Bedboard Plans

[greg]

I am looking for plans for a simple head board. Help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[MadMark]

Simplest, of course, is none.

Moving up from there you can cut a sheet of furniture grade plywood and add some cap and edge molding. You can go up from their in complexity.

What did you have in mind? Plain and flat? Tufted? Camel Back? Mission? Oak? Mahogany? Cherry? Louis XIV?

What does the rest of your furniture look like?

How big is the bed?

How tall?

Do you want plain or posts?

What is your budget?

What tools do you have to make it with?

Do you want footboard to match? How about frame sides? Side tables?

Many variables. Many choices. Give us something to work with here.

[Lou_williams]

Thanks Mark,

I didn't have the energy to write all the questions you did. It is very hard to give people help when you don't know the real question.

[greg]

Thank you for your reply.

I was inquiring to see if you had plans for a headboard or could reference some articles for me. I am not limited to style because the bed and a computer table are the only things in the room. I just wanted to look at plans that were available and see what struck my fancy. My skill level and tools are adequate for any project, but time is not and I prefer not to get involved with turning bed posts.

Thank you for any help you can give me. My best wishes to you and yours for a happy holiday season.

Greg

[greg]

Thank you for your reply.

I was inquiring to see if you had plans for a headboard or could reference some articles for me. I am not limited to style because the bed and a computer table are the only things in the room. I just wanted to look at plans that were available and see what struck my fancy. My skill level and tools are adequate for any project, but time is not and I prefer not to get involved with turning bed posts.

Thank you for any help you can give me. My best wishes to you and yours for a happy holiday season.

Greg

[MadMark]

There are *lots* of plans. But without even the size of the bed it's hard to make a recommendation!

M

[greg]

Thank you again. Sorry, I forgot to mention the size. It is a full size bed and I would like to make both a headboard and footboard.

Hope to hear from you.

Greg

[MadMark]

Flat or ornate?

The reason that I'm asking all these Q's is that I *design* stuff all the time and produce the plans on CAD. If I can get a feel for what you want I can start drawing.

As for posts, you can *BUY* bedposts from the Rockler or WoodCraft catalogs (or from www.tablelegs.com) so your skills at turning are moot.

My suggestion is to get started by making a couple of glued up panels out of at least 4/4 (5/4 preferred) stock that are the width & height you want. The headboard should extend 12-18" above the level of the bed and the footboard at least 6" above the same level. The panels should start just below the bottom edge of the frame. So if the surface of your bed is 24" above the floor and the bottom of the frame is 6" up then your headboard panel should be about 36" and the footboard 24". You can cheat on the head board and start it just below the bed level and only make it, say 24"

If you have a band saw you can contour the top. Either a simple arc or a more elaborate shape. (If you need I can make a full size template on CAD for you...) Alternately you can use a piece of 1x3 as a flat cap on the head/footboard and then use some "inside corner" moulding under the lip to cover the sawn edge and give it a little more visual interest. Maybe rout the edges of the cap or the scroll work for another "detail".

Rockler has finials, turnings, feet, and posts in your choice of Oak or Maple.

#38814 - Oak Finial - $14
#38736 - Oak Turning - $14
#38840 - Oak Post - $15
#38658 - Oak Foot - $11

Maple is less. The #'s shown here are but for one style, they have several. Buy four of each (turnings optional) and assemble them into a post of your own design. Attach the posts to the ends of your glue ups (hopefully in a matching wood) and you have a completely custom bed set. Use dowels or biscuits to attach the head/foot board to the posts. Once you have the parts in hand and the glue ups complete it should be an easy project.

Order the Rockler catalog thru my web page and I'll make 50¢!

http://www.netexperts.cc/~lambertm/Wood/wood.html

M

[greg]

Thank you Mark, I appreciate the time you took. I am sorry to deprive you of the $.50 but I do receive the Rockler catalog regularly.

I will work up some sort of a design. You have given me some good ideas. I will get back to you if I get stuck.

Thank you again and have a happy holiday.

Regards,

Greg