First project on the Shopsmith
Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 2:15 am
My first real project on the Shopsmith, wrapped up just in time for Christmas. So I decided my first project with Dad's Shopsmith would be bunk beds for my grand daughters who were turning 3 and 5. I could not find any plans that I liked so I just went by photos I found on the internet and a friend of my son had a similar bed they let me take photos of and some measurements to get me started. Cleaned up, oiled, and adjusted the Shopsmith and began reading the manuals and practicing, starting from scratch. Made some mistakes and had some do overs but I guess that’s part of learning the craft. I chose to build a stairway because they are so young, and they have a baby sister arriving next spring and I didn’t want them using a ladder. I put in drawers underneath for storage, and built in drawers on the sides of the stairway for all their special stuff. My grand daughters were excited about getting bunk beds so I wanted them to have a part in making it. I used some wood I salvaged from their dad’s bed he had growing up, and some wood from both their great grandpas, including pieces from their great grandpa’s baby crib. The girls got to learn about sanding wood, clearing sawdust, staining, and they helped put it together by pounding in carriage bolts with a rubber mallet, using a screwdriver, putting glue in holes and pushing in button caps to cover screw holes. They were great helpers and they now have their own tool belts to help out their papa around the house. Have a few pieces of trim to finish but they are using it now. I built it solid enough to hold a herd of girls when they have friends over and hope that the bunk bed will be something that will last for generations and be handed down. Looking forward to all the projects I will make in the future.
- DSmyth_20161224_Bunk_Bed_113525_4414-reduced.jpg (821.04 KiB) Viewed 20161 times
