Lets see your favorite camp project

[Chris Gilman]

I like it.

[asbrand]

That's pretty cool.

I like the dovetail-ish cut on the slat to keep it from moving. Very cool addition.

[James B.]

Nice Sean does it break down for transportation in some way I am not seeing? This is on my list of winter projects.

[Rayner]

Thats awesome Sean, do you have any tips for someone trying a similar project?

[Sean Powell]

The bed is assembled with "Bedrail Fastners" from Woodcraft so the corners are seperate from the side, head and foot boards for better flat-packing. They are simple to put in with a router if you take the time to build a jig. I decided to abuse the 3D printer at work and print up my jigs.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/200326 ... tener.aspx

The center-rail is mounted on similar hardware.

I have pictures of the disassembled pieces but haven't uploaded them yet. Ran out of power on my phone.

The advice I would give would be to plan how you are going to clamp your router jig to the boards without the clamps interfereing with the router and to router the slots for the corner-posts BEFORE you cut them into octagons so you have more clamping surface.

Also the bundle of slats is a little inconvenient to carry. If I re-did it I might have 2 bundles with both planks near the center being dovetailed to the side rails.

Also also, measure the size of the box you want to slide under the bed BEFORE you cut the legs. I had to buy extra wood because the 8" boxes would not fit under the 7" clearance I originally planned for.

Also also also, a board planer to insure that all your 5/4 is the same width will make for a better headboard, a better router table or checking that the router pass went deep enough will allow proper assembly and a full dry-fit rather then checking each piece individually is a good plan.

Also also also also, for the smaller fleurs, the drillbit will want to walk even for a fostner bit but if you mount the bit in a plunge router and then clamp the router to the workpiece it's more stable then even a drill-press.

The rest is just basic carpentry.

Thanks, Sean

[James B.]

The bed is assembled with "Bedrail Fastners" from Woodcraft so the corners are seperate from the side, head and foot boards for better flat-packing. They are simple to put in with a router if you take the time to build a jig. I decided to abuse the 3D printer at work and print up my jigs.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/200326 ... tener.aspx

Ha got a set sitting at the house for my bed project too

[Wendell]

My wife's motto is "Hell yes pack it all I want to be comfortable!"
Since I have no flying monkeys to help me set up ever thing she wanted to take a buddy gave me the idea to make a vardo. It sets up in no time. Bottle opener next to the door. Nothings is better than climbing into a real bed after a day of fighting. ceiling fan & swamp cooler for those hot days & nights. it have enough storage that we can take a bunch of friends stuff with us & car pool to events. Life is good now !

Wendell

[Sigurd Fjalarson]

Got any more pictures?

[Wendell]

Here is a few I will post a few more
[attachment=0]34111_439151970707_551180707_6267616_2701301_n.jpg[/attachment][attachment=1]263164_10150212331499366_687449365_7265176_4720087_n.jpg[/attachment][attachment=2]261856_10150212331599366_687449365_7265179_697372_n.jpg[/attachment]

Wendell

[Wendell]

[attachment=0]254898_10150212331304366_687449365_7265172_3300994_n.jpg[/attachment][attachment=1]262643_10150212331424366_687449365_7265174_7572956_n.jpg[/attachment][attachment=2]251201_10150212330824366_687449365_7265160_6962729_s.jpg[/attachment]
here are some more of the Vardo if you have any questions I am happy to answer them.

Wendell

[olaf haraldson]

Not quite finished gate for my camp...

[Sigurd Fjalarson]

I have got to find more information out about building one of those gypsy wagons. They look sweet, and my wife would love it for events.

[Gryff]

Sigurd...Search Vardo or Vardo wagon....
a couple of my friends made one for fairly inexpensive...and they swear by it...very little set up...

[bigfredb]

My wife's motto is "Hell yes pack it all I want to be comfortable!"
Since I have no flying monkeys to help me set up ever thing she wanted to take a buddy gave me the idea to make a vardo. It sets up in no time. Bottle opener next to the door. Nothings is better than climbing into a real bed after a day of fighting. ceiling fan & swamp cooler for those hot days & nights. it have enough storage that we can take a bunch of friends stuff with us & car pool to events. Life is good now !

Wendell

Do you have a picture of what it looks like when it is NOT all set up? (Ready for the road)

[Donal Mac Ruiseart]

[A] buddy gave me the idea to make a vardo.

