Headboard for my Bride

[Dave Bartley]

If you enjoy doing mortise's, this is a fun project. There is a total of 48 of them in this project.

The headboard was made with some recycled White Oak that is over 100 years old. It is a little troublesome to take off the old finish, flatten out the boards that are cupped, but well worth it in the end. I might add that it is very hard and the moisture level averaged 2 1/2 to 3%.

The headboard was finished with a Dark Old English stain, then sealed with 3 coats of a mix of spar Varnish and BLO. I made it as a surprise for my Bride for her birthday. I did get an Atta-boy!

[Donnie Raines]

Nice....to many mortises for me though..... ;)

[Shelley Bolster]

Beautiful headboard Dave! Can't believe you didn't get a few hugs and kisses along with that "Atta-Boy" ;) Really awesome job!

[Ted Shrader]

Dave -

That looks great! When are you going to be installed?

Any plans for a footboard to go alomg with it?

Regards,
Ted

[Don Abele]

Dave, that's an excellent looking headboard. Congrats and thanks for sharing that pic.

Be well,

Doc

[Dick Parr]

Dave that's a very nice headboard. Thanks for sharing.

[Jerry Olexa]

Dave great job!!! You ve lots of patience with all those M/Ts. Looks Good!!

[Kent Cori]

You did 48 mortises and only got one atta-boy! :eek:

Dave, you are a great woodworker but a lousy negotiator. ;)

[John Gregory]

Looks great

[Marshall Harrison]

Looks great Dave.

What did you use to make the mortises?

[Keith Christopher]

Very nicely done ! Looks AWESOME !

[Tyler Howell]

Bravo Bravo!

[Dave Bartley]

Thanks for all the kind words.

Marshell, all of the mortise's were made using my dedicated motiser with the exception of the last 3 on each end of the curved portion of the top rail. Those I did by hand because it was to high to fit under the machine.

Kent & Shelly, because this is a family rated site, I felt that "attaboy" was a good choice of wording.

Ted, I installed it Tuesday while the bride was at work. No footboard is planned. Our house was built in 1917 so we are not blessed with a large bedroom.

[larry merlau]

dave you done a very nice job on that head board, and the idea of using recycled lumber makes it more special, was the lumber from something sentimental to your family>? thanks for showing us your work,

[Dave Bartley]

Larry, you have forced me into sneaking in a very BIG gloat! The Oak came out of a mansion in Seattle. The Oak was installed in 1903. I was given, yep yep, given just a bit over 3000 bd ft of it, just for hauling it off. Some of the stock is a full 2" X 18" X 17'6".

Now you know why I do so much with Oak. :)

[larry merlau]

thought i had smelleed something along those lines you dont spend that much time o old lumber unl;ess you have good reason to. and 3000 thousand of them is definatly enough to gloat over. your one lucky fella congrats... sometimes good things do come to those who appreciate them.

[Jason Tuinstra]

Dave, very well done. The oak looks beautiful.

[Mark J Bachler]

Nice design Dave!

Just enough room between the stiles for the handcuffs.http://www.sawmillcreek.org/images/icons/icon12.gif

[Byron Trantham]

Dave that is one nice looking headboard!

Boy can I relate to the mortise and tenon joints. I made a crib for our grandson. I didn't think I would ever get through all of them. Then I decided I wanted to cut a curve in the slats! :( Talk about using ton of double sided sticky tape! :eek:

[Marshall Harrison]

Thanks Dave.

I just got my Shop Fox mortiser last week but I have yet to use it. Still cleaning and organizing the garage so I can set up my tools.

[Dan Gill]

Beautiful work. On the mortises - did you consider making a "slat keeper" with dadoes for the slats. It goes into a groove in the rail. Wood magazine used this technique for the mission bed two issues ago. I'd appreciate any comments on this technique from all you Creekers.

In the interest of keeping this a family site, I'll just say to be sure to fasten the headboard securely to the bed frame and keep it a couple of inches from the wall. I can remember a somewhat embarrassing morning at my father-in-law's house not long after my wife and I married . . . :D