Joining Turned Posts

[Wayne Tirrell (Guest)]

I'm making a cherry four-poster bed I've designed. The posts are 78" overall height, but my lathe will only turn 31". I would like to join them in the strongest possible way and the best idea I have is tenon joins. Is there a better way to do this or are there any suggestions?

[Dave in Cairns]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Aug-05-01 AT 09:59PM (CDT)[/font][p]Wayne, you're on the right track . A spiggot is turned on one end and the opposite end is drilled using a large forstner bit prior to turning. Same rule applies to spiggots as tenons. Width of spiggot/tenon = 1/3 diameter. The design should incorporate some beading at the join to conceal it. There is another way , that involves relocating the tailstock to temporarily increase the capacity of the lathe. At best this will allow for double the bed length. Not recommended for the faint hearted or inexperienced turner though.
http://www.australianwoodart.com/OVE...%20TURNING.JPG

[TDHofstetter]

GREAT PHOTOS, Dave! Makes me pucker all over to look at it! :)

Hey, you might possibly know - what in the world is a "rag bolt"??? I stumbled across the term a few days ago, but the best I can do is a Yankese "lag bolt". I wonder if they're similar. Maybe not, though, considering the suggested use.


-- Tim --

Forever endeavor.

[Dave in Cairns]

A lag bolt has a coarse thread which will grip in endgrain. The other end can be a hook , loop or machine thread. A rag bolt has barbs to hold it in position , usually helped with glue.

[TDHofstetter]

Barbs... Hmmm. I'm trying to visualize that. I've got a fairly extensive history with all kinds of hardware, but - - -

Oh, wait. The barbs are incorporated into a steel sleeve? Sometimes used in concrete? Now it's starting to make sense, especially in context.

I b'lieve I've got it now. Thanks a bunch!

-- Tim --

Forever endeavor.

[bucheron]

Saw the lovely and talented Norm join turned DF posts using a 1" dowel, about 8 inches long. He used his horizontal boring machine to drill holes in each piece, drove the dowel home with his dead blow, and used construction cement on the mating surfaces. Seems to me that bed posts could be done in a similar fashion?
xman

[TDHofstetter]

What - no brads?

:)

-- Tim --

Forever endeavor.