Replies

1. 
   bleubassplyr | Nov 15, 2005 07:01pm | #1

   Check out Jeff Miller's Bed book. It has plans and instructions on how to make a beautiful pencil post bed.

   There are more old drunkards than old doctors.  Ben Franklin

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Nov 17, 2005 05:19am | #2

   I recently completed a pencil post bed out of curry English sycamore.  I made the square tapers with a table saw jig, but did the sides that create the octagon just by using hand planes, using chisels and carving gouges where those sides transition to the square with a lambs tongue.  I got so carried away on planing the first post that my shoulder was sore for several weeks. 

1. 
   bleubassplyr | Nov 17, 2005 06:51pm | #3

   Hi Steve,

   Please post any photos you have. It sounds like it came out great. I made a pencil post bed following Jeff Miller's instructions from his book. I made mine out of cherry. I shaped the posts using an electric planer followed by hand planes. It was tedious and had some tear out. In the future I would build a jig for the tablesaw.

   Attached is a couple photos of my bed. The angle of the shot of the whole bed isn't great but you'll get the idea.

   BleuThere are more old drunkards than old doctors.  Ben Franklin

   
2. 
   Garry | Nov 21, 2005 05:54pm | #4

   This is how I make long tapers

   http://www.superwoodworks.com/Projects/Stairs.htm

   View Image

   View Image

   http://www.superwoodworks.com

1. 
   woodguy | Nov 22, 2005 03:49am | #5

   Thanks Garry, It seems that an extra long tapering jig is what's called for. Thanks for the great pictures. Woodguy

3. 
   Napie | Nov 22, 2005 09:56pm | #6

   I have built at least four or five and did all the tapers with a bandsaw and handplanes.  If you were doing production then jigs would make sense, but for one-offs, it is great planning practice.