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Crafting The Wooden Cots
The cut pieces are ready to be sized and dimensioned
Each of the 30 pieces is dimensioned to size.
16 spindles are fit into the cot frames to create the 4 sides
Joints are left to dry clamped into a bespoke jig
Three sides are assembled ready for the base
Finished in UKCA-approved Osmo Polyx-Oil
Our cots are made across two home studios in Lancashire, they are entirely handcrafted and take about 2½ days to complete. It's a lengthy process and a real labour of love, requiring meticulous attention to detail. For the curious, this is an abridged account of how the wood cot is handcrafted and finished.
The raw materials - ready for a serious upcycle!
We start with sourcing wood from old outdated furniture and offcuts from larger projects. We have used restaurant tables, worktops, garden furniture and aged whiskey casks! All wood is planed back to remove varnish, paint or weathering; revealing it's natural beauty and occasionally surprising us with the type of wood hiding under an old finish! We have made cots from oak, beech, ash, lauan and tropical hardwood, and that list is always growing! Not all wood is suitable to use and we discard wood finished with lead-based paints, that have water damage or signs of contamination.
Cutting and sizing, the first steps in crafting the cots
The planed wood is roughly dimensioned into the 30 individual pieces of wood that are used to construct the cot; spindles, legs, upper and lower frames and rockers. Each piece is planed flat and square and then passed through the thicknesser to achieve the final width and depth dimensions. Pieces are cut to length and sanded, every edge and corner is passed over the router to ensure there are no sharp edges or corners. A router is used to add a groove to the lower frame, ensuring the base of the cot sits firmly and securely into the frame. Finally the rockers are shaped using a pre-made form to create a perfectly matching pair.
Precision construction
36 tenons and blind mortise joints are used to fit the spindles into the frame and connect the legs to the rockers. These joints are used due to their strength and stability creating an exceptionally strong frame, built to withstand the rigours of children at play! With the cot sides constructed, 3 are fitted to the cot legs, allowing the cot base to be slid into position, with the fourth side added the cot really starts to take shape. Finally legs are fitted into the rockers and all that remains is for two holes to be drilled at the rear of the cot for the threaded inserts, which are used to fit the canopy support.
Branding is added and the cot is finished in child friendly polyx-oil
Construction complete, the cot is given a coat of toy approved Osmo Polyx-Oil in a satin finish; selected for it's durability and hard-wearing qualities. The all important UKCA and Ambel logos are branded onto the rockers and then a second coat of polyx-oil is applied. Finally the whole frame is rubbed down to ensure a silky smooth and tactile finish.