Hello.

[bodger]

Just like to introduce myself, Bodger by name, hopefully not by nature, I am not a Pro Carpenter, Cabinet maker etc, just an enthusiastic 65yr old amateur. Well anyway I am about to become a Grandfather for the first time and the parents want me to make the cot!!. Anyway you'll all think I have a bit of a cheek asking for advise on my first visit. Can any of you tell me where can I purchase the hardware for a cot in the UK. I can get them from the USA and Australia, However I can't seem to find a supplier over here.

[engineerone]

welcome mate, to the mad house.

however it is not a cheek to ask for help in the first instance.

it would be useful to know and understand the kind of cot you have in mind, so we can help you out.

the most important thing to remember is that there are maximum distances which you are allowed to space the uprights.

i assume you want to make one with a drop side, and also that you may want it to be able to be dismantled, if you have any photos of what you have in mind, then it will make it easier for us to suggest things.

all the best and congratulations

paul

[Head clansman]

HELLO BODGER

welcome to the forum ,its a bit of a mad house here good luck , and congrates on being a granddad for the first time let us all know what she has. its been a long time since i had any thing to do with babies so cant help you there .hc

[keith2]

Hello Bodger, and welcome to the forum. I am new here myself and still finding my way around. Very good forum.

Congratulations on your good news and i am sure someone will be along soon to help .

[jaco]

Welcome Bodger!
Congratulations! WE have lots of very knowledgeable members who will help you.

(65 years - well at least Paul won't feel so lonely anymore! ;D ;D ;D ;D)

[paulchapman]

Welcome, Bodger - and take no notice of Old Jaco ;D

Cheers

Paul

[promhandicam]

Welcome. As engineerone suggested a picture of the type of cot you want to make or more details of the hardware might help. When our daughter was born her first 'cot' was a drawer, so not a lot of hardware needed for that! Don't think she'd fit in a drawer now!

All the best,

Steve

[dom]

Welcome Bodger, seems no one has an answer and in truth I've never seen what you're looking for in any of the trade catalogues.
Perhaps if you looked in seconhand shops or charity shops you might pick up up an oldish cot very cheaply and then cannibalise from that.
Good luck

[engineerone]

c'mon dom, how many cots have you made in the last 10 years ;D

from memory the real problem is how you make the moveable side both secure, and also move vertically.

basically, the old fashioned cot with vertical pillars is a 3 sided structure with the bed base being the final supporting piece.
however, there are standards in relation to the spaces between the vertical pillars, which is i think no more than 50 mm to stop small hands and heads getting stuck.

many make the head and foot boards solid or at least frame and panel.

however i do agree it may well be worth checking your local second hand furniture shop, or even the locak auction house.


of course you could always make a rocking one ;D

plan is to discover how long the parents expect the cot to last, since this will allow you to decide what it is that you are making.

don't go for something too complex, since it will take too long.
and try not to design it to grow into something else since that will also lengthen the time it takes you to make it.

good luck

paul

[jaco]

Jan 10, 2009 13:08:22 GMT paulchapman said:

Welcome, Bodger - and take no notice of Old Jaco ;D

Cheers

Paul

Don't remember saying which Paul ................
If the cap fits ........
;D ;D ;D ;D

[jfc]

Welcome to the forum Bodger , not sure what hardware you need for a cot but there are a few examples on the Legacy woodworking site .

[bodger]

Thanks lads for the welcome, good idea Dom, however s/hand shops think they are all antique dealers now, charity shops are not allowed to sale them H&S, I have been looking in the local papers, no luck yet. I want to make an old fashioned type with a drop side using Beech or white oak. I think the parents are planning on keeping it ,they're quite old fashioned in that respect. Will get all the dimensions & safety features from the local Mothercare, Pictures on the PC now that's an all new ball game for me, only just come to grip's with the PC,will have to get some tuition from my son. Will keep on looking, and I will let you know if I have any luck.
Thanks again for your welcome and comments.

[jfc]

A drop side could be done without hardware but some blumotion soft close runners would be a nice touch

[engineerone]

if you are looking for a drop side it is in many ways quite simple.

you are making the three sides solidly fixed, so you have to decide about whether to have open ends, but other wise the
spindles do need to be a maximum distance apart for hse reasons.

as for the drop side. this is in fact relatively simple, and could be made quite easily.

you need a couple of key hole plates which you would extend the slot of, then a couple of metal dowels with heads on them that go into the key hole, then are too big for the slot.

these should be put in with the slot facing down. then at the top, you need some kind of sliding keeper, maybe even the kind of thing that you use on a normal bed to join the rails and the headboard.

the important thing is to ensure that whatever you use as fittings are difficult for little fingers to get trapped within, and kind of difficult for them to fiddle with so they could for instance lift and drop the side.

the fewer items like latches and hook and eye fittings mean fewer chances for damage to child or parent.

hth

paul