plans

Plans

A CRADLE FOR MY GREAT GRANDCHILDREN

I searched the internet, without success, for a cradle that was unique. So, I decided to build one I had in my mind.

I went to a baby store and purchased a bassinet pad. The size was 14" x 29" oval. This became the pattern for the size and shape.

On a piece of scrap plywood I drew 1/2" larger than the pad and cut it out with my band saw.

Then I drew the segments on the edge of the ply to determine how many I needed and thus how much oak I would need.

MATERIALS NEEDED:
12 PIECES OF 1"X4" OAK 8' LONG.
1 piece 1/2" oak ply. (for the bottom)
( try to get pieces with grain and color that's the same.)

TOOLS NEEDED:
BAND SAW, TABLE SAW, ANGLE GRINDER, BELT SANDER, ORIBITAL SANDER, CARVING TOOLS.
( a 10" table saw will cut the 8 degree angle in the 1"X4", almost, just trim the edge where it didn't cut, after making the big cut, It's easer.)

FINISH:
BARTLY PASTE WOOD FILLER (NATURAL), MINWAX ENGLISH CHESTNUT STAIN, DEFT SATIN FINISH.
(I mixed 1/2 cup of the stain in 1 cup wood filler and rubbed it in.)

This is the short segment "A"
for a pattern print and enlarge until it is 11" long.
you need approx. 59 short segments

This is the transition segment "B"
(enough wood to grind away to get from the low to the high end)
you need approx. 14 transwition segments

This is the long segment "C"
enlarge until it is 13 1/2" long
you need approx. 18 long segments

this is the wedge segment "wedge"
you will need approx. 21 "A", 12 "B" and 15 "C" wedges

Click picture to enlarge	Before gluing I strapped all the pieces together and used an angle grinder with a course sanding disc to rough shape the cradle. ___________________________________________________
Click picture to enlarge	I glued and doweled the both sides before attempting to glue the ends. Note how the segments go from short to long, the short being "A" the transition segments being "B" and the long segments are "C" _________________________________________________
Click picture to enlarge	The segments were glued together, adding two segments at a time, letting them dry, then drilling and doweling them with long pieces of dowel not doweling pins. ___________________________________________________
Click picture to enlarge	I think the next time I will try hanging the pieces from the bottom. With the bottom on a five gallon bucket and the pieces taped in place. Trying to stand them up and tape them in place wasn't easy. __________________________________________________
Click picture to enlarge	I held the first pair of the end curve in place and drilled for the top dowel, put the dowel in and drilled for the other two. Then I glued the dowels in the side but not the end so I could remove the end to carve the prayer. __________________________________________________
Click picture to enlarge	My glue-up is nearing completion. In order to glue the final segments I had to take the tall end that was dowelled and not glued apart, and glue and dowel the two halves. ___________________________________________________
Click picture to enlarge	The bands pulled the final glue-up together tight. the tall end is doweled but not glued. __________________________________________________
Click picture to enlarge	The rockers and the cross-bar enterlock. The rockers are 17 1/2" on center apart. That is to say from the center of one to the center of the other. __________________________________________________
Click picture to enlarge	From the top of the curve on one side of the rocker to the top of the curve on the other, is 24" and when setting on a flat surface, this point is 2" off the surface. The total length of the rocker is 28" You could increase the depth of the curve some without a problem. __________________________________________________.
Click picture to enlarge	The interlocking cross bar and rocker. _____________________________
Click picture to enlarge	Rockers and cross bar. __________________
Click picture to enlarge	The straps held the cracle togeather while I shaped it with an angle grinder with course (80) sanding disc. Then the end came off for carving. _________________________________________________
Click picture to enlarge	This is the long (tall) end shaped and ready to carve. ________________________________________
Click picture to enlarge	Rough shaped with the prayer transferd to the inside. Strapped, to hold it together, with rockers fitted. Ready to take the end off and start carving. __________________________________________________
Click picture to enlarge	If the rockers were to far apart they would get into the curve of the cradle. ___________________________________________________
Click picture to enlarge	printed the prayer on the computer, then used graphite paper to transfer it to the wood. Then went over it with a pencil. It could be sprayed with a finish at this point to keep it from smearing. __________________________________________________
Click picture to enlarge	This is the carving in progress. You need to click on the picture to enlarge it to see what I'm doing. __________________________________________________
Click picture to enlarge	Finished carving. _____________
Click picture to enlarge	Under side showing the way I fit the rockers to the cradle body. I screwed from the inside, into the rockers with brass screws. I steemed a 1/4 by 3/8 piece of oak, ran it around the bottom edge and clamped it. After it dried I glued it. After that dried I put little brass screws around the edge, so the bottom could'nt fall out. __________________________________________________
	If you have any questions email me at: www.Darryl@Thot-Things.com