Buidling a Baby Crib Plan
- 1). Smooth the wood that will be used for corner posts, rails and slats/spindles with a bench-top planer to make it smooth to a baby's touch. There should be no cracks, splinters or rough edges that could hurt a baby.
- 2). Measure and cut two pieces of the 1-inch by 3-inch oak 53-1/2-inches long from the 7-foot pieces. Measure and cut two pieces 28-inches long. The inside dimensions of a full-sized crib should be 28-inches by 52-inches. At the same time, measure, mark and cut two pieces of ¾-inch trim 52-inches long that will support the mattress on both long sides of the frame.
- 3). Fit the frame together as a box. Securely glue and screw the four frame pieces together with 1-1/2-inch #10 wood screws. Drill the screw holes first with a 9/64-inch bit. Clamp them to dry. The 3/4-inch trim should be securely glued and nailed with 1-inch brads on the inside of the long sides of the frame flush with the bottom edge of the frame. They will support the slats that the mattress sits on.
- 4). Measure, mark and cut four slats for the mattress frame from the 1-inch by 4-inch poplar lumber. They will be 27-15/16-inches long, just a little less than the inside width of the mattress frame.
- 5). Set the slats in place on the horizontal supports that were just attached to the mattress frame. The slats do not need to be permanently attached.
- 6). Glue two 1-inch by 3-inch by 8-foot oak hardwood pieces of wood together. Clamp them and let them dry overnight. Repeat again. These are the corner posts. After they are dry, cut them 46-inches long.
- 7). Lay one plywood end on the floor. Lay two corner posts on the floor flush with the top of the plywood end. Use a piece of scrap from the frame and place it at the bottom of the plywood end. The 3-inch dimension is what matters. Move the scrap up 1-inch from the bottom and make a mark across the top of the scrap. Repeat on the other corner post.
- 8). Attach the corner posts to the plywood. Coat the edge of the plywood with construction adhesive. Drill through the posts into the center of the edge of the plywood using a 9/64-inch drill bit in three evenly spaced places. Fasten with 2-1/2-inch #10 wood screws.
- 9). Repeat steps 7 and 8 for the other end of the crib.
- 10
Fasten the bed frame with the top of the frame at the marks on the corner posts. Mark six evenly spaced locations in a straight line 1-inch up from the bottom of the plywood ends. Drill at these locations using a 9/64-inch drill bit. Fasten with 2-1/2-inch #10 wood screws. Repeat on the other end of the crib. - 11
Make a rail slat with a finished dimension of 23-inches long and 1-3/4-inches and ¼-inch thick (after it is sanded) that can be used as a pattern. The distance between slats will be 2-1/4-inches. From the pattern make 12 more rail slats. Next, make 26 slats that measure 11-1/2-inches long and 1-3/4-inches and ¼-inch thick. - 12
Cut 4 rails 52-inches long from the 1-inch by 2-inch by 5-foot pieces of oak. Cut 2 rails measuring 51-3/4-inches long. - 13
Cut mortises in the rails for all of the slats. Do this by marking the rails in pairs (two 52-inch pairs and one 51-3/4-inch pair) exactly the same for each upper and each matching lower rail so that all of the rail slats are perfectly vertical when fitted in place. For the 52-inch rails, the first mark for the end of the first mortise will be at 1-1/8-inch. The mortise will need to accommodate the 1-3/4-inch slat. Allow a 2-1/4-inch gap between all slats. The mortise will also be centered on the rail right in the middle of the ¾-inch width. For the 51-3/4-inch pair, the first mark marking the end of the first mortise will be at 1-inch. The mortise will need to accommodate the 1-3/4-inch slat. Allow a 2-1/4-inch gap between all slats. - 14
Fit and glue 13 of the 23-inch rail slats into one pair of 52-inch rails. Fit and glue 13 of the 11-1/2-inch rail slats into the other 52-inch pair of rails and fit and glue the other 13 into the 51-3/4-inch pair of rails. - 15
Attach the taller rail and slat assembly to the corner posts on one side of the crib with #10 finishing nails in four evenly spaced locations. Drill the nail holes first using a drill bit that is just a little smaller than the finishing nail. The bottom rail should be flush with bottom of the mattress frame. Repeat on the other side with the 52-inch rail and the 11-1/2-inch slats. - 16
Attach 4 ¾-inch by 3-inch hinges to the top edge of the short rail assembly. Attach the 51-3/4-inch rail assembly to these hinges. Attach two 3-inch brass barrel bolts at the top of the hinged section to lock this section to the corner posts. - 17
Cut two 29-inch lengths from the remaining 1-inch by 3-inch by 7-foot piece of poplar lumber. Sand the edges so they are round. Glue these pieces across the top of the corner posts and plywood ends. - 18
Sand and stain all of the pieces of wood (frame, rails, corner posts and rail slats) with baby-safe stain.
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