My only daughter is having her first baby due in July. I told her I wanted to build a 4-in-1 crib for the baby. Needless to say, she said yes, and asked if I could build a matching six-drawer dresser as well. She wants the pieces made out of cherry and stained walnut.
The first thing we did was agree on a design that she liked and I felt I could build. Whenever I build something with greater detail, I like to make some shop sketches. This helps me to figure out how I am going to build it, the overall dimensions, size of the parts, and make a cutting list. The cross section sketch gives me an idea of what moldings will look like and what cutters I will need to make them. These moldings will go on the dresser, headboard and front assemblies. I need to still figure out the parts for the toddler guard rail and full size bed rails and slats yet. I am going to wait until the sub-assemblies are built to do that. The only wood parts I need to buy are the bun feet, wood knobs, and turned columns, because I do not have a lathe.
The next step is to build a jig to form the wood for the curved moldings. Making the curved moldings is going to be the most time consuming part of this whole project and I want to get it out of the way.
Because my daughter lives in California and I live in Iowa, I am planning on doing a blog series so she can see the progress I am making. I hope others will enjoy seeing how I go about building these pieces.
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
9 comments so far
Beginningwoodworker
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13225 posts in 1845 days
#1 posted 1129 days ago
Thats a nice design.
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
GMman
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#2 posted 1129 days ago
I know by the work you do it is going to look great.
You know Tom I build a 5 drawer dresser with a mirror for one of my grand daughter and it makes you feel good inside because you’re doing it for someone you love.
Lee A. Jesberger
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6501 posts in 2152 days
#3 posted 1129 days ago
Hi Tom;
Looks like a fun project.
I agree, it is fun to build things for loved ones.
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
559dustdesigns
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627 posts in 1340 days
#4 posted 1129 days ago
Wow very nice sketches. I can see you are good at designing and visualizing what you plan to build.
-- Aaron - central California "If you haven't got the time to do it right, when will you find the time to do it over?"
SawdustJunky
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#5 posted 1129 days ago
Great sketches. Mine usually look like stick people, more of an idea than a sketch. One thing I can tell you is your daughter well love that you built it and your grandson will alway cherish it. Be sure to sign and date it somewhere…..oh…..I also have a grandson named Hayden.
Blessings
-- In the end it is more about the memories we make than the pieces we build.
wiswood2
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852 posts in 1868 days
#6 posted 1128 days ago
looking good
Chuck
-- Chuck, wiswood2 www.wisconsinwoodchuck.com
Roz
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#7 posted 1117 days ago
Congratulations Grand Dad! It is going to be a beautiful piece. I really like the design of the base.
I built a bed once from a plan that had the same evenly spaced vertical slats. There was an ingenious technique for spacing the slats. I cut a 1/4 inch grove in the ends of the bottom and top rails. The slats were 1/8 inch thick. I cut a 1/4 inch strip to fit in the channel cut previously and then cut 1/8 inch notches in the strips to receive the 1/8 inch slats. This kept me from dealing with individual glue blocks between each slat and saved a lot of time. This required a Dado blade on my saw and a jig like you might use for a finger joint box….very easy.
-- Terry Roswell, L.A. (Lower Alabama) "Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans."
Mark Shymanski
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#8 posted 1091 days ago
Great looking plans! I look forward to seeing the final project posts!!
-- "Checking for square? what madness is this! The cabinet is square because I will it to be so!" Jeremy Greiner LJ Topic#20953 2011 Feb 2
a1Jim
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#9 posted 1090 days ago
This should be great Tom, never a worry with someone who has you great skills.
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
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