| Project by DarrylK | posted 109 days ago | 187 views | 1 time favorited | 9 comments |  |
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I’ve been a dedicated woodworker for years, doing small and medium sized projects (beds, nightstands, music boxes, intarsia, kids toys, bookcases, finish carpentry, piano benches etc…) for years (time permitting), however before our first child was born almost 10 years ago I promised my wife I would build a cradle for our new arrival.
I blinked, 3 years passed, I didn’t build the cradle, and our second child was on the way. My wife gently (and frequently) reminded me that I owed her a cradle, and being an optimist I vowed that baby # 2 would get that cradle.
As an optimist (not realist), I missed the mark yet again.
Last year, while pregnant with # 3 and extremely hormonal, my wife threatened me that I would be building myself a man-sized doghouse for the back yard if I didn’t deliver the overdue cradle. This time, in fear of that doghouse and Chicago winters I took a few days off work and worked several all-nighters in the shop (garage) to deliver that cradle.
Sleep deprivation aside, the good news was that I was able to finally justify the bandsaw and surface planers.
40 hours, and a deep hatred for “cheap” vacuum presses later, I emerged sleepily from my shop with my favorite (and wife’s most cherished) project yet. In fact, the last bit of squeeze-out was wiped off and the cradle placed in the center of our living room just in time for her baby shower. The 3 coats of satin clear would have to wait until the party was over.
Now, almost a year later, the cradle still sits at the foot of our bed, filled with a baby blanket and other objects that the little guy has since grown out of. My wife will not allow it to be disassembled, moved or otherwise disturbed, and it is the first stop in any tour (given by my wife) of our home.
The book-matched end-panels (I finally had to abandon vacuum pressing, although I had a great time making the veneer) and slats are made from Goncalo Alves, an amazing wood I stumbled across in the pen-blank section of the Rockler I used to frequent, and the rails, rockers and rest of the body is made from curly maple, my favorite wood.
I learned a lot (mostly what NOT to do) making this piece, and loved every minute of it. I’m now being pressured to make a whole set of bedroom furniture for the toddler from the same wood…. I think it will be his high-school graduation present. :)
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9 comments so far
Bigbuck
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1050 posts in 200 days
posted 109 days ago
Nice looking cradle, it’s always nice when you can justify a new toy with a project also.
-- Glenn, New Mexico
thetimberkid
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1684 posts in 240 days
posted 109 days ago
Great job!
Thanks for the post
Callum
-- Look great, get your TTK merchandise now! http://www.printfection.com/thetimberkid/ Check out my site http://thetimberkid.blogspot.com/
W. Paul Olsen
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14 posts in 627 days
posted 109 days ago
When our first was about to learn to walk, I promised my wife I would build our daughter a stepstool. A year and a half later, the project finally emerged. It took a long time to put those six pieces together!
The stool took so long because I wanted to inlay an ivy pattern going up the sides. I was a newbie woodworker, so the only power tools I had were a scroll saw, a drill and a circular saw. Between those tools and a hand plane, I was able to get what I was after, but it was a real challenge! I’ll have to post the project some day!
-- Paul, Shelbyville, KY; (Ps 145: 1-2)
marcb
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199 posts in 210 days
posted 109 days ago
Glenn,
I though projects where SO you could buy new toys
Patrick Jaromin
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238 posts in 369 days
posted 109 days ago
Sharp looking cradle!
I’ve built the furniture for our first two (crib/dresser) and with our third on the way was considering building a toddler bed for our eldest and handing down the crib. Lucky for me, my wife also insisted I built new furniture for this one—as it wouldn’t be fair for the baby not to have their own “heirloom” set to hand down.
But I look at this as a gift—it’s the perfect excuse for “guilt free” shop time!
-- Patrick, Chicago, IL www.TenonAndSpline.com
Karson
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13585 posts in 937 days
posted 109 days ago
Darryl. A great baby cradle.
When one of our daughters was into, I asked if she would like me to build her a cradle. She replied yes. After building it, my wife said she wanted one also. I cut the wood and that is where it stands 13 years later.
Another daughter was into and I asked if she would like me to build her a cradle. She said yes, so i did.My wife said she wanted one. I didn’t cut the wood this time.
Another daughter was into with a set of twins. I asked if she wanted a cradle. She said yes. So I built it My wife said she wanted one. My daughter sided up to me one day and she said “Mom really wants a cradle” So I made her one
Sometimes it takes a while to get going, and to get finishing.
Great job, you wife must be proud if it’s the first stop on all house tours.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
brianinpa
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941 posts in 260 days
posted 109 days ago
Darryl, that is a great looking cradle and a wonderful story to go with it. The only problem I see is that you will need to make a few more when your children have thier children.
-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.
SteveKorz
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1419 posts in 251 days
posted 109 days ago
Wow, her wait was worth it, that’s a great lookin’ cradle… well done.
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
trifern
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4974 posts in 304 days
posted 109 days ago
I don’t know, if the man sized doghouse is several hundred square feet, wired, cooled, heated… it might have been worth it. Just kidding. It was definitely worth the wait. It will be cherished for many generations. Thanks for sharing Darryl.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.