Making a bed

[roye]

I'm making a bed and want to attach the bed rails to a 4x4 post with out using the clips and hooks. I thought I would mortise out for the rails but I'm undecided how to secure without any bolts showing. Also I want to be able do take it apart for moving.

Any ideas?

[pelligrini]

You could do a tusk tenon. http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/6829/bed-frame


If you don't need it to be disassembled you could just secure the tenon into the mortise with a drawbore joint.

[Richard in Smithville]

I did just this for my daughters bed. I pinned it from the inside staying short of the full width of the post. She has been sleeping in this bed for the last ten years.

[roye]

Were your pins permanant or can you dissassemble later without drilling out the pin?

[JimD]

I'm not sure what you mean by "clips and hooks". A traditional way to attach the rails is with a bolt that is covered by an ornate cover where it would otherwise show. The nut is imbeded in the rail. I've done it and it works fine. I don't love the appearance, however, even with the cover.

The last several beds I have made have all used the bed rail fasteners. Fasteners like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Duty-Wro.../dp/B001DT17QI

They are a little bit of a hassle to recess into the posts and the rails but if you make a simple jig and have a plunge router (a regular router would probably work fine too) it doesn't take much time. Even if you mess up the recess a little it does not show until you take the bed apart. I've moved some of the beds with these fasteners and they do not come apart super easy, you need a mallet, but the resultant beds are quite sturdy.

My recommendation is to bite the bullet and use the "right" hardware. I am pretty confident you will not regret it.

Jim

[Cochese]

I'd venture to guess the bail red fastener was what the OP was referring to. That's what immediately came to mind for me, anyway.

[cabinetman]

There are fasteners that don't show, and don't require mortising.
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=5783
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10230
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=5288
.

[Richard in Smithville]

Were your pins permanant or can you dissassemble later without drilling out the pin?

A bit more time today....what I did was mortise the rails into the posts. Each m&t is drilled (twice) to take a lag bolt. The lag threads into the post but the rail is drilled slightly larger so all the lag does is prevent the joint from sliding out but can be removed later. It has been like this for ten years now and there has been no noticeable change or movement in the joint.

[roye]

I like the idea. Much simpler than what I was thinking which was to cut slots in the post for a bolt attached to the rail to slide through. Thanks.

[roye]

I used two of those before but was trying to do it with mortising. Thanks