Tornado Bed: the hardware, part 2

Ready to start cutting the mortises in the foot board. I place it on top of my table saw and out-feed table. As this project takes shape, I begin to run out of work surfaces in my shop.

After some slow progress on the Tornado Bed, things have advanced extra quickly this week. It seems that all the time I devoted to making a precision jig for the hardware mortises paid off, because I basically used that same jig for the head board and foot board posts with just a minor adjustment. There were moments of anxiety while sinking my router bit into the side rails (previous post). Not this time; I powered up my router with more confidence and got after the mortises in the bed’s posts.

I draw the outline of the rail (the rectangular box) and mark center lines horizontally and vertically.

I then align the center lines on my template with those drawn on the post and clamp the template in place. The collar in the base of my router rides along the inside of the template and the router bit cuts the needed mortise for the hardware.

A chisel is then used to clean up the cut. The hardware is temporarily installed using sheet rock screws. Note the two openings in the hardware. I use chisels to mark the location of these openings to help with the next step.

I then clamp a straight edge to the foot board and use my router to cut slots in the mortise. These slots are needed to allow room for the hooks found on the male part of the hardware.

Here, I have the post hardware installed.

I did all this work during the week. It has become harder to find significant time to work on this project. I have to insert a little time in the evenings and some early mornings in order to make this progress. Then on Saturday, my wife and I went to this...

The season opener for University of Alabama Crimson Tide football. Close to 100,000 of our ROLL TIDE friends cheer the Tide on to their first victory of the season. The weather co-operated, we had great seats, and afterwards, we met up with our daughter for some bar-b-que. Big fun.

Today, I cut the mortises and installed the hardware for the head board, and then, finally...

For the first time, I was able to set the bed up in the driveway. It is looking just as it should at this point and I am very pleased.

Next, I need to form the finials - no small task. I can also begin staining and finishing the side rails and foot board.

I still see this project lasting until the end of September before I am finished with it, but at least the end is in sight.

This project is being built in response to the historic tornado outbreak that occurred in Alabama on April 27th. On that day, 63 tornadoes struck our state which claimed the lives of 247 people and caused between $2.45 billion and $4.2 billion in property damage (click the image at the right). The Tornado Bed will be given free of charge to a needy victim of the April 27th tornado event.

To view all posts on this project click here. This is post twelve in this series.

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Some popular projects:

1. A bedside table. 2. Beth's built-in. 3. The TV Console project.