John's Creative Projects: QUEEN SIZE BED FRAME MADE INTO BENCH (part 2 OF 4)

Well I got a little lazy and used all this weather action as an excuse to put away my material. Wood does warp in humid conditions ... right? LOL Anyway, thank God that the hurricanes and storms have left us for a bit. My well wishes for those survivors of any calamity and prayers for those we've lost.

I started working before I realized I wasn't documenting so I apologize, but I didn't get too far. I'm not sure I mentioned this the last time, I'll go back and read it again later, but, The projects I work on are for any one to do. I have some skills but sometimes not enough for the project. I do a lot of internet research or I may ask someone I know or maybe the people who work where you buy your hardware and materials. They do sell it for a reason ... But like this project, I have work on smaller wood projects. I have experience using basic tools and basic electric tools (you know ... screw driver, hammer, drill, level hand saw or circular saw). Some of us just have high school or home skills. AND THAT IS ALL YOU NEED! did I make that clear. I may not name the tool its proper name or use the right tool for the situation. I may not measure right or I may just make a mistake here or there. Most I can fix. I am just not here to be a professional or to make you one. I do hope you enjoy my creativeness. Some ideas are mine, some are others. I may have seen a DIY project online an I wanted to try it out, or maybe add my twist to an existing one. But anything I post here I will document it as much as possible so you can see it is mine because I made it. Now on to the project.

It is Labor Day weekend, the last day in fact. Had family day on Saturday, quiet fun on Sunday and now working like any Monday. Let's begin:

"The Queen Sized Bench"
Part 2

As I mentioned above, I started the project before I started the picture documenting part to show the progress. The only thing I did not fully photograph was the measuring and drilling of the dowel holes on both parts of the material to be joined.

Why use dowels you say? Being the most difficult part of the project because you have to make sure it matches the holes on the other part being joined, I feel it is necessary so that (1) you don't have a lot of screws to deal with and cover before painting, and (2) I feel it offers more strength and stability to a wooden project. In reality it would be nice to do it all with hidden dowels but I also feel that when all done with the project, but before paint, the screw will tighten it all up as a final step.

All I did was to logically guess where the dowels would work best. I wanted ample wood around dowel and solid wood at that. If you look at the piece in question (below) you will see that the main length is split by the track made for the panel. Even though I glued in the panel edge into the track and sanded it down, it wasn't strong enough for a dowel. Remember this is a bench and it needs to hold weight.

Dowel holes made in solid wood on arm for bench

Holes in headboard

Holes in headboard top

Holes in headboard bottom

I drilled the arm first because I needed the right spot to drill. I then inserted the dowels into the arm holes and using a level to check front to back level and any tilt I put the arm against the headboard (now backboard) where it would be joined. I used a thin magic marker and I drew a circle around the dowels so that I would then drill within those holes to match up the arm. Please keep in mind that there are better ways to do this that don't require a professional, like making a pattern on paper (transparent would be the best so that you can see the wood and its markings and such) and drilling on the holes on the paper and the measuring the other side and doing the same. Many ways. I had just decided I would use the less tools as possible so that the laymen out there like myself can see that it can be done. It keeps you busy if you partial it out though a few day or it can take over a slow weekend's few hours. It's rewarding and can be profitable if you (like me) want that extra cash. If you document it like this, then you can visit it anytime.

Anyway back to the project. I had the most awesome luck (for a better word) that my holes matched up perfectly. I had to stand up and do a victory dance (at least for one leg ... I still had the other to do. Ugh! hee hee hee.

Since the holes matched up all I had to do was glue it all together and clamp it till dry then move on to the next arm. I laid the backboard on its back on the table I put glue (as for glue the old Elmer's Glue is just fine, but newer companies have come out with some other alternatives. I am using plain white Gorilla Glue) in the holes to about 1/4 to half. It's good when you can press the dowel in and the glue comes out of the sides. This assures better coating and a stronger hold. If you need to, clean excess glue. I myself didn't clean because I was putting the parts together right away. So I put glue and dowels on backboard and drew a nice line of glue through center of where the wood would touch. More strength (to me anyway) LOL

I put glue in the holes on the arm and then lowered the arm to match holes and dowels ... I must say that you should have your clamp (s) and clamp damping material within arms reach, you don't want to leave arm on its own while you look for it,it may fall and break a dowel and glue everywhere ... you get me?

I matched holes to dowels and the I clamped it in one spot for me. I have one clamp in my repertoire and its a long/big one that work with most other small to medium projects. And for dampening material (you don't want clamp marks to fill with putty later) I just used an old wooden ruler and some packing box parts. The box for the marks and the long wooden ruler to distribute some of the pressure evenly. I would have used another piece of wood from another project but I didn't have one light enough and long enough to work. Anyway that was for the top, for the bottom it was easier. Since it was on the table, I just adjusted the backboard to the edge and I clamped it under the table ... genius! I know ... oh ok you though of it too ...LOL

I gave up for today. My excuse? well I really want the glue to dry for 24 hours before I trust moving the whole thing around to work on the other arm. Enjoy the last pics and see you next time.