Favorite Bed Rail Fastener?

[DerbyDad03]

I'm getting ready to order some bed rail fasteners. I'd prefer that the
fasteners not be visible from the outside of the bed, i.e. no bolts.

I used this style in the past (~20 years ago) and really like them. They've
held up well and pull the rails in tight. I'm considering using them again,
unless someone has something they like better.

http://www.rockler.com/heavy-duty-wrought-steel-bed-rail-fasteners-4-pack-select-size

I also ran across these which look promising:

http://www.rockler.com/locking-safety-bed-rail-brackets

Any thoughts on which one would be better, or maybe even something else?

Thanks!

[Michael Karas]

[This followup was posted to rec.woodworking and a copy was sent to the
cited author.]

In article <686c6770-4b59-4735...@googlegroups.com>,
teama...@eznet.net says...

I would go with the second set. They have many more screws holding the
brackets to the wood and thus stronger and more secure. They also look
easier to install.

--

Michael Karas
Carousel Design Solutions
http://www.carousel-design.com

---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus

[John McCoy]

DerbyDad03 <teama...@eznet.net> wrote in
news:686c6770-4b59-4735...@googlegroups.com:

> I'm getting ready to order some bed rail fasteners. I'd prefer that
> the fasteners not be visible from the outside of the bed, i.e. no
> bolts.
>
> I used this style in the past (~20 years ago) and really like them.

After using that style once, years ago, I've concluded that
the only really reliable way of joining a bed together is to
use bed bolts.

John

[sawdustmaker]

DerbyDad03 <teama...@eznet.net> wrote in
news:686c6770-4b59-4735...@googlegroups.com:

I've used the 1st set on 6 beds (2 queen adn 4 twin) without problems over
the last 25 years.

[BenignBodger]

I most recently used these http://www.cshardware.com/15-74-5.html and
before that similar more-expensive ones from a different vendor which I
can't recall at the moment. The fasteners are very strong and are among the
most easy to install since they have nicely rounded ends so a router cut
makes the mortise with no hand work needed beyond a few clearance holes for
the tabs and some holes for the screws. I can install a pair of them in a
few minutes (now that I have the hardboard jig finished, of course).

[DerbyDad03]

Can I borrow your jig? ;-)

[DerbyDad03]

On Sunday, July 17, 2016 at 4:17:18 PM UTC-4, BenignBodger wrote:

Should I be concerned that the Rockler set is $14.99 and the CHS set is
1/4 of that price? I know Rockler can be overpriced, but 4x the price
is more than I would have expected.

Did you notice any difference between the "similar more-expensive ones
from a different vendor" and the $4 set from CSH?

$4 just seems to cheap for anything that is supposed to do what these need
to do. Heck, the shipping is more than 1.5x the cost of the fastener. ;-)

[BenignBodger]

I was quite impressed by the quality of these inexpensive fasteners. The
metal is quite thick at a bit over 1/8" (or perhaps 3.5mm since they are
undoubtedly from China or some such place). Are they as good as the earlier
ones? Can't say -- the first set has lasted since around 1999 so in 17
years I might have some statistical evidence. You are right that they seem
_very_ cheap but they don't seem to lack anything I needed.

You can borrow the jig if you stop by in Tennessee and pick it up but it
would probably be easier to make one. I got the sizing wrong on the first
try but hit it on the second. I wanted the mortise to be a very tight fit.

[a bit later]

I was going to send you a picture of the jig but forgot that ES doesn't
allow such goings on...

[DerbyDad03]

Can you post the pic at imgur or some such site?

I made a jig for the bunk beds I built about 20 years ago, but it's long
gone and wouldn't fit the bed I'm making now anyway. A visual of yours
would help, just so I'm not designing from scratch all over again, not
that it's that complicated of a task.

[Leon]

On 7/18/2016 9:19 AM, John McGaw wrote:

> I went onto my alternate NNTP server in an attempt to send you a snap of
> the simple jig but for some reason none of your posts show up on
> Easynews so I can't properly reply there. In any case, here is the
> picture. As you can see it is about as simple as you could imagine --
> some scrap hardboard, two holes with a Forstner and two straight cuts
> and then a bit of hand sanding to fine tune the fit. The countersunk
> holes keep the jig in place on the stock and need to be close enough to
> the hardware to make sure that they are hidden after the furniture is
> together.
>
> The jig needs to be used with a collar and straight bit and the
> dimensions of the openings will depend on both of those as well as those
> of the hardware. However it is done, the mortise needs to be as precise
> as possible since that is where most of the bearing strength comes from
> while the screws, as long as you can wish, are there to keep the
> hardware in the mortise.
>
> We'll see how sending works here and if I need to I'll find another way.
>
Wow! This is the first time that I have seen a picture on this news
group. Special trick?

[DerbyDad03]

OK, this is interesting. I use Google Groups (no comments re: that, please)

Leon, I see your response to John, but I do not see his post. I'm not saying
that I don't see his picture, I'm saying that I don't even see his *post*.

The last post before yours in GG is my response to BenignBodger where I
asked if he could use "imgur or some such site".

I assume that John MaCaw and BenignBodger are the same person based on the
content of the post you quoted, but I don't see John's post in GG. I wonder
if GG dumped it because of the attached image.

[Leon]

I am using giganews. His post was a Ping post with a change of the
title. It showed his explanation, picture, and an attached file to down
load the picture. Just like an e-mail with an attached picture.

[DerbyDad03]

If I search GG for PING Derbydad03, it leads me right back to the
Favorite Bed Rail Fastener thread:

12 posts by 6 authors, which includes your latest response.

The John MaCaw post is not one of those 12.

Is the PING Derbydad03 post showing up as a separate thread in giganews
or is it part of the "Favorite Fastener" thread? For that matter, where is
this response?

