I hope I explain this well. I want to attach trim around the top and the bottom of the mahogany posts of the bed headboard and footboards I’m making. The trim will probably be curly maple cut from the same planks as the panels in the bed. It will be about 4 inches high wrapped around the bottom and 2.5 inches high wrapped the top of each post. I’ll also be chamfering the top edge of the trim at 45 degrees. My question is: what is the best method to attach this trim to the posts? I know I could use the Normian method of attaching them with brads and then filling the holes, but I’d much rather not have any visible means of support.
Also, would it be better to build the four sided box in advance and slip it over the post or attach each of the sixteen pieces of trim individually?
Thanks,
wworker
Replies
Glue and clamp two sides, the sides at right angles to each other. When clamps can be removed do the same to the other sides. It helps to make a three sided jig to slide and clamp under the bottom to hold the trim at the correct height.Just three pieces of 1x3 screwed together.
Mike
Sans brads, I vote for build it and slip it over. Fit it carefully ahead of time. You don't really want to glue it, though, as you've got different orientations on your grain which could cause some splits later. A couple of thoughts there - you could glue the middle of two sides, just enough to hold it after you slip it on, or you could use some very tiny finish nails, clip the heads, chuck them into a drill, and just pin them as inconspicuously as possible.
I often use the drill/nail thing in trimming houses. All I need is for that 16 foot piece to shatter when I get to the end of it and have some grain that dives to the floor. Just don't push it all the way in with the drill and grind chuck teeth into your maple. Easily done. You might also look into the Collins spring clamps. They look like an exaggerated C shape, which are sprung open by a pliers-looking tool and let onto the mitered joint. Tiny points grab and hold your miters together while the glue sets. Again, real useful with molding glue which tacks quickly. You may like using them to build the boxes.
"The child is grown / The dream is gone / And I have become / Comfortably numb " lyrics by Roger Waters
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