Noah Sinclair
A bed of nails is an oblong piece of wood with nails pointing upwards out of it. While it appears that anyone lying on such a bed would be injured by the nails, if the nails are numerous enough, the weight is distributed among them so that the pressure exerted by each nail is not enough to puncture the person's skin. This principle of weight distribution is often used for magic tricks or physics demonstrations. To make a fake bed of nails, you will need materials such as plywood, panelling, screws, nails or spikes, and tools like a saw, drill, screwdriver, and hammer. You can also create a custom bed of nails tester using a 3D printer by following open-source designs and software available online.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Plywood board, Panelling, Flat head wood screws, Aluminum gutter spikes, Saw, Drill, Screwdriver, Hammer |
| Board Size | 26" x 56" x 1" |
| Nail Spacing | 1" apart |
| Construction | Cut boards to size, mark grid, drill holes, drive spikes through holes, sandwich nail heads between plywood and panelling, screw together |
| Optional | Paint boards, add aluminium "L" channeling to finish edges |
| Demonstration | Carefully lie on the bed of nails, keeping back in contact with nails. Place plywood and cinder block on chest and have an assistant hit the block with a sledgehammer |
| Safety | Very dangerous, severe injury possible. Use pillow or sandbag between head and nails. Avoid getting on and off the bed of nails |
| Alternative | Use a 3D printer to create a custom bed of nails tester |
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What You'll Learn
Cut plywood and panelling to size
To make a fake bed of nails, you'll need plywood and panelling cut to the following sizes: plywood board, 26" x 56" x 1", and panelling, 26" x 56" x 0.25".
Before cutting, it's important to create a cutting diagram to help you organise the parts effectively and serve as a reference when cutting. Draw your cutting diagram on graph paper with 1/4" squares, where 1" equals 1 foot. This way, you can draw a full-size 4'x8' sheet of plywood on standard printer paper. Mark out the 4'x8' sheet border in pen, then lay out the parts using a pencil. Remember that the wood grain on a plywood sheet runs lengthwise, so ensure you don't lay out similar parts in different directions on the sheet.
When cutting plywood, you can use a handsaw, jigsaw, table saw, or circular saw. For longer cuts that need to be straight, consider using a stiff board as a jig to guide your saw blade. Simply clamp the board along your cut line. For straighter cuts, only cut on the push motion of the saw and avoid cutting on the pull motion. Always start with a sharp blade, and set the blade depth as deep as it can go to reduce edge tear-out. The topside of the plywood will have more splinters and a rough edge, so ensure your finished edge is facing down. If you're cutting a full-size sheet, it's best to get someone to help you.
Plywood panels are created by arranging thin layers of wood veneers at right angles and firmly gluing them together, resulting in superior stiffness. Cut-to-size plywood options include softwood ply, decorative hardwood ply, and birch plywood panels, each with unique characteristics and suitable for different applications.
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Mark a grid on the plywood
To make a fake bed of nails, you will need a plywood board, panelling, flat-head wood screws, aluminium gutter spikes, a saw, a drill, a screwdriver, and a hammer.
The first step is to cut both the plywood board and the panelling to size. Next, you will need to mark a grid on the plywood. To do this, you will need a straight edge that is the full length of the plywood. Use a pencil to mark your lines on all edges and clamp the straight edge to the plywood at both ends. You can mark your lines at 1" intervals, starting at 4" from the edge and then marking each additional inch after that. This will ensure that your grid is straight and evenly spaced.
Once you have marked the grid, you will need to drill a hole at each of the intersections, orthogonal to the board's surface. Then, drive a spike through each of the holes and sandwich the nail heads between the plywood and the panelling. Finally, use the wood screws to secure the panelling to the plywood.
It is important to follow these steps carefully to ensure that your fake bed of nails is secure and safe to use.
