Replies

1. 
   user-148830 | Aug 09, 2008 11:47pm | #1

   Well I'm not quite sure I understand how this will end up looking. You don't specify if the top and bottom rail are vertically aligned except I guess at the front and back spindles. So shooting in the dark like I am, my best advice is to make up a mortising template. Check out my joinery book for more detailed instructions on this: The Complete Illustrated Guide to Joinery. But if you have a template made up then you can run its fence against the edge of either the top or the bottom rail. [You may have to use a spacer for some of the cuts to place it properly.] The trickiest thing then will be to align your cuts vertically. Measuring and placing your template might work. You might also use spacer blocks so each top mortise lines right up over each bottom mortise. I hope this helps. If not, fire again. Gary

1. 
   Dravo | Aug 12, 2008 06:15am | #2

   <!----><!----><!---->Gary<!----><!---->,<!----><!----><!---->

   <!----> <!---->

   We just got back in town from a wedding. Here is a better description of the crib. It is a convertible crib that can convert to a full-size bed. The back of the crib is the future headboard and the front of the crib is the future footboard. When converted to a full-size bed, the crib sides will be replaced with standard sized bed rails. The crib sides consist of a straight horizontal bottom rail, two end stiles and a curved top rail. The rails attach to the end stiles with mortise and tenon joinery. The field of each side contains 5 vertical slats (spindles) which are ½” thick, 1-5/8” wide, and of varying length; the spacing between slats is 2-1/8” and the edge profile is half-round. I am planning to make the mortises in the top and bottom rails for the slats to match the end profile of the slats. The bottom rail is straight and horizontal. The top rail, starting at the back (headboard) stile is horizontal creating a height of 35-3/8”. It starts curving downward in the first 2-1/8” space. The curve continues downward at an increasing angle into the 3rd (middle) slat where the curve reverses to return to horizontal as it approaches the front end stile. The width of the top rail is 2-7/8”. The height of the side at the front (footboard) is 30-5/8”, creating the 4 ¾” offset. None of the slats are perpendicular to the top rail and the angles range from 4.5-degrees to 23-degrees. I am planning to create the curved top rail by edge gluing 3 boards sized and shifted to optimize both wood use and provide a perpendicular surface for cutting the mortises. The 2 methods that I am considering are: 1) using a drill press with a ½” Forstner bit to drill overlapping holes, or 2) using at template and a router with a guiding bushing and a ½” straight bit. The wood is pecan. I am open to any and all suggestions.<!----><!---->

   Edited 8/18/2008 10:26 pm ET by Dravo