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RCCinNC
34 posts
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in over 1 year
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The promised cradle post!
So…approximately nine months ago, give or take, I announced that I was going to be a grandfather.
Well, now I am, and a very proud one at that! I am in awe of the beauty of this little guy that my daughter and son in law have created and brought into this world…and my wife and I are completely and totally smitten.
I also promised I’d post the cradle that I would make for him. It has been done for a while, but I guess I must be a bit superstitious as I didn’t feel comfortable posting until after the child was born.
I built a cradle for my children some 35 yrs. ago from a design pirated from some long lost issue of Wood magazine. The original has hosted multiple little miracles (not all my own!) and has suffered the ravages of a hot NC attic…and like me, was beyond rehabilitation. Liking the design I disassembled it (not me…the cradle) and used several of it’s parts as templates. Of course, a repeat was not in the cards…this cradle had to reflect an improved skill set, so instead of flat panels I created raised panels of figured rock maple surrounded by a cherry framework. The end supports are the original design, but the first cradle only had fixed bolts from the basket resting in bearings inset into the supports. As Grandpa paranoia is a thing, I chose to extend the bolts through and cap them. The basket slats are repurposed and milled from our children’s also attic ravaged and outdated crib. The center rail is now mortised into the end pieces where the original’s were just held with wooden dowels and eventually screws when the dowels proved inadequate. My skill set has definitely improved through time… ; ) Though not on the original, I also added a threaded locking knob to one support. The whole thing was finished with multiple coats of wipe on satin poly approximately four months prior to use. Grandpa was being ultra careful on this particular project!
Respecting his parents wishes there are no photos of the little guy in the cradle, but believe me it’s a heart warming vision. I had forgotten how small and fragile our children seemed when they came into this world…and the work required to raise them. Our daughter and son in law’s eyes seem to be at permanent half mast…
My best to you all!
Well, now I am, and a very proud one at that! I am in awe of the beauty of this little guy that my daughter and son in law have created and brought into this world…and my wife and I are completely and totally smitten.
I also promised I’d post the cradle that I would make for him. It has been done for a while, but I guess I must be a bit superstitious as I didn’t feel comfortable posting until after the child was born.
I built a cradle for my children some 35 yrs. ago from a design pirated from some long lost issue of Wood magazine. The original has hosted multiple little miracles (not all my own!) and has suffered the ravages of a hot NC attic…and like me, was beyond rehabilitation. Liking the design I disassembled it (not me…the cradle) and used several of it’s parts as templates. Of course, a repeat was not in the cards…this cradle had to reflect an improved skill set, so instead of flat panels I created raised panels of figured rock maple surrounded by a cherry framework. The end supports are the original design, but the first cradle only had fixed bolts from the basket resting in bearings inset into the supports. As Grandpa paranoia is a thing, I chose to extend the bolts through and cap them. The basket slats are repurposed and milled from our children’s also attic ravaged and outdated crib. The center rail is now mortised into the end pieces where the original’s were just held with wooden dowels and eventually screws when the dowels proved inadequate. My skill set has definitely improved through time… ; ) Though not on the original, I also added a threaded locking knob to one support. The whole thing was finished with multiple coats of wipe on satin poly approximately four months prior to use. Grandpa was being ultra careful on this particular project!
Respecting his parents wishes there are no photos of the little guy in the cradle, but believe me it’s a heart warming vision. I had forgotten how small and fragile our children seemed when they came into this world…and the work required to raise them. Our daughter and son in law’s eyes seem to be at permanent half mast…
My best to you all!
If I didn’t laugh at myself, I’d lose my mind.
8 Comments
hey buddy glad to see you, and with a project ! nice work my friend, thats gonna be an heirloom project for sure. maybe even hold a great grand child someday ?
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Congrats on the new family member and a superb grand-daddio but heirloom crib!
RcC
Real happy to hear feom you!
Awesome job on the grandson! Cradle is nice too, no really it's a work of art!
Real happy to hear feom you!
Awesome job on the grandson! Cradle is nice too, no really it's a work of art!
Petey
Beautiful cradle! Congrats on the new family member.
Grandson makes for a great reason to be in the shop. How else can Grandpa contribute at this time.
Really a well done cradle. Grandson means more projects to come for sure.
Really a well done cradle. Grandson means more projects to come for sure.
Ron
Nice work it looks great Bob. Congrats on the grandson
RCC,
Very nice work. Has the cherry darkened up yet?
Very nice work. Has the cherry darkened up yet?
daveg, SW Washington & AZ
Thanks for all the kind comments and good wishes guys!
I think this cradle might make it a generation or two. The fact that I’m a bit on the “well seasoned” side of life certainly doesn’t hurt. ; ) The first cradle was supposed to be an heirloom project. Fortunately it wasn’t…for given how poorly it was built I would have had to have been dead for years, and even then probably only useful as a large fruit basket for someone who really had it in for fruit. That, and a few other projects built in times of less experience and craftsmanship haven’t managed to survive despite my usual hoarding sentimentality and have been scrapped and material repurposed. Pretty sure I’m not alone there…
My kids have had no qualms about wanting some of my pieces once I pass. I guess I’d call that a compliment, but I gotta admit, the sound of knives sharpening behind closed doors is making me a tad nervous…
Further items to be created in the future for sure, but this kid already has everything. Modern marketing has made exotic items apparent necessities, and our daughter and son in law appear to have many generous friends. So a bit stymied on what to create…and their house is cluttered enough already. Figure to make toys in the future that will assuredly be more interesting than an Xbox.
…And yeah, it’s darkening, and I’m glad of it. Looks better now with more contrast against the maple, and will continue to do so. The cherry I had was pretty light, and I was less than pleased with it…but having faith it would improve with time I used it and haven’t been disappointed.
So y’all…in my mind thanking y’all individually, if not in my actual post.
Again, thanks for the thoughts and kind words.
I think this cradle might make it a generation or two. The fact that I’m a bit on the “well seasoned” side of life certainly doesn’t hurt. ; ) The first cradle was supposed to be an heirloom project. Fortunately it wasn’t…for given how poorly it was built I would have had to have been dead for years, and even then probably only useful as a large fruit basket for someone who really had it in for fruit. That, and a few other projects built in times of less experience and craftsmanship haven’t managed to survive despite my usual hoarding sentimentality and have been scrapped and material repurposed. Pretty sure I’m not alone there…
My kids have had no qualms about wanting some of my pieces once I pass. I guess I’d call that a compliment, but I gotta admit, the sound of knives sharpening behind closed doors is making me a tad nervous…
Further items to be created in the future for sure, but this kid already has everything. Modern marketing has made exotic items apparent necessities, and our daughter and son in law appear to have many generous friends. So a bit stymied on what to create…and their house is cluttered enough already. Figure to make toys in the future that will assuredly be more interesting than an Xbox.
…And yeah, it’s darkening, and I’m glad of it. Looks better now with more contrast against the maple, and will continue to do so. The cherry I had was pretty light, and I was less than pleased with it…but having faith it would improve with time I used it and haven’t been disappointed.
So y’all…in my mind thanking y’all individually, if not in my actual post.
Again, thanks for the thoughts and kind words.
If I didn’t laugh at myself, I’d lose my mind.
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