How to bend a headboard

[jarhead]

I may in the future attempt to make a bed similar to this one from Thos Moser w/o a footboard. Looking for some ideas how to bend the headboard.

[ChrisD]

Alex,

Four words: "Beds" by Jeff Miller.

Two reasons:
(1) Great book on both general and specific bed construction info, including the sleigh bed that you want to build.
(2) Jeff's a Chicagoan!

[jarhead]

Chris,
Thanks for the book recommendation... I'll check the local book store.

[cabinetman]

Of the methods to achieve the "curved panel" look, the simplest is to kerf the back side of hardwood plywood, to a form shaped from the wood ends of the headboard. The wood ends can be cut from solid stock or from glued up laminations. The curve would be shaped by a rabbet in the ends to accept the plywood, with a finish of another lamination or a moulding. To maintain the shape and fill the kerfs, bondo is applied tightly into the kerfs while the shape is held. When cured, sand smooth and apply veneer. The panel can then be glued and fastened in the rabbets and the front leading edge can be trimmed with wood moulding, or veneer.

If you can get proficient with router procedures, a mortise the length of the panel can be machined into the wood ends to accept the plywood edge after the curving process is complete.

For the advanced woodworker, solid wood strips can be cut at graduating degrees to form the curve. This entails making a full size drawing of the wood end, drawing on the leg the segmented sections to form the curve, then cutting each strip to the necessary angle to form the curve.

These are three methods, starting from the easiest to the more difficult, DAMHIKT. This is one type of project that will teach you what mistakes not to make the next time. Take your pick, and have fun.



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[crokett]

I think I'd make the curved ends first. Then use bending ply or kerfed hardwood ply for the panel. The curved ends you already made can be used to shape the panel.

[jarhead]

The curve would be shaped by a rabbet in the ends to accept the plywood...
The panel can then be glued and fastened in the rabbets and the front leading edge can be trimmed with wood moulding, or veneer.

Once you have the curved front legs cut, what method would one use to cut the rabbet to accept the curved panel?

If you can get proficient with router procedures, a mortise the length of the panel can be machined into the wood ends to accept the plywood edge after the curving process is complete.

How do you follow with the router along the curve to cut the mortise?

[cabinetman]

Once you have the curved front legs cut, what method would one use to cut the rabbet to accept the curved panel?

This would be done with a rabbeting bit that has a bearing.

How do you follow with the router along the curve to cut the mortise?

If the mortise is to be equal distance from one leading edge, a pin guide on the router base if the router is set up for hand use. A pin guide on the router table if the router is set up in a table. Several incremental depth passes should be made for a clean mortise.



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[jarhead]

If the mortise is to be equal distance from one leading edge, a pin guide on the router base if the router is set up for hand use. A pin guide on the router table if the router is set up in a table. Several incremental depth passes should be made for a clean mortise.

Not sure I follow this method. Just to clarify, the leg is curved and I want to cut a mortise in the middle of the leg following the curvature of the leg.

[cabinetman]

The mortise would be on the flat sides that face eachother on each verticle end of the curved panel. Capeesh?



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[jarhead]

The mortise would be on the flat sides that face eachother on each verticle end of the curved panel. Capeesh?

I capeesh that part. Maybe I am on being clear with my question... Since the headboard is going to be curved, the mortise has to follow the curvature of the headboard on both legs to accept the headboard (I guess I'll call it a tenon). You said to use a pin as a guide to cut this mortise. This is the part that I don't capeesh.

[cabinetman]

You said to use a pin as a guide to cut this mortise. This is the part that I don't capeesh.

This type of machining is difficult to first understand. In figuring out how to do a procedure like this, you have to say to yourself "How do I do this to get that?" Think of it this way. The mortise is done first, and is used as the form for the curvature of the headboard. The edges of the headboard ultimately will become the tenon.

The other method would basically work the same way in using a rabbet, as a form.

As for the pin, it is a guide pin, like an edge guide that is a guide for the distance between the cutter bit and the edge of the leg. Think of the leg to be mortised and it's laying flat on the bench in front of you. There will be two (2) different positions, one for each leg. One is similar to a "(", which would be the left headboard leg looking at the bed from the foot. The other leg positioning would be positioned like a ")".

On these type of headboards it is wise to make two (2) patterns, one for each leg that will be used for the forming of the panel.



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"