Techshop Built CRIB (Walnut and Lacquered MDF)

Intro: Techshop Built CRIB (Walnut and Lacquered MDF)

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. 

Comments

[Dennisv13]

Love this one. Would you have the V-Carve drawing available? I'm thinking of making this one.

[drmoses90]

Do you offer your shopbot plans for sale?

[drmoses90]

Very nice. The solid wood trim on the bottom is a nice touch. You mention in the intro that you made the dresser too. Would be interested to seeing that build as well when you have time. Great work, following you.

[jmmilitello]

I was under the impression that MDF has Formaldehyde in it.

[sweet22]

Love this crib. Nice job building it! How did you attach the mattress to the crib?

[kjbills]

Sure, good question. I built a thin (but sturdy) lattice-type flat mattress tray (for lack of a better word) that sits on the wood that I inserted in the groove in the walnut when the mattress is low. I then drilled 4 pocket holes on the inside of the crib walls that accepts an "L" shaped bracket that supports that same tray when the mattress is high. Sorry, my quick sketches are just that; quick.