"Guardians" Twin Log Bed

This is a twin size log bed made from Eastern White Cedar. The headboard and footboard upright posts are 5”-6” diameter, the spindle are 3” dia. and the rest of the rails and crossmembers are 4” dia.. 2” x 2” Tenon and mortise as well as pocket hole joinery was used thoughout. I added a strip of felt to each tenon to tighten the fit and prevent any squeaking. There are also 5” lag bolts in the ends of each side rail and mattress/box spring support cross member to stiffen everything. So there are basically 5 pieces : footboard, headboard, mattress support and 2 side rails. Some of the logs did some heavy duty checking and I initally had them all turned away from the front. When I did the final assemble I just let them face wherever the logs fit the best. To me they lend character to the bed. I did through-peg and glue a couple of the major checks to prevent any additional widening.

The bears were chainsaw carved then smoothed with a Dremel sander. The stone in the headboard is flagstone quarried near here in eastern PA. The drawings (done by my son, the real artist here!) on the stone are supposed to give the impression of a cave painting that was cut from a larger piece. It has a poly finish to protect the colored charcoal drawings. The entire bed will get a poly finish once it’s warm enough to open the shop and spray it on. I have several pieces that’ll get sprayed once it finally does get warm (man it’s been a long winter!). In the meantime there is an initial coat of sealer on everything – that’s why it looks a bit dull.

I named it the “Guardians” (I name everything I make) because if somebody buys this for their young son/grandson I wanted it to give him a feeling of security with the bears protecting him while he sleeps.

Thanks for looking and I welcome any suggestions to improve it.

-- The name is "Splinter"... I'm the son-of-a-son-of-a-carpenter