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Drill holes at each intersection
To make a fake bed of nails, you will need a plywood board, panelling, flat-head wood screws, aluminium gutter spikes, a saw, a drill, a screwdriver, and a hammer. Begin by cutting the plywood board to size. Next, mark a grid on the plywood with lines 1" apart, parallel to the sides and ends.
Now, it's time to drill holes at each intersection. Start by marking the centre point for each hole with a ruler or tape measure. This will ensure that your holes are straight and evenly spaced. Put on some eye protection, as recommended by the tool manufacturer, and select a drill bit that is the same diameter as your gutter spikes or very slightly smaller. You will also need to consider the chuck size of your drill to ensure a proper fit for the bit shank.
Before drilling, you may want to create a small dent at each intersection point with a hammer and nail. This will help prevent the drill bit from "walking" or skidding across the plywood. Drill slowly and carefully, making sure to keep the drill straight to avoid making the holes too wide. Brush away any dust and debris before moving on to the next step.
Once you've drilled all the holes, you can drive a spike through each one. The gutter spikes will act as the "nails" in your bed of nails. Make sure the spikes are secure and tight before proceeding.
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Drive spikes through the holes
Once you have cut the plywood and panelling boards to size, mark a grid on the plywood with lines 1" apart, parallel to the sides and ends. Drill a hole at each of the intersections, orthogonal to the board's surface. The next step is to drive a spike through each of the holes. You can use a hammer to pound the spikes through the holes. However, if you are struggling to drive the spikes through, you can try drilling pilot holes and then putting liquid soap on the nails to help them slide in. You can also use grease or wax for this purpose.
If you are using square spikes, you will need to drill square holes. A palm nailer is a good option for driving in the spikes as long as the head of the spike is not too large. If you are using a hammer, make sure it is big enough for the job. A normal, heavy framing hammer may not be sufficient. Hold the spike with a long pair of pliers to avoid hitting your hand with the hammer.
When driving the spikes through the holes, sandwich the nail heads between the plywood and the panelling, using 1" wood screws to secure the panelling to the plywood. If you wish, you can paint the boards after drilling the holes and use aluminium "L" channeling to finish the edges.
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Screw pegboard and plywood together
To make a fake bed of nails, you will need a plywood board and a pegboard. The first step is to mark a distance on the plywood that is wider than your shoulders. While lying on the plywood, mark a distance from above your shoulders to the middle of your butt. This will ensure that your entire back will be on the bed of nails, maximising the surface area of your back in contact with the nails.
Next, cut the plywood and pegboard to the required size. You will need a saw to cut the plywood and a power drill or screwdriver to attach the pegboard to the plywood.
Now, you will need to screw the pieces of pegboard and plywood together. To do this, follow these steps:
- Use a power drill or screwdriver to attach the furring strips to the back of the pegboard.
- Attach 3/4-inch wood screws at the top and bottom of each strip and in the centre. Avoid attaching the wood screws using the pre-drilled holes of the pegboard.
- If you want to add a frame to the front of your pegboard, use picture frame moulding or 1-x 2-inch boards cut to match the height and width of the pegboard. Attach the frame with screws and paint or finish it to match the pegboard.
- If you plan to use the bed of nails in a damp room, seal both sides of the board with varnish or a combination of primer and exterior paint to prevent the pegboard from absorbing moisture and warping.
Once the pegboard and plywood are securely screwed together, you can continue with the remaining steps to create your fake bed of nails.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a plywood board, panelling, flat-head wood screws, aluminium gutter spikes, a saw, a drill, a screwdriver, and a hammer.
First, cut the plywood board and panelling to size. Next, mark a grid on the plywood with lines 1 inch apart, and drill a hole at each intersection. Drive a spike through each hole, and sandwich the nail heads between the plywood and panelling, screwing them together.
The most dangerous part of the performance is lying down or getting up, when your weight may be supported by only a few nails. To be safer, you can have assistants help you lie down and get up, and place a pillow or sandbag between your head and the nails.
