On 7/17/2016 5:28 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Sunday, July 17, 2016 at 4:17:18 PM UTC-4, BenignBodger wrote:
On 7/16/2016 11:28 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I'm getting ready to order some bed rail fasteners. I'd prefer that the
fasteners not be visible from the outside of the bed, i.e. no bolts.

I used this style in the past (~20 years ago) and really like them. They've
held up well and pull the rails in tight. I'm considering using them again,
unless someone has something they like better.

http://www.rockler.com/heavy-duty-wr...ck-select-size

I also ran across these which look promising:

http://www.rockler.com/locking-safety-bed-rail-brackets

Any thoughts on which one would be better, or maybe even something else?

Thanks!


I most recently used these http://www.cshardware.com/15-74-5.html and
before that similar more-expensive ones from a different vendor which I
can't recall at the moment. The fasteners are very strong and are among the
most easy to install since they have nicely rounded ends so a router cut
makes the mortise with no hand work needed beyond a few clearance holes for
the tabs and some holes for the screws. I can install a pair of them in a
few minutes (now that I have the hardboard jig finished, of course).

Should I be concerned that the Rockler set is $14.99 and the CHS set is
1/4 of that price? I know Rockler can be overpriced, but 4x the price
is more than I would have expected.

Did you notice any difference between the "similar more-expensive ones
from a different vendor" and the $4 set from CSH?

$4 just seems to cheap for anything that is supposed to do what these need
to do. Heck, the shipping is more than 1.5x the cost of the fastener. ;-)


I was quite impressed by the quality of these inexpensive fasteners. The
metal is quite thick at a bit over 1/8" (or perhaps 3.5mm since they are
undoubtedly from China or some such place). Are they as good as the earlier
ones? Can't say -- the first set has lasted since around 1999 so in 17
years I might have some statistical evidence. You are right that they seem
_very_ cheap but they don't seem to lack anything I needed.

You can borrow the jig if you stop by in Tennessee and pick it up but it
would probably be easier to make one. I got the sizing wrong on the first
try but hit it on the second. I wanted the mortise to be a very tight fit.

[a bit later]

I was going to send you a picture of the jig but forgot that ES doesn't
allow such goings on...