If I’m understanding your question correctly, you want to dovetail the slats into the side rails. Although that’s a nice way to space the slats, the dovetail will not make the slats any stronger. The slats can still sag without a center support.
What dimension wood? How many slats per bed? What size bed? What type of wood?I am designing a bed frame with some Japanese style joinery and dovetails, I want to make the slats for the bed and connect them to the bed using dovetail T-Halving joints and I wonder whether that will support the weight of the bed and two people without a brace down the center. Picture for reference
The only way I can see getting away with something like this is to cut a rabbet on the side rails. Cut a small dovetail, 1/4" deep and 1/2" long to align the slat on the rail.Actually, the design you slows weakens each slat by 1/2.
George
This is something I was consideringThe only way I can see getting away with something like this is to cut a rabbet on the side rails. Cut a small dovetail, 1/4" deep and 1/2" long to align the slat on the rail.
Then the slat can sit on the rabbet edge and align in the corresponding dovetail slot. make the side rails deep enough that the slots and rabbet don't weaken it.
Use regular 1x slats because the whole slat will be sitting on and supported by the rabbet.