How to build timber bedhead shelf?

dabroa

I'm making a timber bedhead and am using 140mm x 30mm DAR pine for the top shelf of it. The total length of my bedhead is 3.6m, so I need to join 2 pieces of the pine.

What is the best joint to use to achieve this without the joint cracking over time?

I considered a simple dowel joint which would mean I could get away with a 2.4m length and 1.2m length. Also considered a half lap joint which would mean I'd need to buy 2 x 2.4m lengths and cut to size to allow for the pieces overlapping.

JacobZ

Hi @dabroa,

I'd be going with a half lap join in this situation, mainly because any butt join, such as a dowel or biscuit join, relies on glue, which means you would need to clamp them together laterally, which at 3.6m long is not a simple task. It can be done, but you'd end up spending about as much to clamp them as you would on materials.

With a half lap join, you can add glue over the two adjoining surfaces then screw them together nice and tight, which avoids the need for extremely long clamps.

Realistically, the bigger thing to think about is support. At 3.6 m long, the shelf itself will be far more likely to move or sag than the joint failing. If it’s well supported along the length, the join won’t be under much stress anyway. If it’s not, even a stronger joint won’t stop issues over time.

So, I’d keep the joint simple, using a half lap join, and focus on making sure the shelf is properly supported across its span. Being a bedhead, I imagine it will be supported along its full length, so you shouldn't have many issues there as long as it is well fixed to the bedhead across the full length.

Have a look at How to build simple woodworking joints which gives some details on how to make a half lap join.

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/232618/how-to-build-simple-woodworking-joints

If you have any further questions, please let me know so I can assist further.

Jacob