Build Baby Furniture With Simple Woodworking Plans
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Woodworking Made Easier Through Best Baby Furniture Plans
Hi, fellow sawdust aficionados! My name is Mike Best from Best Baby Furniture Plans (http://bestbabyfurnitureplans.com). I'm here as an amateur woodworker to help you through the steps and tips you'll need to perfect your woodworking hobby.
In 2006 my brother was having his first baby, and I decided to do something really meaningful for him (I know, it doesn't happen very often between brothers!). I scoured the Internet, found some great convertible baby crib plans, and got to work in the basement.
It was my first major woodworking project (outside of building walls, routing whatever I could get my hands on, etc.), but I never regretted it. The look on my brother and his wife's faces when they saw the crib for the first time was priceless. I'm only sorry I didn't take more photos!
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Convertible Cribs - Invest Once in a Crib, Then Convert It Into a Toddler Bed and a Big Kid Bed!
Woodworking Plans for Convertible Cribs
Start With the Right Wood
Best Baby Furniture Plans - Tips and Tricks
You'll find tips in many woodworking books, but here is my advice...Every project is different. Instead of throwing out saw blades when they won't cut through your wood or watching your project rot as it soaks up moisture or (God forbid) watching your baby furniture disintegrate under too heavy of a load...
Match the wood to your woodworking project.
Starting with the right wood is a simple step with incredible value. In my case, I chose oak. Pine was really inexpensive, but I thought it would be too soft and unstable for a crib, plus I didn't really like the knots and wood grain. I loved all the exotic hardwoods, but they were out of my price range. For this crib, oak wood held the perfect combination: it was attractive, easy to work with, and I didn't have to sell the dogs for lumber money.
Speaking of wood, some home improvement stores have a good selection and some don't. You are usually able to find a wider selection and higher quality lumber at a lumberyard. If you don't have one near you, you can have wood shipped to you through a woodworking store like Rockler (click here to shop around their lumber selection).
If you need some suggestions for what wood to choose, I've listed some popular choices and their characteristics here: http://bestbabyfurnitureplans.com/choosing-the-right-wood-for-your-baby-furniture/.
Continue With the Right Workshop
Make the most of your space and tools
One of the regrets I had about building a baby crib is that I didn't account for how much space it would take up. It may not look that big fully assembled, but as pieces and parts all over your workshop, it's a beast.Here are my suggestions for simplifying your life to make your woodworking a little easier:
- Clear a space. Make sure you have enough room to swing your hammer without hitting the wall or cut your boards without breaking a window. You should be able to navigate around your workshop without tripping over tools or slipping on sawdust.
- Organize your tools and materials. This step is a great time-saving, and it's especially important if you have a small woodworking area. Make sure you have all of the hand tools and power tools you will need. Lay them out in a nice order, and if you don't need them for your current step, get them out of your way! For the tools, I usually hang them back on the pegboard or stick them back in the toolbox. For the materials, I stack them up in a corner, and after learning my lesson, I make sure they're in the correct order from first-used to last-used. To get some ideas on great beginner woodworking tools that save space in the workshop, read Woodworking Tools for the Small Workshop.
- Choose safety over style. Just like your shop teacher taught you, don't wear loose-fitting clothes that could get caught in machines. No matter how ugly those safety goggles look, put them on. No matter how annoying the ear plugs or ear protection are, wear them. And don't fuss about how hot the breathing mask is--you'll get used to it.
- Know how to use your woodworking tools. If you are a beginner, test your tools on a scrap piece of wood before digging into your hardwood. If you are a pro, make sure your tools are well-maintained and still in working order. Read the instructions (no matter how much you think you know), and follow the manufacturer's recommendations. If you use your woodworking tools the way they are meant to use, you'll have years of beautiful baby furniture ahead of you.
End With the Right Furniture
No matter how big or small your woodworking project is...
No matter how it turns out...
GIVE YOURSELF A PAT ON THE BACK. You did it! Celebrate your successes, and continue your training, young Jedi!
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P.S.
LESSONS LEARNED:
Did I make mistakes when building J's baby crib? Yes.
- I didn't double check the plans first, so halfway through the project I realized that the measurements were off. That meant another trip with the truck and another zing to the credit card.
- I didn't sand all the boards evenly, so the stain was splotchy in spots.
- I added a drawer at the end (parents' request), but didn't measure correctly, so I couldn't add the wheels.
Did anyone care? No.
My brother and his wife were so excited to have such a special gift that they didn't really care how it looked. (It was 99% beautiful, by the way.) They knew that the baby crib came directly from the heart, made with baby furniture plans that delivered a functional and decorative piece of handmade art. Even better was when J got a little older, recognized the name burned on her crib/toddler bed, and said, "Unca Mike made that just for me."
Finally, the Baby Crib in the Nursery
It's yet another story how we fit it into the nursery!
Woodworking Plans for Cribs and Cradles
Remember, you can sign up for free crib and cradle plans at http://bestbabyfurnitureplans.com.
Are You Ready for Sumpin' In Yo Crib?
Just a quick baby furniture parody I whipped up...
Gentlemen (and Gentlewomen), Start Your Projects!
Your next steps for woodworking
I hope I provided information that was both useful and engaging. If you have comments, I encourage you to leave them below.Best Baby Furniture Plans offers free baby furniture plans (cribs, cradles, changing tables, highchairs, and more), woodworker tips and insights, and special deals from stores like Rockler and WoodworkersWorkshop.
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Recent Articles by Mike Best
Leave Your Thoughts
Gimme whatcha got!
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TerryNeal Jun 1, 2012 @ 2:12 pm | delete
- Nice looking projects , I am learning to cut a straight line this week.
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KandDMarketing May 23, 2012 @ 12:21 pm | delete
- Nice lens .. full of great ideas for me to put to use for my grandkids as they arrive!
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tuttibambini123
May 3, 2012 @ 9:29 am | delete
- Yes very good lens you are doing nice work in your lens, & very nice info...
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Kittycheer
Apr 11, 2012 @ 2:00 pm | delete
- Nice lens and very informative.
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nickirc
Jan 28, 2012 @ 2:36 pm | delete
- Awesome thanks!
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Best Baby Furniture Plans (http://bestbabyfurnitureplans.com) is dedicated to preserving the art of making baby furniture for heirlooms and gifts. With... more »
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