1ST Grandchild Project (WIP) - Completed!

[Canuck]

We are being blessed with our first grandchild. Our oldest daughter is due in January 2010.

Among the many projects on the list was a baby cradle. I searched the web and found one that was published awhile back in Woodsmith magazine that she really liked. I ordered the plan and cheated a bit and also got the hardware kit that included the 22 turned oak spindles. Although I do have a lathe, I just couldn't see myself turning 22 identical spindles with any success!

My first challenge was to cut all of the adjoining rails and stiles for the end panels at precisely 15 degrees with mortise and tenon joinery. With a bunch of help from Joe Scharle and the Woodrat, we were successful in cutting perfect mortice's for the floating tenons and then it was onto cutting out the curved rails for the top of the end panels.



With my decision to go with flat panels (options were plywood panel, raised oak panel or solid oak panel (no rails/stiles) I found that I needed another tool accessory! Off I went looking for a slot cutter to accommodate the not so ¼” oak plywood, It turned out to be 7/32”. With assistance from Raleigh WC, I was in business with the correct slot cutter and proceeded to get yet another lesson from Joe regarding safe freehand curved slot cutting at the router table.

All done a ready for the panels…




The panels of course also had to be cut at close to that 15 degrees on the sides. Utilizing my Universal Crosscut sled and my new nifty digital protractor, they were a snap to cut!








With the end panels all dry fitted, I though it was time to move onto the side rails.

All rails and stiles for the sides were cut to the final dimensions and this time I decided to not bother Joe and just go with 3/8” dowel joinery. Then onto drilling all 44 holes in the rails for the spindles.



Needless to say the glueup was somewhat challenging in terms of aligning all of those spindles and drawing it all together.





Back to the end panels….

After the glueup had dried, I had shear off the “little ears” at the bottom of each end panel (stile ends).



For this, I once again turned to the crosscut sled, held my breath (no guard!) and they sheared off without incident. (Gotta love that Universal Crosscut Sled!)



Next. Drilled and countersunk all the holes necessary to attach the side rail frames, Chucked up a ¼” roundover bit in the Colt and profiled the edges.





And this is where I stand so far after more sanding and dry fits.






Hopefully tomorrow, I will get the basket bottom cut and next week start work on the uprights, stretcher and feet.

It’s been a fun project so far ……

Thanks for looking!

Wayne

[Tar Heel]

Wayne, you're doing a great job on that cradle. I built one six years ago from the same plan (pic in my gallery). I modified the plan so that I could use a full size cradle matteress (18 x 36) so the baby would not outgrow it as quickly. My granddaughter slept in it for about 6 months. My grandson came along 3 years later and did the same. It's seen it's last use until maybe my great grandchild because my daughter says, "that's all folks".

[kmcardle]

Wow, my first visit as a member and my first visit to the forums is looking at your wonderful project for you new grandchild. That craddle will certainly be an heirloom. Thank you for sharing all the detailed photo's. I wish I had done this for my grandchildren when they were born. Thank you!!

[Canuck]

Originally Posted by kmcardle

Wow, my first visit as a member and my first visit to the forums is looking at your wonderful project for you new grandchild. That craddle will certainly be an heirloom. Thank you for sharing all the detailed photo's. I wish I had done this for my grandchildren when they were born. Thank you!!

Thanks so much for the feedback, kmcardle!!

How about stopping in at the "Who We Are" forum and introducing yourself to our membership?

Yes. I have four daughters and hope that this cradle will see plently of use over the next few years.

Thanks again for looking!

Wayne

[Canuck]

Originally Posted by Tar Heel

Wayne, you're doing a great job on that cradle. I built one six years ago from the same plan (pic in my gallery). I modified the plan so that I could use a full size cradle matteress (18 x 36) so the baby would not outgrow it as quickly. My granddaughter slept in it for about 6 months. My grandson came along 3 years later and did the same. It's seen it's last use until maybe my great grandchild because my daughter says, "that's all folks".

Yep. That's it, Stuart (from Woodsmith)!

Yours sure looks great done in cherry! The wood has taken on a whole new patina, I'll bet.

Very, very nice!

Wayne

[Jeff Mills]

Nice Chuck you should be proud

[Mt. Gomer]

That is beautiful!!!

[ptt49er]

That looks great!! I know it will see plenty of loving use!

[TV]

Looking great, Wayne! And congrats on the fast approaching grandchild.

tv

[Canuck]

Just a few more details to complete…..

I had to cut the curves on the stretcher and using my template and a pattern bit, clean up the profile.





One thing that gave me a bit of a fit was the swing lock. The plan called for a stepped hole (3/4” down to ½”) for a stepped dowel that should have slid into a recess in the bottom rail of the basket.

Well…. After I spent too much time making the stepped dowel..


….when I drilled the through ½” hole in the upright, it was off center with the ¾” hole and would not slide through the stretcher into the recess.

Decided on another recovery. Just drill the ¾” hole all the way through the stretcher. Cut a piece of ¾” dowel and screw a 7/8” diameter fender washer to the end of the dowel. (Thanks for that tip Joe!)



Worked like a charm!

Last was adding a cap to the stretcher…


Completed the keeper pegs for the stretcher mortise and tenon and finally ready for finish….



Got it all done today!!!

Gave it one very, very light coat of Minwax Golden Pecan stain, one coat of gloss wipe-on poly, steel wooled with 0000 and three more coats of satin wipe-on poly.



(Picture looks a little darker than it really is. Camera trickery!)

Now I turn it over to the LOML to design and make a mattress and bedding.

Again. This was a fun project, in spite of several new woodworking techniques learned. (Cutting M&T, through mortises, slot cutting and plenty of band saw and template routing for the curves.)

Hope that it will be well used in the future!

Thanks for looking and bearing with me through all of this detail!

Thanks,

Wayne

[PChristy]

Looking great Wayne

[McRabbet]

And another family heirloom is born! Beautiful job, Wayne!!

[kmcardle]

Wayne - That looks beautiful. Wow. You must have spent quite a few hours this week on it.

Kevin

[FredP]

great work! bet that one will be passed down for quite some time.

[LeftyTom]

Gorgeous work, Wayne. The tusk tenon is a nice aesthetic (betcha thunk I didn't know any fiddy cent words!) touch.

[Trent Mason]

Wayne, that turned out VERY nice!!! Excellent work!