Replies

1. 
   Ricks503 | May 12, 2005 09:34pm | #1

   American Woodworker#64 and WOOD #135 both had plans

   1 - measure the board twice

   2 - cut it once

   3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go

   4 - get a new board and go back to step 1

1. 
   WillGeorge | May 13, 2005 06:57pm | #8

   How many times do you go back to step one before you try step 5?

1. 
   Ricks503 | May 13, 2005 08:23pm | #9

   Until you get step 3 correct.1 - measure the board twice

   2 - cut it once

   3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go

   4 - get a new board and go back to step 1

1. 
   WillGeorge | May 13, 2005 08:35pm | #10

   GOOD ANSWER!

2. 
   Lilshaver | May 13, 2005 03:26am | #2

   Kim,

   Sleigh beds are not a real common item. When I needed to make one, I looked toward a variety of places for inspiration. What I saw didn't inspire me (actually I think most sleigh beds look really clunky) so I designed my own. Around here we see a few horse drawn sleighs, many more dog sleds (sort of a sleigh) , and of course there's always Santa. I can send you a photo of mine if you like. Lacking a scanner this will be a digital photo of a printed photo. I have no plans, only the working templates and the bending form for the head and footboards. I'm still hoping for another client to want a sleigh bed. Since the forms are made my profit margin ought to be a little fatter!

   Jeff

3. 
   DP | May 13, 2005 04:23pm | #3

   The cover article in FWW, #124, was making a sleigh bed.  No full plans but enough to allow one to replicate the design.

4. 
   RogerL | May 13, 2005 05:19pm | #4

   This is a very simple design.  If you are interested I can give you specifics on how it was made.  I don't have a picture of the completed bed that is digital.  This is curly maple and I also made one in cherry.  The panels are solid wood.  So they are time consuming to glue on an angle and then carve the curve. 

   Roger

   
1. 
   tedwilson | May 14, 2005 03:13am | #11

   That is a beautiful design!  My wife saw a similar one in a local shop, and wants one just like it, particularly the curved rail on the top of the head and footboards. 

   I am planning to attempt it in the coming winter, and I also have Jeff Miller's book. He has a bed somewhat similar, but uses plywood bent over a form to get the curved panels.  I don't know how I will reproduce your curved top rails, except with hand planes and scrapers.

   So basically my plan is to follow Jeff's bed plan with a shaped top rail in place of his cylindrical rail. 

   best regards,

   Ted

1. 
   RogerL | May 15, 2005 02:21pm | #12

   The rail both top and bottom is basicly a huge dowel with tenons turned on both ends to glue to the legs.  The first one I made I made on an extended bed lathe I had access to at the time.  The second one I made by making a hexagon on the table saw by cutting the 4 corners off.  Then I shaped it with a plane to a rough cylinder.  Started with 36 grit paper working it like a shoe shine rag around the cylinder and got it near perfect.  Made a jig to set it into and routed an off center dado to accept the panels.  When the panel comes in at an angle it looks less like a round piece.  I like the look  much better than a curved rail.  But your choice.  The bed is a platform bed that doesn't use a box spring.  The rails are held together with bed bolts.  I use 1/2 in. x 6in.  bolts from the hardware store.  Much cheaper than catalog bed bolts.  The bed is so stiff It will tolerate 2 very large people in matrimonial bliss...so to speak.  When you decide to make it if you would like dimensions and a template of the legs let me know.  I'll send them to you.  You can e-mail me at [email protected] just be sure to put "sleigh bed plans" in the subject.  I don't open any e-mail if I don't know the sender.

   Roger

1. 
   Biscardi | May 16, 2005 04:55am | #13

   Question:

    

   How is the curved foot board done? Is it coopered? How do you get the turn in it?

   Thanks

   Frank

1. 
   RogerL | May 16, 2005 12:44pm | #14

   There is on glue joint on an angle to start the curve.  Then it is carved out from there.  The outer side is done with a hand plane.  The inner curve is done with a router jig to rough it out and then finished with sanding starting with 36 grit.  It is the only hard part of making the bed.

   Roger

5. 
   gnarlyroad | May 13, 2005 05:36pm | #5

   Check out the front page of this site under project plans. First listing is for a sleigh bed.

1. 
   kcg99999 | May 13, 2005 05:45pm | #6

   The head boards are flat in those plans.  I need curved.  I found one way back in FWW #91.  The guy boasts of spending 1200 hours on it - 8 months!  No way my customer would go for that.  I need something I can do in 3-4 weeks.  Guess I'll have to do the design.

   Thanks, Kim

6. 
   bleubassplyr | May 13, 2005 06:30pm | #7

   Check out Beds by Jeff Miller. It has plans and step by step instructions. Jeff really knows what he's doing. The book has other excellent designs too. I made the pencil post bed he has in there.

   There are more old drunkards than old doctors.  Ben Franklin