For added stability a distaco clamp has also been added to the fixture.

We have designed a basic trough for holding the bed post in place, as well as the plunge router for mortising applications.

Wood wedges are used to position the Pencil Post into the fixture. These are tight enough to assist with holding the piece in place also.

Three router bitts are used to mortise our pencil posts.
· A 5/8 diameter straight cutter
· A ¾ diameter straight cutter
· A ¼ diameter straight cutter.
The bushing shown is only necessary as our router has a ½" collet.

When all is done you will have four fully mortised posts.

At this point you should have four posts with hardware mortises as well as…

Next we set the depth of the router bit. Then we mortise the post with several passes. It is best to start to your right, plunge, travel to the stop point, let your router spring up to the normal position before going to the right to plunge deeper and repeating the process until the mortise is complete. If your router bogs down you probably are taking off to much at one time and should make your cuts less aggressive.

The footboard mortise is done the same way as the headboard mortise.

Mortising for the bed hardware is a special situation.
First you need to use the 5/8-diameter bit and set your depth to be exactly the same as the thickness of your bed hardware. I use a sample piece of wood to determine what works before cutting this mortise into my post. You may want this mortise to be the exact length as the hardware, which will require some hand chiseling to perfect your fit. The other approach is over mortising where there is enough extra length to your mortise so the shoulders of the hardware will clear the round end of your mortise. NOTE: Be sure to mortise posts allowing for right and left posts. If you have the posts with headboard mortises in them you should do the side rail mortises so that one is to the right of the headboard mortise and on the other post the mortise is to the left of the headboard mortise

A second cut is made with the ¼ diameter bitt in the center of the 5/8 mortise as shown. This cut is ½ deep allowing for the hook section of the bed hardware.

When all is done you will have four fully mortised posts.

At this point you should have four posts with hardware mortises as well as…

two posts with a headboard mortises and two with a footboard mortises.
Please note that the hardware mortises are facing each other on each pair of posts.

two posts with a headboard mortises and two with a footboard mortises.
Please note that the hardware mortises are facing each other on each pair of posts.