New Twist on a Sleigh Bed
Curved slats and simple carving make this bed stand out from the crowd
Synopsis: With its X-shaped back slats and hand-carved curls on the legs, this bed belongs to a family of furniture that Charles Shackleton designed as an homage to the fork-back chairs of his native Ireland. Making the bed requires a combination of handwork and machine work. The legs are cut on the bandsaw using templates, which also help to position the mortises. The curved design at the top of the legs is carved by hand. The X-shaped slats are cut on the bandsaw and beaded either by hand or with a router, and are joined to the upper and lower cross rails with dowels. Jigs and templates simplify construction and make assembly easier.
Correction: The dowels connecting the top rails to the legs should be 1/2 in. dia. and not 3/8 in. as shown, while those connecting the X-slats to the rails should be 3/8 in. dia. and extend 1/2 in.…
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