Futon build assistance.

[vanitycat]

Hi all.

My fiancé asked me to build a futon. Various websites later I found some plans. I have chosen pine and have purchased all the timber required. However there are two parts where I have come a little bit stuck.

1. I am using 1 x 2 pine slats. The plans recommend you use mortise and Tenon. As there are 46 slats, I am anticipate 92 mortise and tenons. I will practice a couple of scrap wood pieces. If I fail in that process could I use dowels or pocket screws? Would they be strong enough? Before anyone suggests I don't have a festool domino.

2. There are a couple of long pieces that require dowels. However my longest clamp is 48 inches but the piece I will be gluing is 72 and half inches. Does anyone have any alternative clamping pressure ideas? I did look at corner clamps but I think they only help with alignment and not pressure.

I have provided a link to the free plans so you can visualise my issues http://www.futonlife.com/buying-guide/T ... -Plan.aspx

Alan

 

[MattRoberts]

1. Mortise and tenons for the slats are arguably overkill, assuming you're talking about the slats under the mattress. They should rest on the rails, so you just need to secure them from slipping back and forth - screwing them into the rails would be fine

2. You could use a ratchet strap to clamp or you could push it up against a wall and put something heavy against it to apply pressure (even using wedges to increase it). You don't need huge amounts of pressure, as the dowels do all the work

 

[Benchwayze]

You could work a groove in the rails to take the ends of the slats. If you wished you could also make some small pieces to fill the spaces between the slats.

 

[Stanleymonkey]

For the size of the slats - I think pocket screws would hold well. May not give the prettiest finish. Is it for a spare room - or are you trying to impress the future mother in law !!

You could square up the ends on a shooting board or bench sander to get a perfect edge and buy a box of plugs to fill up the pocket holes.

 

[woodbrains]

Hello,

Dowels would require some sort of jig to ensure they fit together, they need pinpoint accuracy for them to work successfully. Done correctly, hardwood fluted dowels will probably be strong enough, but not as strong as mortice and tenon joinery. Pocket screws are poor in this application, the heads will burst through the endgrain in soft pine, when put under pressure.

Cutting all those mortices and tenons will certainly make you skilled at it by the time you are done, I say go for it! Look at it this way, the most expert craftsmen here have, that is how it is done.

Sounding a bit harsh here, but if you don't want to do the work, futons are cheap to buy.

Mike.

 

[novocaine]

dowels and through holes. i.e. drill the rail holes first, line up and secure the slat, drill through the hole, hammer the dowel home, cut flush. rinse repeat.

prefer the idea of letting in a dado so the slats are supported as well though.

 

[Brentingby]

I have a commercially made futon sofa/bed frame. The slats are fitted into grooves in the long rails. The frame has been in daily (nightly) use for more than 25 years with no problems.

 

[vanitycat]

Hello,

Dowels would require some sort of jig to ensure they fit together, they need pinpoint accuracy for them to work successfully. Done correctly, hardwood fluted dowels will probably be strong enough, but not as strong as mortice and tenon joinery. Pocket screws are poor in this application, the heads will burst through the endgrain in soft pine, when put under pressure.

Cutting all those mortices and tenons will certainly make you skilled at it by the time you are done, I say go for it! Look at it this way, the most expert craftsmen here have, that is how it is done.

Sounding a bit harsh here, but if you don't want to do the work, futons are cheap to buy.

Mike.

Fair Point Mike. If I had bothered to price it before gathering the wood I probably would have but I've made my bed (not litterally of course otherwise it would have been a pointless forum q. I guess that I am apprehensive about pineappling it up on the mortise and tenon front

 

[vanitycat]

You could work a groove in the rails to take the ends of the slats. If you wished you could also make some small pieces to fill the spaces between the slats.

I think will practise on some scraps and the if my tenons fail miserably I'll go with you groove suggestion. Definitely sounds the simplest solution