Looking to expand, and SO lost with it

[yesterways]

Ok, this is going to be a bit odd....I do woodwork, but not like you would normally think of. No saws or routers. I do woodburning(www.yesterways.com) but I am now interested in building a bed for my guestroom. So with that said, you see I am really lost. I few years ago I was flipping through channels and happened to see a Home & Garden show of some sort that was building a bed with open storage underneath it. This bed was really simple and is exactly what I want. I can't find plans or instructions for it of any sort. Perhaps if I explain it here someone will know what I am talking about and may be able to help me out. I would really appreciate it.

The bottom (floor) and top (under the matress) are plywood sheathing, really thick and it's two pieces. The corners are made from 4X4s and they used a staple gun to wrap the 4X4s and the edges of the sheathing in suede. The sheathing was cut so it would go side by side to fit under the bed. That was it! It sounds so simple, but I don't have the first clue how to start this! It gave a bed of whatever height you wanted along with open storage space underneath it for just about anything. Does anyone know where I might be able to start this?

Thanks in advance.

DD

[Johanna]

LAST EDITED ON Aug-26-05 AT 05:12PM (CDT)

LAST EDITED ON Aug-26-05 AT 05:12 PM (CDT)

I can't quite visualize the plan you are describing, but here is a link to some plans: http://www.woodprojects.com/plans1.php -- when you go there, enter "platform bed" in the search box. It will take you to a variety of them.

If the bed is larger than a single bed, it will need a center support. We have a king size platform that supports our waterbed. It is a plywood box with a lengthwise center support and two crosswise supports -- like this:



There are 3 drawers on each side. I am building the headboard now.

Johanna - in the Land of Enchantment

[yesterways]

I like the idea of the drawers and stuff, but I don't know enough about joinery and such. I literally have almost no knowledge at all on woodworking. I just burn cute designs into them and send them off.

The one I have in mind does have the center support, just not the cross-ways supports....but someone else said that bed wouldn't be very sturdy, guess I get to relook some of this stuff...lol

Thanks,
DD

[Carol the Router Lady]

Hi,

The first question that comes to mind is what tooling you may already have on hand. Or have access to. Tell us more about what you have to work with and a little more about woodworking experiences you may have.

That said, I would like to offer some insight with regard to the projects seen being built on the home and garden, remodeling, and redecorating shows seen on television. Probably the single best thing to remember is that it is TV and its first criteria is to be entertaining. These shows have little based on good (or even safe) work practices. The projects are quick and are for looks only. You never see close-ups of joinery and other details.

And that said, let's look at your bed project. The project you described is little more than a fabric wrapped table with short legs. Thats OK, but a bad design for a bed. Think about what happens in and on a bed. It is more than just sleeping. From kids using it as a trampoline to adults, well we don't need to go there.

The point is that some robust joinery is in order. The design with regard to structural integrity is critical. Plans are helpful but hardly necessary for an experienced woodworker. But I can 'talk' you through it if I know what you have to work with and what skills you already have.

So. Wanna pass along some more information?

One last thing. I don't recognize your moniker. So if you are new to this forum, welcome. And if you wonder where I come off offering advise, I taught woodworking for several years, built custom furniture for several decades, have a book out and a DVD soon to follow. I also speak at home & garden and woodworking shows around the country. Currently I am going to school working on a master's degree (in Dubuque, IA in case you are close to me) and suffering from sawdust withdrawal. So I have to do virtual woodworking by helping other folks with their projects, as my shop is in storage.

[JohnP]

You miss have a class room and teaching don't you Carol.
JohnP

[Carol the Router Lady]

Almost got me, John. As long as the classrom doesn't include faculty meetings and other academic BS, I do indeed miss it. But I have another classroom right here, don't I.

[TradesTeacher]

>As long as the classroom doesn't
>include faculty meetings and other
>academic BS,.....

BS??...In Academia???...




All the best,
TradesTeacher

[yesterways]

Well, as for experience, I have only done what you see on my website. (www.yesterways.com) No real woodworking, just burning designs into premade plaques and selling them. Now that I think about it, that bed WILL have to be pretty sturdy. I hadn't really thought about that before, but you are correct.
As for tools, I have a circular saw I can borrow from my soon-to-be-X but that is really about it.

Not much to work with I know. *sigh*

Thanks for the welcome and I appreciate any help I can get. I still have to figure out how to rebuild the decks on the front and back of this house too. Going to end up taking what is there and using those pieces for patterns I guess......see, told you, SSSSOOOOO lost...lol

DD

[yesterways]

Ok, I went to the link provided and did a search on platform beds. I found the bed and headboard I really like, I am assuming I will be told in the instructions what tools I will need right? The queen size bed with the double layer of drawers and the cabinet headboard is perfect for what I have been looking for. Thanks.

DD

[Johanna]

I seriously doubt the instructions will tell you what tools you will need because there are so many ways to do the same thing when working wood. You can, for example, cut plywood with a hand saw, a circular saw, a jig saw, a band saw, or a table saw. Some saws are better than others for specific cuts (i.e. it's extremely difficult to cut a 4'x8' piece of 3/4" plywood on a band saw -- not impossible, perhaps, but not the usual approach).

Remember, all those beautiful pre-20th century antiques were made entirely with hand tools! (Although a Shaker lady did invent the table saw sometime during that era.)

Johanna - in the Land of Enchantment