Headboard

[MauleSkinner]

I built a platform bed for my wife and me, and while the rest of it was a power tool project, my goal is to to get rid of at least my stationary power tools before I retire, so I went the hand tool route for the headboard. Well, mostly.


Couple of nails & some string to draw half an ellipse, and my turning saw made quick work of cutting the curve.

About 10 minutes with the plane to get rid of the saw marks, and the shaping is done.

Sorry about the sideways pic...I need to figure out how it did that.

[MauleSkinner]

This straightened it out...

[adamcherubini]

How about a ***** bead on that curved edge? I did that to mine which looks very similar.

[MauleSkinner]

A bead is a really good idea...and a beader is on my list of tools to make.


For the present, I'm stuck with my tailed router for dressing the edge. But I think the beader has moved up on my list, as I have some other projects in mind that could use it. Thanks for the nudge!

[adamcherubini]

I tried to write c0ck bead. It’s an applied bead frequently. Would cover up all that exposed end grain.

[MauleSkinner]

I was wondering what you actually typed.


So is it a separate piece all the way around, or beaded into the piece until you get close to end grain, and then apply the bead on the ends?

[adamcherubini]

I think the feature is called a c0ck bead because it stands proud of the main surface. It’s not typically formed from the parent material, but I think there are/were carved exceptions.

My suggestion is to apply a seperate beaded piece, slightly proud of the main head board surface. Would be thin, bent material, 1/8- 3/16” thick. Typically glued and nailed, but you might be able to glue it and use your off cut material to clamp. It will give that head board a more finished and elegant appearance.

[MauleSkinner]

Ok, that makes sense. I’m recalling that on some of my grandparents’ furniture.

It won’t make it into the headboard, since it’s almost finished, but I’ve got some future projects in mind that it’d probably work well for. Thanks!

[MauleSkinner]

Here’s the end result.

[MauleSkinner]

We did some trim work on the house last year, and had quite a bit of stain left, so that’s what I used. The frame and drawers I finished with lacquer, mostly because I forgot how nasty that stuff is to work with. When I got to the headboard, I decided to try a soap finish. It’ll probably dull down over time, but I think it looks pretty good, even up next to the lacquer...with the added bonus that my hands are sparkling clean!