A few more progress pics of the Mission style bed build.    Danl

 

I do not have a pic of the side-rail cleat before glue-up to the side rail.  This is a pic of the final assembly of the side rail with the cleat being attached.

 

 

I made a simple jig to help make the cleat dove-tail.  The dove-tail will accept the bed slats.  The cleat is being held in my Moxon vise.  I removed most of the material with the table saw and then used a router with a trim bit.  The temporary tenons in the side of the rails will aid with the spray finishing.  The rail slats are made from poplar wood.

 

 

 

Sample board showing the progression of the finishing process.  Raw QSWO, one coat of Transtint medium brown in DA, then sprayed with 1-1/2# seal coat, then one coat of General Finishes Antique Walnut, then sprayed with 1-1/2# seal coat, then three oats of Sherwin Williams Sher-wood Kem Aqua plus (WB lacquer).  

 

 

 

I spray in my garage and the weather is hot.  Cure time is in the kitchen.  

 

 

Now time to assemble the footboard.  The first dry-run took 1 hour by myself.  My wife and I were able to get the spindles glued in 10 min and final glue-up in 1/2 hour.  I used Titebond hide glue for the adhesive.   The two pine strips aided in holding the spindles in location while flipping the top rail and strips 90-deg and then positioning the lower rail.  The footboard had 68 joints.  The fit-up of the spindles to the rails were fairly tight before adding the glue.  The pine strip closes to the lower rail was made 1/64"-1/32" thinner than the gap measurement to aid in the assembly.   All of the spindle were numbered and had a reference mark to assure clocking orientation to get the "pretty side" on the correct side.  Numerous glue aids were made.  Most were painted red.

 

 

The next day I glued the headboard assembly.  It is similar to the footboard except with the addition of a 3rd rail and longer legs.  To aid in the assy, I made the tenons on the lower rail 1/4" shorter than the upper and mid rail.  I also made the tenons on the middle spindle, or center slat, 1/4" longer, top and bottom, than the other spindles for both the footboard and headboard.

 

 

Now time to add felt pads to the bottom of all the legs. 

 

 

I still have to spray finish to the top cap of the footboard and headboard, spray finish to the side rails, and spray shellac on the bed slats.  All of this before final assembly.  I did trial install the side rails to the footboard and headboard.  Pics will be forthcoming.  Thanks for looking.   Danl 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 22, 20232 yr by Danl

Now that's a glue-up!  Beautiful!

Nice work, I like the detail design in the center board.

Your work is incredible and inspiring Dan. Beautiful piece of heirloom furniture.

The hot weather is playing havoc with the completion.  I need to perform a little more spraying of finish and it is either too hot or too humid or both.   I guess I now have the time to get a hair cut.    Thanks for the kind words.    Danl