A solid wood panel that size is going to move considerably. Make sure you leave enough extra room in the dado's to allow for wood movement. And last, but not least, I recommend space balls in the dado's for keeping the panel centered as it moves.
Walnutz
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