All wood workers got a question

[Shecallsmemaster]

I plan to tackle my next big wood working task some time in the next year or so. What I plan to build is a canopy style bed out of red oak boards. The post will be made from 1X4X8 boards, edges cut at a 45 angle to make a box which will be the post. I plan to glue and nail them together and possilbly make blocks big enough to fit inside and nail them to sturdy the post from twisting. I don't plan on doing any heavy suspenion with the bed just tying and some ruff sex. What do you think, will it hold up or should I just build one out of steel?

[Ozme52]

I plan to tackle my next big wood working task some time in the next year or so. What I plan to build is a canopy style bed out of red oak boards. The post will be made from 1X4X8 boards, edges cut at a 45 angle to make a box which will be the post. I plan to glue and nail them together and possilbly make blocks big enough to fit inside and nail them to sturdy the post from twisting. I don't plan on doing any heavy suspenion with the bed just tying and some ruff sex. What do you think, will it hold up or should I just build one out of steel?

You say that now... but you know you'll be tempted at some point...

Why not use actual posts and then sheathe it with the red oak boards.

[Shecallsmemaster]

Would treated 4X4's work or should I stick with untreated. The only place around here I can get untreated 4x's would be a saw mill and I dont have a thickness planer to cut them down. I'm still juggling ideas in my noggin right now, ya know how it is when ya get a brain fart.

[Ozme52]

or use 4x4 and quarter-round molding at the corners.

(I'd go untreated... wouldn't want to sleep with the chemicals.)

[NightNurse]

I'm not sure how visually pleasing it would be but could you use metal studs for the framework? I hear they are very sturdy.. they may accommodate any future ideas of "heavy suspension"..

by the way- i love your picture..

[zopi]

don't use hollow box construction like that..they aren't very strong in shear..if you don't have a thickness planer there are alternatives, you can get a hand planer..Rigid Tools makes a nice one..(heh..Rigid Tools...) Another alternative is to use an old fashioned hand plane...there is a learning curve there though...but it is worth it...there is little more satisfying than shaping
materials with your hands..(I did sat "little more...")

I would also not recommend using nails in other than trim...either through bolt
using steel gussets or use mortise and tennon joints..the thing you want to avoid is movement in the joints..it only detracts from the movement in the bed..<WEG>

next time you are in a timber frame building, check out how it goes together..there are alot of alternatives....you can also dig around the net. there are a bunch of examples of some damned stout furniture and architecture out there...

I don't know your location so I don't know what other resources you have locally..pm me if you need help...

[Shecallsmemaster]

What do you guys think of this. I drew a ruff sketch of how I plan to attatch the bed rails to the bed post. What I plan to do is drill a hole through the 4x4 into the rail then use the router and make a slot in the rail and push a square nut into it. I also plan to use the traditional style bed rail connections along with this.

[_ID_]

Well if you have the skills, and plan to make this a quality piece of furniture that you can rattle her sexual cage with. I recommend you do some smaller projects like a spanking bench, as well as a cross. Experiment with the joints. A bed is a major project, and I would probably go with tongue and groove combined with some wooden guide pins, some biscuits at the joints, who knows there are so many possibilities. Also, you can get a wood planer for not too much money (under 200). If you plan on making this a piece of furniture that is both functional as well as visually appealing. Putting the money into it will be well worth it in the end. As far as treated or not. I wouldn't use treated wood unless your going to have it exposed to the elements. If your concerned about keeping it looking good over time, stain and then varnish it for a good finish. Keep in mind, you will need to do repeated staining sanding and varnishing to bring a good long lasting durable shine.

Unless your very good at welding and metal working, I would avoid doing your project with steel or any other metal. You could of course find yourself someone who is good at this type of skill, and get your slave to give him a complementary blow job on the finished product