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Old Sep 26, 2019 | 12:16 PM
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Bed strips

I just ordered some curly maple for my bed and I'm looking for some 8' bed strips. what have you used instead of the original style?
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Old Sep 26, 2019 | 02:21 PM
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One of the nicest looking beds I have ever seen made use of stainless steel rod for the strips. The edges of the bed boards were routered to quarter round corners so that when the boards were mounted the mating corners formed a semi circle. The stainless rod fit down into this semi circle which left half of the rod embedded in the wood and half exposed above the wood. I thought that I had some photos but I haven't been able to find them yet. This technique is not possible if you are starting with pre-made bed wood boards however since the "gaps" between the boards are not the same.
 
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Old Sep 26, 2019 | 04:14 PM
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I could see how that would look, you could use a cove bit to cut the 1/4 round into the boards. Pretty slick. I'm thinking of maybe using a contrast wood as a "T" which would give the maple a chance to move. There are folks that sell bed strips but haven't found to many that are 96" long and don't want a lot for them along with high shipping cost. I have a while to figure out what to do, lumber is being shipped. I do like the idea of the tube but wonder how it expanse and contracts?
Thanks for the insight
Don52M3
 
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Old Sep 27, 2019 | 07:42 AM
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Don

although the strips are traditional I used “tee” bolts in the strips. Gives a clean look

tom

Tom
 
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Old Sep 27, 2019 | 11:46 AM
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I don't see the "T" bolts but it is a very clean install. My problem is I need 96" strips and they are hard to find and expensive to ship Bob Drake has some that are short but looks to be at a good price.
Thanks for the share
Don52M3
 
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Old Sep 27, 2019 | 12:24 PM
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I just ordered a set from Dennis Carpenter 95" long SS polished with no holes for $149. Hope they look nice.
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Old Sep 27, 2019 | 12:30 PM
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"WOW" Strips

Pro's Pick has the hidden fastener T bolt strips in longer lengths. They call them Wow strips. There's a picture of how the hidden fastener thing works in the link above. They are a special item, not the ordinary strips with no holes others sell. Check with Carpenter, but I believe you'll need to drill holes to make them work.
 
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Old Sep 27, 2019 | 05:19 PM
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Thanks, I added them to my vendor list. Their not shy on their prices.
Thanks
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Old Sep 28, 2019 | 05:55 AM
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Don, When I did my bed, I had a custom installation. "54 F750 fire truck. I used Mar-k Mar-K Manufacturing. this place was awesome. they can custom length, custom punch holes. Great to work with. I had cypress milled to the width I wanted and groved for the strips.I will post some pictures. Good luck in your search. I used polished SS






 
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Old Sep 28, 2019 | 06:30 AM
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Looks great, I like the cypress. have used cypress to build out door chairs and it holdup pretty well outside. I have that same Delta Unisaw.
Thanks for sharing
Don52M3
 
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Old Sep 28, 2019 | 06:49 AM
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Thanks Don. The Delta is not mine. It was where I had the cypress milled. Great guy. Nice shop
 
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Old Sep 28, 2019 | 01:42 PM
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Since I'm a make use of what you have guy, I used old barn wood off a barn that was destroyed when a big tree decided to flatten it. My divider strips are also barn wood stained a different color for contrast.



Most of the wood on the barn was white oak. After it was planed, it wasn't perfect, but as my wife said, it had character.

Divider strips were cut to allow movement of the main boards.

My wife stained the divider strips.
 
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Old Sep 28, 2019 | 02:01 PM
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I like the wood slats, I was thinking about that and made a mess of my shop making a prototype. Looks good. What are you all using for finish Poly?
Thanks
Don52M3
 
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Old Sep 28, 2019 | 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Don52M3
I like the wood slats, I was thinking about that and made a mess of my shop making a prototype. Looks good. What are you all using for finish Poly?
Thanks
Don52M3
I had a gallon of automotive clear urethane that a paint rep gave me several years back that I decided to try. It's been on for several years now. Admittedly I don't use the the truck for hauling stuff that would damage the finish, but it has held up better than I thought it would.
 
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Old Sep 28, 2019 | 03:03 PM
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Wow...while looking for something else I actually came across the photo of the bed with the stainless rods in the bed floor. Wood looks pretty nice too!


 
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