How to Build a Wood Baby Cradle
A baby cradle is an invaluable item for a nursery. A cradle is especially helpful for sleepless parents, as it helps infants fall asleep with a gentle rocking motion. You can design your baby cradle to be as simple or decorative as you would like. It is best to build the cradle out of a sturdy and durable hardwood, such as ash or cherry. Because these woods are beautiful naturally, you may not want to apply a varnish or paint. A baby cradle makes a great baby shower gift. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Pencil
- Paper
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Spray adhesive
- 1/4 inch hardboard
- Safety goggles
- Band saw
- 1 inch hardwood
- Screws
- Drill
- Wood glue
- Sandpaper
- Varnish / Paint
Instructions
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1
Plan the dimensions and design of the cradle. An ideal size is at least 36 inches by at least 18 inches. Include two sides, a headboard, a footboard and two rockers. Also include a bottom, and four narrow strips, which you'll need to secure it to the cradle.
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2
Draw a full scale replica of each panel onto a large sheet of paper. Use a ruler on as many edges as you can. Cut out the paper panels.
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3
Spray the back of the drawings with the adhesive. Stick the drawing to the 1/4 inch panels. Smooth the paper outwards to prevent any wrinkles.
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4
Use the band saw to cut through both the paper and the hardboard along the lines you've drawn. This will make a sturdy guide for your next cuts.
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5
Align the stencil you just made with the grain of the hardwood panels you will be using in your final product. Use a pencil to carefully trace the stencils you've made onto the hardwood panels.
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6
Use the band saw to cut out the shapes you've drawn onto the hardwood. Cut slowly and carefully, as these will be the final copies.
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7
Cut four narrow strips out of the hardwood. They should be three inches shorter than the width of the panel they will be going on. You will need one for the front, back and both sides.
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8
Drill 4 pilot holes into each narrow strip. Glue the narrow strips to the panel they belong on, two inches above the bottom. Insert screws in the pilot holes to secure the narrow strips. Apply glue to the top of the strips and drop the bottom into the cradle. Use a drill to make holes through the sides, front and back. These holes should also go into the bottom panel. Insert a screw to secure the bottom panel to the side panels.
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9
Pre-drill three holes through the rockers and the bottom of the crib at least 1.5 feet apart. Attach the rockers to the bottom by applying glue and securing the rockers with screws.
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10
Sand any rough edges and add decorations, such as paint or varnish.
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Tips & Warnings
If you choose to paint or varnish the cradle, make sure you use non toxic paints and varnishes.
Always use safety goggles when using a band saw.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit the tiny feet of a newborn baby in crib image by nextrecord from Fotolia.com
