I’m planning a poster bed and will appreciate some advice.
The end rails (head and base) will be joined to the posters, with mortise and tenon joints.
The side rails, both top and bottom need to be dismantled, in order to assemble the bed around an existing base. What kind of joint do I use, allowing for assembly and diss-assembly, without showing screws, bolts etc.
Replies
Rockler and others have bed hardware of different kinds that you could use.
The current issue, #175, February 2005, of Fine Woodworking has an article about the basics of bed design that will probably tell you what you need to know and possibly will warn you about some pitfalls that you wouldn't have thought of.
Often four poster beds are built with both the rails and the footboard and headboard being removable, it makes the bed much easier to break down and move.
John W.
Traditionally beds had bolt covers, Rockler and several other suppliers offer a variety of styles of these and also offer bed bolts. Mortise and tenon joinery is used.
As an alternative, depending on your style preferences, you may wish to consider through tenons and wedges, using a contrasting wood for the wedges and making them a design element, for example maple or beech construction with walnut wedges.
I used 3/8 x 6 carriage bolts with washers and covers when I built my bed from butternut (aka white walnut in these parts) with dyed butternut dowels left proud and sanded to a smooth radius for those joints that needed to be pinned.
If I can ever find the CD or the photos, I'll post them.
Regards,
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