Walnut & Maple Waterbed

The tools are ready and jointing the edges begins  

The sides are 5/4 hard maple. All edges are hand jointed.
 

Making the headboard braces.
 

The headboard consists of 4/4 walnut with 4/4 maple in between.
 

Headboard braces in approximate locations
 

How they will look from behind
 

Another look, from the side
 

Cocobolo ties for the maple. The strips are being considered to rout in between the maple and walnut
 

Walnut boards have been biscuit joined to maple sides at 90 degrees.
 

A walnut corner and the maple ends are drilled for dowels
 

Clamps are coupled to make the 7 foot span needed to glue walnut corners to maple sides
 

Walnut boards cap the maple sides
 

Cocobolo ties are mortised and glued in place. Maple caps are glues on the ends of the walnut.
 

Surface is treated with boiled linseed oil to make the grain pop
 

A closeup of the cocobolo ties and maple end caps
 

The headboard braces are installed
 

The frame assembly begins
 

All four sides are in place and metal brackets are installed in the corners. The walnut caps need to be trimmed at the head and foot of the bed frame
 
About two years ago I was looking into making a new waterbed frame. In my research for a good corner joint, I ran across something I really loved. Unfortunately, the cost of the wood would have almost doubled so the idea was scrubbed. But here is what I would have preferred to do:  

A sketch of how it would work
 

Looking down at the post
 

And finished joint. Pretty sweet!
 

Cutting the 3/4" plywood platform
 
 
The two pieces that make up the 72" x 84" platform are joined with dowels (not glued, of course).
 
 
Assembling the bed
 
 
The 5/4 maple headboard supports are mounted with 4" SPAX screws.
 
 
All headboard supports installed.
 
 
Headboard installed.
 
 
Closeup of the detail on the headboard where the maple and walnut meet. This was routed after the maple and walnut were glued together.
 
     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   



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