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  1. #1
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    Mar 2013
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    Melbourne
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    Default Bed For The Boy - WIP

    During the week I managed to get my hands on some slabs of pine. The story behind them is that they are approx. 10 years old and milled from trees cut down so the Eastlink Freeway could go through here in the outer-east Melbourne suburbs. I really have no idea what species they are, but there is a good chance that if they were from windbreak pines, then it could be Cypress Macrocarpa (Cupressus macrocarpa) or Monterey Pine.

    IMAG0161.jpg

    The timing couldn't have been any better, as I was in the middle of designing and costing up a bed for the young bloke. He's four-and-a-half and has decided that it's time for a "big boy bed". Also, seeing that I got the slabs at a good price, I was now looking at a build cost of less than 1/4 of what I was looking at previously (had I gone and bought materials from a timber yard), and as an added bonus l've only needed the 4 narrower slabs from the original 10 (the head's already in overdrive working out what they can be used for down the track). Probably the only thing that came close to a trade off was that my design would now be dictated by my materials, but those types of builds are often the best.

    Once I finished toing and froing between what I had and what I could do with it, it was time to get down to business. The rough-cutting, buzzing and thicknessing session was done yesterday (all under the watchful eye of the new apprentice), and yielded some impressive sticks with great character and figuring.

    IMAG0165.jpgIMAG0162.jpgIMAG0166.jpgIMAG0169.jpgIMAG0171.jpg

    Today's effort started off with an hour or so on the trusty-old belt sander to give everything an initial sand. As mentioned above re slab sizes, I wasn't able to get side rails long enough to allow for say 90 x 90 posts at the bed's foot so have opted for a mitred leg detail that should turn out pretty good. So, mitres done and offered-up/tweaked, out came the glue and bob's-your-uncle.

    IMAG0173.jpgIMAG0176.jpg

    After lunch it was time to start looking at the bed head. This started with allocating what would go where (probably one of my favourite parts of any job), and then moved on to docking. All head components have also had their backs marked for dowel centres, and are all set for drilling and dry-fit tomorrow. Hope to do some final sanding and detailing tomorrow as well.

    IMAG0177.jpgIMAG0180.jpg

    Will post an update on how I go.

    Craig

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Cherrybrook,NSW
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    344

    Default

    why not add some under bed storage for his toys/clothes or make him a little work bench to build stuff on/play?

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Default

    Good suggestions, but a simplistic design element is what this build is about. He already has a set of tallboy drawers for clothing (which I will be colour matching the bed to), and I made him a toy box a couple of years ago.

    IMG_2860.jpgIMG_2849.jpgIMG_2856.jpg

    He and his sister are also fortunate enough to have a dedicated play room in the house. There's additional storage in there too.

    Craig

  5. #4
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    Mar 2013
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    Melbourne
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    Didn't get as much done as I'd like to have today, but something is always better than nothing. Drilled all my dowel holes, did my joint tweaks in readiness for assembly and started the final sanding and detailing. Managed to get about half way through before I pulled the pin.

    IMAG0183.jpg

    Have decided that I'll apply the finish to the components prior to assembly to avoid having to combat all the internal corners and tight spots once its knocked together. For a change of pace I decided to play with a finish sample. Not bad for first trial, but I need to get a little bit more red into it. Looked pretty good though when I sat it on the boy's drawers, but not quite right.

    IMAG0185.jpg

    Otherwise pretty impressed with how the grain came to life once hit with the stain. Already new they are nice looking boards but this result was a definite bonus.

    Craig

  6. #5
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    Mar 2013
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    Melbourne
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    Have made some handy progress. Nearly completed the finishes on all the bed head components so with a bit of luck might be able to assemble it tomorrow and then concentrate on the remainder of the bed.

    Pretty happy with how it has come up so far. As planned, I needed to end up with something that matched (in colour) an existing set of drawers and I reckon I have come very damn close. The mid tones are definitely the hero.

    The pics are of the centre upright for the head board. The lighting in the shots is pretty crumby as it's a bit gloomy here today.

    IMAG0206.jpg IMAG0197.jpg IMAG0215.jpg

    Craig

  7. #6
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    Mar 2013
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    Melbourne
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    Okey dokey. Bed head done and dusted, and a very pleasing result.

    IMAG0220.jpg

    Craig

  8. #7
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    May 2013
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    Rockhampton QLD
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    68
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    Great WIP and love the pic's.

  9. #8
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    Mar 2013
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    Melbourne
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    Quote Originally Posted by old1955 View Post
    Great WIP and love the pic's.
    Thanks. Much appreciated.

    Craig

  10. #9
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    Jun 2007
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    Looks pretty good from here. I have made 2 queen sized beds in the last year, and they can be as challenging as you want, or as simple as you have shown. At the end of the day, they all look nice, and you have the satisfaction of having built it your self.

    Am looking forward to the finished product.

    Rob
    Check my facebook:rhbtimber

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Pakenham, Victoria
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    53
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    350

    Default

    Looking great!

  12. #11
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    Mar 2013
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    Melbourne
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    Quote Originally Posted by specialist View Post
    they can be as challenging as you want, or as simple as you have shown. At the end of the day, they all look nice, and you have the satisfaction of having built it your self.
    Totally agree. Not ground-breaking in design but should look very sleek when completed. Is more of an exercise in honing some finishing techniques.
    Craig

    Expert /Ex-Spurt/ -n. An "Ex" is something that has been or was. A "Spurt" is a drip under pressure.

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    Dundowran Beach
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    Thumbs up

    This is looking reaaly good!!

    think you are on the money with the timber being macrocarpa.
    You should be thankfull it is very well seasoned. I saw some beautiful
    macrocarpa in NZ that was supposed to be seasoned but when made
    into tables it split all over the place.

    Great job on the staining too. Really tops!

  14. #13
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    Mar 2013
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Quote Originally Posted by artme View Post
    This is looking reaaly good!!

    think you are on the money with the timber being macrocarpa.
    You should be thankfull it is very well seasoned. I saw some beautiful
    macrocarpa in NZ that was supposed to be seasoned but when made
    into tables it split all over the place.

    Great job on the staining too. Really tops!
    Thanks artme. Also good to see you back in action.

    Picking up another 60 to 70 lms tomorrow. Was a lucky find.

    The finish took a while but is certainly worth the effort. The recipe was... Stained (walnut), 2 build-up coats of tinted shellac (mahogany/walnut blend), rubbed back, 3 coats straight amber shellac, rubbed back, top coat straight amber shellac, rubbed back, 1 coat walnut wax, buffed, rubbed back, top coat walnut wax, buffed and then a dumbed down version of a spit polish.
    Craig

    Expert /Ex-Spurt/ -n. An "Ex" is something that has been or was. A "Spurt" is a drip under pressure.

  15. #14
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    Mar 2013
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Well the bed finally made it back up the priority list. About 80% to 90% complete. Pretty much just a final coat of wax and knock together a slat base.

    Can't rush these things.

    IMAG0479.jpg IMAG0475.jpg
    Craig

    Expert /Ex-Spurt/ -n. An "Ex" is something that has been or was. A "Spurt" is a drip under pressure.

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    Thumbs up

    That has come up a treat Craig!! Boy should sleep tight!!

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