I take it there's a modern trailer undercarriage under there. But the top is fabric - how do you set up for the road?

[Maelgwyn]

I'm building a set of 4 shelves that hinge and latch together to form 2 cases which will contain dyes, mordants and other supplies for a portable dyer's workshop. My lovely wife usually runs the dyer's point at Gulf War and teaches various classes throughout the year, and it is a nightmare to pack because so many separate, essential items have to be included. Many of them breakable and containing toxic substance, permanent dyes, or both. These cases should help.

[Wendell]

Hi
to answer your questions.[quote="Donal Mac Ruiseart"]
I take it there's a modern trailer undercarriage under there. But the top is fabric - how do you set up for the road[/quote]
I do not have any road pics I just put a tarp on the roof & tow it. the tarp is one of the things I am still working on to make it more aerodynamic. the Trailer under was a regular trailer I got on craigslist that is 16 feet long & 6 feet wide.

[quote="Sigurd Fjalarson"]I have got to find more information out about building one of those gypsy wagons. They look sweet, and my wife would love it for events.[/quote]
I found a web site AMERICAN VARDO http://www.amvardo.com/ i bought the book & plans & the wife modified the plans to make the much bigger one we have. I also got several ideas from this web site http://www.enslin.com/rae/gypsy/wagon.htm & this web site http://caravans.oros.org/Caravan/Gypsy_Caravan.html the vardo is fantastic wish mine was this nice & I had the skills & money to make it that nice.
There is a yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vardoshavora/ as well

If you have more questions just keep them coming here or email me @ wwwardle_dez@yahoo.com
Cheers

Magster Wendell "the badger" Weller

[Christian Darmody]

Nice work Sean!

I currently use a Ikea bed. It is not made for repeat assemble/disassemble - so I too have a bed project on the back burner.

What I did like and I see you have a variant, is the slat design for the mattress support. I have the Queen Malm and the Midbeam Support rail is ingenious. I have the Sultan mattress and Sultan Luroy slats that use the same design as your slats. It is my plan to make a new bed frame and use the Matress support design.

This painting is my inspiration: (thanks Karen Larsdatter)

http://www.wga.hu/html/m/master/pfullend/birth.html

I plan to make the headboard about 15-18" shorter.

Thanks for the pictures and the incentive Sean.

Christian Darmody

[olaf haraldson]

OK, lets try the gate pic now that it's finished...

[James B.]

Olaf is that the hammer of Thor

[Maeryk]

my bed.



With the exception of the two side boards, and center runner, all pieces are flat.

[Sean Powell]

Maeryk,
Do you use modern hardware to join it or just mortise and tennon? If mortise and tennon do you find that the bed rocks when engaged in 'coed activities'? I tried a mortise and tennon bed once and the joints never pulled quite tight. I was always afraid that any bed-rocking would be waving the tall corner-posts like a flag-bearer in a parade.

Sean

[Maeryk]

Maeryk,
Do you use modern hardware to join it or just mortise and tennon? If mortise and tennon do you find that the bed rocks when engaged in 'coed activities'? I tried a mortise and tennon bed once and the joints never pulled quite tight. I was always afraid that any bed-rocking would be waving the tall corner-posts like a flag-bearer in a parade.

Sean

It's a wedged mortise and tenon.

So, the footboard goes through the side board, then through the vertical leg. Then two wedges get driven in, points facing.

ONce during the war I have to re-wedge them, sometimes.. but once it's set up (I usually loose pin it, then go around again, setting everything with two mallets, one more time just to make sure), it can be picked up and carried from place to place with no issues.

It creaks a bit.. any wood bed will, but has never really "loosened up" to the point where I'm worried (Especially as it's pinned at 8 corners, not four.. the tops pin too), and pinning the center runner (unnecessary, it's captive, but it cuts down on squeaky squaky) really helps.

We also went to one of the cheap curtain places and got some integral sheers/draperies in a gold and purple fleur-del-lis brocade pattern, which are strung on rope, which goes around the top.. so, instant "canopy" (without the cover.. never needed that, but could be done in a heartbeat for a cold event).

[olaf haraldson]

No, but the 4x4 I used in the portable holes to drive against shattered like it was...

Olaf is that the hammer of Thor