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Secure Headboard with Wood Movement?

2K views 9 replies 7 participants last post by  mackman 
#1 ·
Hello! I've been commissioned to build my first bed frame, and I'm wondering what the best way is to secure the headboard while still allowing wood movement. They want the standard setup: Solid wood panel between two posts.

My initial thought was a sliding dovetail kind of thing, where I have the dovetail run from the bottom of the post to an inch or two below where the top of the panel will be, and then secure it for the top few inches with glue/pegs. Is that the best way, or is it over complicating what should be a simpler issue?
 
#3 ·
Something like that will actually be a great help in fitting the rails to the headboard, which is exactly what I need since it needs to be collapsible. But I see that my thing was actually unclear. What I'm looking for is a way to attach the main panel(s) of the headboard to the posts in a way that will allow the wood in the panels to expand and contract naturally.
 
#4 ·
Just make it like a door .....

The vertical and horizontal members have dados or slots that allow the panels to move within them. Some use a trim piece to hold them in, other just build the whole unit as an assembly, sliding in each panel as you glue up. But do not glue the panels in the dados! a single drop od glue in the centers will still allow them to move laterally but keep them from rattling. Rattling would be annoying on a headboard ... just sayin'
:wink:
 
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#5 ·
I know you said "solid wood", but I think the best solution is a plywood panel with veneer; no wood movement to be concerned about. Also, you could use the veneer to make a decorative pattern. If that is a no-go, then you could turn your solid wood panel so that the grain is vertical; also, no movement issues. Another alternative, as mentioned above, is a frame with loose panel.
 
#6 ·
I'd go mortise and tenon construction and leave them dry. Secure by pinning the tenons in place with wooden dowel(also a dry fit)...plan everything correctly and the dowels will provide a little accent to the project while allowing the whole thing to be disassembled if it ever became necessary(moving and whatnot).
 
#9 ·
How about mortise and tenons? Build it similar to a breadboard end: tongue and groove with several tenons pinned with slotted holes to allow for movement. Floating tenons would make the job easier.

Save the rail hardware for the rails. Not so sure the bed rail hooks wouldn't loose if there was appreciable movement, since they are tapered. There is no advantage being able to remove legs from panel.

Not to mention, you don't want the headboard rattling around, know what I mean........;-)
 
#10 ·
Definitely don't want any extra motion/noise from the bedframe!

I LIKE the idea of the tenons with slotted holes. I hadn't even though about that. So you have the panel mortised and pinned into the rail, but the pin-holes are actually slots in the bottom and middle. I really like that solution: it should be sturdy, elegant, and relatively simple to do. Thanks!
 
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