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In Fine Woodworking’s annual issue, Tools and Shops, in the article, “Mike Dunbar’s Workbench,” he uses what he calls bed bolts to join the legs to the rails. The guy at my local hardware store looked at me funny when I asked if he carried these, and I was also unable to find them at Home Depot. Any suggestions on where to find these elusive little buggers?
Thanks.
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Almost any hardware catalog will have them. I found the Lee Valley catalog number for them, it is 05G17.01. They are $9.80 for a set of 4. You can order on line at http://www.leevalley.com.
*I was looking at ordering some for a job I have comeing up. Here is a link for them.http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.asp?SID=&ccurrency=1&page=40445&category=3,40842,41269Scott
*Bob, I myself work parttime in a hardware shop and being asked for "bed bolts" is a common question. How or why the man you spoke to didn't know what they were is a ??. Depending upon the type of bed, we carry a number of different "bed bolts" to accomplish the same thing; bolt(s) with a u-shaped clamp around it, hex bolts or carriage bolts with a hex nut, etc. Some folks just ask for the longest wood screw, drywall screw or even lags to accomplish their assigned tasks. I took a side trip to the site that Rob and Scott mentioned and I recall having had these from Lee Valley at one time and they are a good thing. Good luck.
*Bob;I just received Woodcrafts latest catalog. The bolts you need are in 4 styles and are shown on page 125.FWIW¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬PAT¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
*Thanks to you all,I'm working on only my second woodworking project. Like any new endeavor, questions you have at the outset seem silly sometimes once you find the answer.Bill, I guess I assumed that the kid at the hardware shop OF COURSE was an expert (or at least knew more than I did). Yeah right!Anyway, I'm sure this isn't the last time I'll have an experience like this. Thanks again for your help regarding this simple problem; I'm glad I have this friendly resource to consult.Bob Shonk
*Gentlemen: For the price of one commercial bedbolt, you can buy eight 3/8-16 X 7 or 8" hex bolts with square nuts. Drill the recess hole large enough for a common socket to tighten 'em. Set the square nut into a blind mortise inside the side rail/foot rail/head rail (although I usually only make the side rails removeable). No special wrench is required, and almost anyone has the tool to dismantle the bed years from now. The bolt cover plates are another rip-off ... plain ones are around $1 each, unless you're willing to pay Rockler $4 or more each. Just a footnote from a tightwad who squeeks when he walks.John
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