Introduction: Techshop Built CRIB (Walnut and Lacquered MDF)

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I BUILT IT AT TECHSHOP MENLO PARK!!!!  http://www.techshop.ws

I wanted a crib I couldn't afford. So, with a little CNC, tablesawing, and some quality measuring, voila!! All of the beauty with a fraction of the cost. And the fun of building it. I actually built the dresser in this room, and painted and upholstered the chair too. This picture is taken with Big Brother playing legos. Little brother was in the crib I think.

Step 1: CNC the MDF

I went to Home Depot, and bought a sheet of MDF. Took it to the techshop Menlo Park, where I drew out the crib dimentions and the cutouts for the crib side openings.

Using a program called V-Carve, (very easy to use), I drew everything out digitally, then created the cutting toolpaths for use on the Shopbot CNC router.

The most difficult thing for me, was that I was using "knockdown" type furniture building, so I had to measure all of my hardware, and create the drilling spots for everything to join together. If you mess this part up, you have a beautiful crib that "almost" fits together. Techshop had calipers to use, plenty of work space, and a staff very willing to help with some of the basic software questions of a first time V-Carve user.

Here is the Shopbot doing it's thing. 

Step 2: Priming and Painting

After the four sides were cut, I started on the paint. The techshop also has a finishing room with airflow, and a painting booth, so once I got things hung, I went to work on painting. Remember, when painting MDF, use a thin putty or spackle for the cut edges, otherwise you are painting a sponge, and you will loose about 5 cans of paint just into the wood. Put the quick-dry spackle on the edges, wait a couple minutes, and sand it down smooth again. I used this time to also break the edges a bit, so they weren't sharp.

Step 3: SANDING!!!!

I went with primer, sand, paint, sand, paint, sand. then sand again. Did I mention how much sanding I did?

Step 4: Walnut Base

With knockdown furniture building, you can butt join two pieces of wood with relative ease. Here, I have a simple piece of solid walnut, with 2 through holes, lined up with the t-nuts inserted into the White MDF sides. I long allen key furniture bold runs through the walnut, and joins the two pieces together. With the four walnut pieces half lap glued joined together for a solid base, and the four crib walls joined with through bolts and t-nuts too, the whole thing is very sturdy and straight.

You can also see the simple aluminum legs used to support the crib. Found them online for about 6 bucks each. They run through a solid hardwood board that is fit and glued into a groove on the inside of the walnut.