Cradle done!! ..... (well - pretty darn close!!)

[RangerJay]

Dropping the cradle off tomorrow - baby is due in two weeks - consensus is that delivery of the cradle now is probably prudent .....

Yet to do are 4 scrolled pieces to cover the pucks on each side of the pivot point - not a big job but haven't come up with a pattern we like yet.

Also yet to do are the dowel plugs to cover the lag screw holes.  These will need to be hollowed out - haven't done that before so will be doing a little experimenting.

 

Jay 

 

[meflick]

Beautiful work Jay and just in time and your daughter and her new baby are going to love it.  You have crafted a family heirloom!

[new2woodwrk]

Wow, nice work! Thanks for sharing. I'm sure your daughter is going to love this!

[Rockytime]

That will be one lucky baby. Beautiful!

[jbrowning]

Wow, awesome job Jay.

[spirithorse]

Congratulations on finishing in time.
I agree with Melanie that you have crafted an heirloom.

Also, prayers to your daughter and her husband for a safe, relatively easy delivery.

God Bless! Spirithorse

[wombatie]

Awesome work Jay.  It certainly will be a family heirloom.  Good luck to your daughter.

Marg

[blights69]

Quality piece Jay that will be used and treasured for years 

[DWSUDEKUM]

Excellent work Jay.  They are going to love and use that for a long long time.  Thanks for sharing this with us;

 

DW

[Scrolling Steve]

Awesome work ! A family heirloom for sure ! 

[RangerJay]

Thanks everyone - we really appreciate the kind words - just to correct the record the proud parents to be will be our youngest son and his wife - I've kept them abreast of progress from the get-go with pictures - (they live about a 2 1/2 hour drive away).  They also recognize this will be around for a long time - and may serve future generations as well as friends - so their current plan is to make sure all the cradles young occupants will be recorded through time by adding small plaques with each babies name and birthdate.  Kinda neat.

Thanks again,

Jay

[daveww1]

very nice job

[smitty0312]

Great craftsmanship...beautiful! What kind of woods did you use?

Edited April 9, 2018 by smitty0312

[RangerJay]

7 minutes ago, smitty0312 said:

Great craftsmanship...beautiful! What kind of woods did you use?

Most of what you see is Cherry - the headboard and footboard came from one board that had a bit of an unusual grain and colouring - but Cherry none-the-less.  The side pieces are framed by Walnut and there is a bit of Oak underneath that frames the floor of the cradle.

 

[GPscroller]

Awesome job on a wonderful project.  It will be treasured for years.

Jeff

[MTCowpoke22]

Beautiful work!!! Glad your little one to be has been more forgiving of your schedule. I was in the middle of refinishing my family's old cradle when Claire showed up 4 weeks early!

[Charlie E]

This is beautiful! The idea of the plaques is so great. Such a cool feeling knowing that a piece will be used long after you're gone. "What we do in life echoes in eternity"--Gladiator

 

Mind if I ask the method you used cutting the mom, dad and baby in the headboard. Probably a stupid question but that's ok if I learn something. 

 

[penquin]

That looks awesome, very nice.  Can you share where you found the pattern for the cradle got a first grandchild due in August and would like to do one for it.  Thanks.

jim   penquin

[Dave Monk]

What a beautiful heirloom. 

[newfie]

Beautiful work thanks for sharing 

[dgman]

Congratulations Jay, very nice work!

[RangerJay]

On 4/9/2018 at 10:08 AM, Charlie E said:

This is beautiful! The idea of the plaques is so great. Such a cool feeling knowing that a piece will be used long after you're gone. "What we do in life echoes in eternity"--Gladiator

 

Mind if I ask the method you used cutting the mom, dad and baby in the headboard. Probably a stupid question but that's ok if I learn something. 

 

Thanks - the figures were cut on the scrollsaw using a spiral blade - not exactly sure which blade but almost certainly an FD #1 or #3 Spiral with Flat Ends.  Once cut I spent time softening and rounding the cuts with cloth-backed 1/4 " strips of 120 grit sandpaper.

Jay

[RangerJay]

On 4/9/2018 at 11:50 AM, penquin said:

That looks awesome, very nice.  Can you share where you found the pattern for the cradle got a first grandchild due in August and would like to do one for it.  Thanks.

jim   penquin

There is no one pattern that I used - I did purchase a pattern to fit an 18" X 36" inch mattress just for the basic measurements of the cradle and knowing that we would be modifying it along the way - the pattern I purchased was poor (more than poor) - in the end I found this free pattern much more helpful:

http://www.shopsmithhandson.com/archives/nov_dec_05/major_project.htm

You'll see that we modified a lot - essentially winging it along the way - with ideas from googling "swinging cradles" and also from Pinterest with the same search words.

I don't think I would do anything different if I were to do it again - but need to warn you - it's more work than you might think ...... so start a little earlier in the "process" than I did .....

Jay

[RangerJay]

Cradle has been delivered and set-up - a few tears (mine) and many warm hugs ..... 

Jay

[Charlie E]

3 hours ago, RangerJay said:

Thanks - the figures were cut on the scrollsaw using a spiral blade - not exactly sure which blade but almost certainly an FD #1 or #3 Spiral with Flat Ends.  Once cut I spent time softening and rounding the cuts with cloth-backed 1/4 " strips of 120 grit sandpaper.

Jay

Thank you Jay. Again it's beautiful. Wish I had made a cradle for my first grandchild.