Cot #2

[SteveF]

I have another cot to build
this time in oak

a few questions please

the request is dowel for front and back "bars"
i am guessing 500mm tall...so how thick?
then how thick rails to accomodate them?

Steve

 

[Phil Pascoe]

You'd probably need to know how straight grained your oak is before deciding the size if you're making your own dowels.

 

[SteveF]

i was going to buy the dowels in tbh
my lathe is not long enough
and they seem reasonably priced
Steve

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Sensible - at least (hopefully) they'll be straight grained. At a guess 15mm?

 

[Retire2004]

Hi Steve,
Just measured my grandson's cot. Dowels are 15/16mm dia. at 65mm ctrs. Rails are 25 x 50 (top) and 25 x 70 (bott). Sides are 700 high, so the dowels are approx. 620 long. These dims are for a cot-bed (700 x 1400) so a cot (550 x 1150) would be slightly smaller in proportion. Hope this helps.
Kind regards, Tudor

 

[SteveF]

Thanks Tudor

now the challenge getting 15mm oak dowels
everyone wants to sell them in 900mm or 1m lengths
can get light hardwood in 2.4m but not sure I could colour match them

and 300mm waste is not much fun

Steve

 

[SteveF]

Hi Steve,
Just measured my grandson's cot. Dowels are 15/16mm dia. at 65mm ctrs. Rails are 25 x 50 (top) and 25 x 70 (bott). Sides are 700 high, so the dowels are approx. 620 long. These dims are for a cot-bed (700 x 1400) so a cot (550 x 1150) would be slightly smaller in proportion. Hope this helps.
Kind regards, Tudor

i got some 15mm dowel

does it flex much?

do u think it is up to the job?

Steve

 

[Retire2004]

Hi Steve,
The 15mm dowels on our cot are pine and are OK so I see no problem with Oak which will be much stiffer. You will notice this when rods are cut down to 600mm (ish)
Tudor