| Project by Russel | posted 75 days ago | 188 views | 0 times favorited | 13 comments |  |
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Back in September I had the opportunity to perform a wedding ceremony for a young couple. The bride was the maid of honor at my daughter’s wedding a few years back. As marriage and young couples go, the bride is now with child. Actually, with children as she is having twins.
My daughter wanted to give her something special that nobody else could give her, so she asked me to build a couple cribs and she would pay for the material. Being the hard-nose that I am, I agreed. And since I had just gotten a load of cherry decided that I would use that and save my daughter a few bucks.
So, here they are, two identical cribs for two identical little girls who are soon to arrive. They are not full size cribs, instead they are build to use a standard cradle mattress (18” x 36”). The Mrs. refers to these as ‘Grandma’ cribs since the first one I made was for her (being Grandma and all). They are sufficient size for when the tykes stay at Grandma’s house and don’t take up as much floor space as a full size crib. For the new mother, they are big enough for a child up to about 6 months, but not so big that the little one will get lost in it.
Construction-wise, they are built like a standard crib with the slats mortised into the rails and one side will drop to allow Mom (or Grandma) to easily reach the baby. The biggest issue in making them was remembering that I was making two, which means double of everything. Instead of 32 slats, I needed 64. Instead of 4 panels for the ends, I needed 8. It got a little annoying as I was milling lumber and figured I had enough until I remembered I needed twice the amount and had to continue milling.
The cribs are solid Cherry, stand about 48” tall, and have a footprint of 22” x 39” and use an 18” x 36” cradle mattress. The finish is shellac as a sealer coat, then four or so coats of Satin wipe-on poly.
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
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13 comments so far
Betsy
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1760 posts in 337 days
posted 75 days ago
Russell the cribs look great. I bet the couple will be thrilled with them. It was good of you to do the project for them. I bet you learned a few new tricks making these.
-- Betsy - GO BUCKS!
Dominic Vanacora
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375 posts in 311 days
posted 75 days ago
What a great gift. The mother is blessed to have you as a friend with talents that can be used over and over and over. It never goes away it only gets better. You a wonderful person to spend so much time to help out.
-- Dominic, Trinity, Florida
CharlieM1958
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3958 posts in 660 days
posted 75 days ago
Great looking cribs!
I love how your daughter wanted to do something special for the new mother, so she asked YOU to build the cribs. It’s amazing how wives and daughters can get whatever they want from us. :-)
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Russel
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1214 posts in 381 days
posted 75 days ago
Charlie, I have often been amazed at how a grown man can be wrapped around such a little finger. To be fair, my daughter did offer to pay, but I couldn’t possibly charge her for the work so we compromised on the material and since I got the cherry at $0.75 a board foot it should save her a few bucks. I was surprised when I finally added up the wood requirements. As it turned out, each crib required about 15-16 board feet of lumber. So two cribs is 30+ feet of lumber and around here surfaced cherry goes for about $7.00 a foot. That adds up quick.
Betsy, this is actually number 5 and 6 ‘Grandma’ crib, but the first with a drop down side. So each one is a little different and, yes, each one teaches me something new.
Dominic, if it wasn’t for daughters and such, I don’t know what I’d build. And I’ve got all those tools ;-)
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
trifern
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3235 posts in 209 days
posted 75 days ago
Great set of cribs. Thank you for sharing.
-- Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit.
teenagewoodworker
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1932 posts in 210 days
posted 75 days ago
great looking cribs! thanks for the post!
Zuki
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806 posts in 519 days
posted 75 days ago
another fine job russel.
did you get to yous your new planes much on this project?
-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them
Russel
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1214 posts in 381 days
posted 75 days ago
Hey Zuki, I didn’t use the planes on these. I did get to use them on the cradle I’m working on. That’s not far behind … there’s babies everywhere.
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
Kipster
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832 posts in 195 days
posted 75 days ago
I am sure you enjoyed making the cribs but I am also sure using them will be even more fun. Very nice and thanks for sharing.
-- Kip Northern Illinois ( If you don't know where your goin any road will take you there) George Harrison
brunob
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1380 posts in 611 days
posted 75 days ago
I hear you with that daughter stuff. She couldn’t wait till I retired do give that daddy do list. Great cribs.
-- Bruce from Central New York
GaryK
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8401 posts in 430 days
posted 74 days ago
Great looking cribs. Economy in numbers, huh?
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Bill Hayes
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8 posts in 94 days
posted 74 days ago
That is a very nice pair of cribs. If that was you first attempt at a crib I am jealous, My first one was very ruff and I could not believe how much went into making good looking slates from rough timber.
Great job.
-- Bill, Broken Arrow OK.
eklectic
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12 posts in 211 days
posted 71 days ago
Nice cribs Russel!
What a great daddy and friend!
-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss!