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Parts and Tools

 

The bed I made is constructed of clear vertical grain Western Hemlock.  At my previous job, this material was available for purchase.  For the general public, clear vertical grain can be an expensive and difficult to find in the sizes specified below.  The cost of the wood necessary could easily be the most expensive part of this project. 

 

Using common 2 x 6’s is certainly the cheapest way to build this bed.  Obtaining board of the correct dimensions should cost under $30.  Based on a queen bed (which is what I made) you will need the headboard (4’) and footboard (3’) the bedrails (6’ 7”) and the horizontal runners (5’ ¼”)  These boards are actually 1-3/8 x 5-3/8, I sanded mine to 1” (due to one of my mistakes)  We will assume you will be using either 1-3/8” or 13/16” (also commonly available at hardware stores)  Between the two of these, the 1-3/8, is obviously the sturdier of the two.

 

Materials:

 

40 lineal feet     2 x 6 dimensional

2 pieces            ¾ x ¾ Angle Iron approximately 6’ 6”

1 set                 Bed Rail Hardware(available at Rockler.com)

30 pieces          1 x 4 these will become the panels(you could use 1 x 6)

13 lineal feet     1-3/8” and 1-1/2” Dowel

1 piece             4’ x 4’ ¼” hardboard

 

Tools:

 

Table Saw        Ripping panel stock

Router Table    Machining panel stock

Router              Machining templates/head and foot boards

Miter Saw        Trimming strips, squaring end and bed rails

Jig Saw            Machining head and foot boards

½” Chisel         Mortising for bed rail hardware

Drill                  Drilling/attaching bed rails/dowel

½” Plug Cutter  Filling holes to hide screws

½” Drill Bit       Machining for head/foot boards rails

Sander             Use various grits until  you reach the desired finish

¾” Pipe Clamp Make this a few inches longer than the bed’s width

Wood Glue      More will used than you imagine

Staple Gun       Helps maintain tight curves

 

Router Bits:

 

½” long straight cutting bit with top bearing

½” straight cutting bit with template guide

1/8” flute bit (available from Lee Valley/Rockler)

1/8” bead bit (available from Lee Valley/Rockler)

 ¾” straight cutting bit

 

                                    (Picture from the Lee Valley Website)

 

Introduction     Parts and Tools    Templates and Machining    Assembly    Ordering   Links