Novice wants to build a bed........help!!!

[TL1000R]

As my first real project I would like to build a new bed frame. Nothing to fancy, just stong, soild but must be able to come apart should we need to move it. Want to go super king size. Just wondered if anyone had done it and had any advise and tips, bit's to buy / avoid???
Looking for a simple build so no fancy joints.

Cheers.

[Laurel Green]

Never built a bed but, would think it an easy enough task. Any of These grab your fancy?

[allegro]

Some of this may be useful:

http://www.locksonline.com/acatalog/bed-fittings-b...

[Globs]

TL1000R said:

As my first real project I would like to build a new bed frame. Nothing to fancy, just stong, soild but must be able to come apart should we need to move it. Want to go super king size. Just wondered if anyone had done it and had any advise and tips, bit's to buy / avoid???
Looking for a simple build so no fancy joints.

Cheers.

Well I think you need to order in a bunch of 4x2s from a timber yard, buy a saw and a first fix nail gun and you could have it build in about an hour.

Job's a good-un

[smn159]

I offered to build us a bed using fence posts when we first moved in, but the Mrs wasn't keen for some reason

[Nuisance_Value]

Laurel Green said:

Never built a bed but, would think it an easy enough task. Any of These grab your fancy?

No central horizontal support for the slats on that king design, even though they've specified 2" x 4" slats (44mm x 95mm finished) I'd be tempted to add one for extra strength and reduce the slats thickness to save on costs (You can tell it's specified for the USA). Also note the slats aren't fixed so could rattle a bit and I'd also get the legs machined as they look a bit messy bolted together. Sort all that out though and it could be a decent basis for an easy build.

Been a long time since I built a bed (a sofa that folded into a double bed in the futon style), but I would choose a mattress first and build around that to get a decent fit.

[TL1000R]

Well that's what I was thinking, smooth ones at least for the legs, then basic sides and foot board and a large headboard with foam and then a leather cover. Just not sure of the best way to bolt/screw/join the bits together. Maybe just some big bolts but worried they might look a bit rubbish.

[Nuisance_Value]

Adding foam and leather would be more of a task and cost more than a basic wooden headboard, though you could do it after, once you've mastered the basics. You could always delete the footboard to save costs, as otherwise you'd have to match it with more foam and leather, it would look odd otherwise.

Thing about building your own is that you can have anything you want, so take your time and get the design right, research material suppliers and find a good joinery workshop/upholsterer to do the stuff you can't. It's really satisfying building and using your own furniture, even though it will cost more, you know it will be better built than most and last very much longer.

Good luck.

[Blakeatron]

Beds are possibly the easiest thing to build!

Give me a pm if you need and help.

Basically something chunky for legs 3x3 or 4x4, 6x2 minimum for mattress rails, use 3x2 or 2x2 for a central mattress rail and then we use 6x1 for lats.

Extend head and foot legs to required length. If you want a leather panel then build a 2x2 frame and insert into head legs, get a piece of 3/4 ply and stretch the leather around the front and fix on the rear with staples (dont forget padding) then screw this panel on from the rear.

Make your head and foot boards in one piece (ideally mortice and tenon the mattress rail) then you could m&t your side rails with bolt fixings - or there are metal slot together brackets available.

[CO2000]

I remember this good/funny thread from a couple of years back

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...