Maple Cradle

Great looking cradle. And a happy baby.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

You’ve done a very professional job on this. The elegant spindle turning is simply excellent ,and the rest of the cadle is also first class workmanship .As a new grandad I can see why your friend is getting so much fun from this lovely heirloom, which could still be in use in a few hundred years, and will be fondly talked about and utlized with love during those years regards .There is simply nothing better in my mind than a hand made offering like this . Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

Great looking cradle and what a great thing to do for your friend. I have built 4 cribs for my grandchildren, all started with same basic design but have changed slightly per each child’s desires. I used maple for the first crib too. Do you have any children of your own to make a cradle/crib for?

-- Michael R. Gottschall, Nebraska

Maple can be hard to get a good finish You did a nice job Even the baby likes it.

-- DocK, WV

Making a cradle is one of the best projects anyone can do. I believe anyone that works wood should make at least one. It is a labor of love and you can be proud of this one. Top shelf!

-- jack -- measure once, curse twice!

Very sweet!

Nice work

-- To use the word "can't" is to admit Laziness and defeat.....

Michael, I do have a son who is almost three. It’s quite a long story, believe me, but I did have some projects for what I thought was a going to be a girl and then we ended up adopting our son on less than a week notice. My shop really wasn’t set up to make a crib at the time. Now we have a crib that we can use in the future, but I would love to make another and I’m sure I’ll get the chance again.

-- - In the end, everything will be okay. If it isn't okay, it isn't the end yet.

Hey Jeff
This is a wonderful cradle and most adorable occupant.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

very nice !
you have much to be proud of .
as does your friend and the mother !
a real heirloom .

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart

Great job. I like the curves and spindles. What patients to turn all the spindles!
I have made four similar to yours and the one problem I did not satisfactorily resolve was locking the bed in place when you do not want it to swing. One problem is when the baby rolls around the bed will tilt and trap them to one side. A dowel or pin from the upright into the bed works fairly well.
One feature I did use was threaded inserts and bolts on the rails and the stretcher so the cradle could be disassembled and stored flat. Much easier to keep as an heirloom when it can be easily stored.

-- Les B, Oregon

Very nice design and construction, Jeff.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Fine craftmanship. Beautiful finish.
Made one 27 years ago that my daughters ended up using in their toy room for their Dollies.
I think it is still somewhere full of stuffed animals.

-- John Stoler Apple Creek Ohio