| Project by Steamdonkey | posted 678 days ago | 1283 views | 8 times favorited | 15 comments |  |
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I built this walnut bed as a wedding gift for a couple of friends. Since they live out in Oregon and I’m here in Kansas City I had to ship it freight. Boxing it up took some planning and the cost for the shipping ended up running about $250, but it was worth it.
The project itself took about a month’s worth of weekends, and a few evenings applying the 6 coats of oil/varnish. The wood is all local air dried black walnut. For the posts I had some 16 qtr that I milled down to 3 1/2 substantial inches. The head and foot boards have nice wide book matched crotch pieces that I resawed from some 5/4 stock. Mortise and tenons with bead bolts hold the rails in place.
In the end I was pleased with the way this project turned out, and before I shipped it out all I could think about was how much I liked the design over my own bed. I have some ideas to expand on this basic design and may have to make another ;-).
15 comments so far
Paul
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607 posts in 990 days
posted 678 days ago
Now that’s nice!
I also like the view of all your wood in the background!
Envy!
-- Paul, Texas
Thos. Angle
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4013 posts in 860 days
posted 678 days ago
very nice
-- Thos. Angle
GaryK
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9537 posts in 886 days
posted 678 days ago
Very nice! Great execution.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
DAN
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6456 posts in 881 days
posted 678 days ago
great looking walnut ! terrific design and workmanship
welcome to lj’s !
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
dustynewt
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450 posts in 760 days
posted 678 days ago
Excellent job. I love the Greene & Greene style. That walnut is beautiful as well.
-- Please visit me at http://dustynewt.com
Dorje
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1767 posts in 894 days
posted 678 days ago
That’s super! Just beautiful!
Out of curiosity, what type of oil/varnish did you use?
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
Karson
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25806 posts in 1298 days
posted 678 days ago
Great looking bed Nice job on it. Nice resaw also.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
blackcherry
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731 posts in 721 days
posted 678 days ago
The price of friendship is priceless and so is your craftmenship…well done Blkcherry
cajunpen
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5968 posts in 963 days
posted 677 days ago
I really like the design and execution of your bed project – it looks great. I sure hope your friends were happy with it.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
cheller
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249 posts in 1007 days
posted 677 days ago
That is one fine looking bed. Nice job.
-- Chelle http://artsgranddaughter.blogspot.com
MsDebbieP
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14167 posts in 1058 days
posted 677 days ago
ooooh it is so “soft” looking (nice and relaxing for sleep) .. love the design .. Nice
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Steamdonkey
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16 posts in 702 days
posted 677 days ago
Dorje, I have pretty much exclusively been using General Finishes oil/varnishes for about the last ten years. Usually I put down 3 coats of the seal-a-cell and then 2-3 coats of the arm-r-seal. The only downside I have found is the time it takes to build a finish from the thin layers. I have been burned by other finishes, but never these from General. I buy the stuff by the gallon at woodcraft apply with a China bristle brush and wipe the excess off with a shop rag. wait 24 hours sand lightly and repeat until the finish is uniform.
Dorje
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1767 posts in 894 days
posted 677 days ago
Thanks for the info – I’m currently using the Tried and True Oil Varnish on a bed…surely does take time to build…I’ll have to give the General products a shot at some point. I hear good things about them. In your opinion, how important is the use of the sealer?
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
Steamdonkey
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16 posts in 702 days
posted 677 days ago
The seal-a-cell is thiner and penetraits the wood more than the arm-r-seal. I don’t think it has the varnish content or solids. I have gone without before, but the finish seems a little more superficial.
rikkor
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11335 posts in 772 days
posted 676 days ago
Great looking bed. I can tell you make a good friend, too.