The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed Off-set washers

Any tips on cutting the bed wood for off-set washers? My bed wood came from Jim Carter, but it wasn't drilled for the washers. I thought about a Forstner bit, but am concerned about it screwing up the appearance. What is the best thing to use and any tips to keep it from looking like crap from slippage when done?

Rick - That's what I used on my bed. You'll need to use in in a drill press though. I wouldn't try to drill those recesses by hand.

Check out the Mar-K site I think they have some instructions on how to get them offset properly.

Good Luck
George

Rick:
That instruction is on our site http://www.mar-k.com/drilling_mounting_holes.html . Be careful to control the depth carefully and by all means use a drill press if you have one available. By drilling the 1 9/16 recess before drilling the 1/2" hole for the bolt, your forstner bit point will guide the cut and avoid splintering or walking around. Use some scrap material to get your settings right before drilling into the bed wood boards.

Mar-Ktech

Thanks for the tips. I had already drilled my bed-to-frame holes when I installed the bedwood last year. I mounted them with the off-set washers above wood level. So I'll have to drill with those holes already drilled through. I have a hand drill press that might do the trick. It also has a depth stop on it, so hopefully it will work. I'm not ready to do this yet, but will do it in a month or so. Thanks again for the tips.

Try using a router after marking offset if installed washers already. On removed boards get a good grip on preset router and go for it. Nice and slow.

Dan

I used a holesaw without the center drill bit on my drill press to do my off set washers then drilled the center 1/2" holes

This might help. Plug the bed frame holes back up with a dowel. Make sure its in there pretty tight. Saw of flush (even) with the original surface. Then start again with the larger hole. If you know any cabinetmakers they might let you borrow their plug saw.

How about using a forstner bit on a scrap piece of wood, say a 1x6, center the hole end to end and leave the board long, about 24 inches. Position the hole you just drilled on your truck floor where you want it. With both knees on the scrap board drill between your legs. Use the hole you drilled to guide your bit, work slow. The pressure from the scrap should keep the wood from underneath from splintering. Gauge your depth by eye. I used this when making a tool rack. I drilled the holes for screwdrivers, when I wanted it for handles to sit in a recess.