[John McGaw]

No, just went to the EasyNews NNTP server and posted as normal but with an
attachment. Had to do it that way because Eternal September absolutely
disallows this and I had forgotten about their limitation. I normally would
have posted a private picture on my website but this seemed to be a little
easier than digging into the site's structure with FTP. There's no telling
what my posting via two different servers will do to the message threading.

[FrozenNorth]

Easynews was lax on allowing pictures into non binary groups years ago,
apparently still is, the problem is most other servers when they receive
it will either drop the entire post, or drop the picture.

--
Froz....

[DerbyDad03]

Now, you see...

This post I is available in GG and I see it coming from John McGaw. The
post with the picture of the jig is not available in GG.

Are you the BenignBodger that mentioned the jig in the first place?

[John McGaw]

Honestly, I didn't even think about the binary/non-binary divide when I
posted. Don't spend much time in the newsgroups these days.

If Derbydad3 has not seen the lousy picture yet, he should email me via my
website and I'll send it to him via email in reply. It is really such a
simple jig that a picture is really not needed -- a slot with rounded ends
cut into some fiberboard is it and the dimensions will vary depending on
what sleeve and bit you are using.

[DerbyDad03]

What website?

[BenignBodger]

I figured you'd Google it. It is http://www.johnmcgaw.com, a rather sad and
outdated site if there ever was one.

[k...@attt.bizz]

On Mon, 18 Jul 2016 10:38:50 -0500, Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet>
wrote:

Some servers forward graphics in text groups, some don't. Don't count
on it working and it's still considered bad form.

[DerbyDad03]

I used the "envelope" at your website. The email bounced back with a "host not found" error
for mx.johnmcgaw.com

Thanks anyway. I'll figure the jig out.

[Dr. Deb]

I just finished a bunk bed set (twin centered over full) and used these:

http://www.rockler.com/surface-mounted-keyhole-bed-rail-brackets

It was a set for three, now small, boys, so I over built and these worked extremely well on the upper. The lower was two units with four drawers each.

[DerbyDad03]

Thanks for the idea. I'll consider it.

[DerbyDad03]

On Sunday, July 17, 2016 at 4:17:18 PM UTC-4, BenignBodger wrote:

Just a minor shipping complaint.

I ordered the bed rail fasteners and some slat brackets from CSH on
Monday. Standard shipping was $6.50 via FedEx. Expected delivery is
next Monday i.e. 7 days.

For a nickle less they could have used USPS Flat Rate and it would have
taken 2, maybe 3 days.

I wonder if FedEx really charges $6.50 for such slow shipping or if CSH
padding the bill.

[Unknown]

DerbyDad03 <teama...@eznet.net> wrote in
news:b2593bba-0d96-4c14...@googlegroups.com:

>
> Just a minor shipping complaint.
>
> I ordered the bed rail fasteners and some slat brackets from CSH on
> Monday. Standard shipping was $6.50 via FedEx. Expected delivery is
> next Monday i.e. 7 days.
>
> For a nickle less they could have used USPS Flat Rate and it would
> have taken 2, maybe 3 days.
>
> I wonder if FedEx really charges $6.50 for such slow shipping or if
> CSH padding the bill.

My experiences with FedEx is that they're generally slower to residential
addresses and more expensive. I think their thing is business-to-
business shipping and residential has a lower priority.

It's possible CSH padded the bill a bit, after all they've got to acquire
the box and packing material.

Puckdropper

[DerbyDad03]

On Thursday, July 21, 2016 at 10:16:16 AM UTC-4, nor...@googlegroups.com wrote:
> DerbyDad03 <teama...@eznet.net> wrote in
> news:b2593bba-0d96-4c14...@googlegroups.com:
>
> >
> > Just a minor shipping complaint.
> >
> > I ordered the bed rail fasteners and some slat brackets from CSH on
> > Monday. Standard shipping was $6.50 via FedEx. Expected delivery is
> > next Monday i.e. 7 days.
> >
> > For a nickle less they could have used USPS Flat Rate and it would
> > have taken 2, maybe 3 days.
> >
> > I wonder if FedEx really charges $6.50 for such slow shipping or if
> > CSH padding the bill.
>
> My experiences with FedEx is that they're generally slower to residential
> addresses and more expensive. I think their thing is business-to-
> business shipping and residential has a lower priority.

Makes one wonder why companies like CSH don't just use the USPS for this
type of order. If they can get it to their customers in half the time
for the same price, wouldn't that help bring the customer back next time?

>
> It's possible CSH padded the bill a bit, after all they've got to acquire
> the box and packing material.
>

On the other hand, if they are padding the FedEx price to cover their
packaging costs, then they would have to raise the USPS price also. I get
that.

I guess it's just the idea of paying $6.50 in shipping for $10 worth of
parts and then having it take a week that bothers me. The $100+ router I
bought from MLCS cost me $8 for 2-3 day delivery. That feels OK. Paying
$6.50 for such a small order and then having to wait a week just sucks.

[DerbyDad03]

On Sunday, July 17, 2016 at 4:17:18 PM UTC-4, BenignBodger wrote:

>

> I most recently used these http://www.cshardware.com/15-74-5.html and
> before that similar more-expensive ones from a different vendor which I
> can't recall at the moment. The fasteners are very strong and are among the
> most easy to install since they have nicely rounded ends so a router cut

> makes the mortise with no hand work needed.

I ran a quick test last night with the "round end" fasteners from CSH
using my new plunge trim router and a new 5/8" straight bit. No jig,
just the edge guide on the plunge base.

Sweet! One quick pass and the rail fastener fit so snugly in the mortise
that I had to rap the wood on the workbench to get it out.

Thanks for the suggestion!