Thread: WIP my first bed.

Originally Posted by ian

old, been through a freeze thaw cycle, in other swords no longer effective

I live in Brisbane so its never going to freeze hahaha.
I guess I should really add some vertical supports later but knowing me I'll never get around to it.

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I decided I wanted a little bit of a floating bed style so I designed the 2 frames to screw down onto a platform. I felt that this would also create a half torsion box effect thus making the base very strong with some rigidity against wracking.

Originally I thought I would use a sheet of chipboard flooring. But the sheet needs to support almost the entire weight on it's edges and resist the moment force between that and the supporting frame. I Leant that these days no one uses chipboard flooring only particle board flooring and also that this must be supported on all edges. The exact opposite of what I need.
Then I learnt that plywood is far stronger and thus worth the cost. So off I went to my local sheet goods supplier.
I explained to the guy that I didn't really know if 18mm ply would be strong enough in the long term. Perhaps I need 25mm or even 33mm ply.
The guy explained that they had a stock of 17mm F17 hardwood ply which was mid price but far stronger than the other options. I have no idea what F17 really means but apparently it is technospeak for strong as f@#k.
So I bought two sheets. I also paid them $5 to cut it to size for me.

So I laid that out on my assembly table upside down and I made a frame out of 31mm x 66mm. I pocket hole screwed that frame together. Then I glued and tacked and screwed the frame to the hardwood plywood.

My assembly table is on a very un flat drive way so it's impossible for me to get this platform or the frames flat but I muddle through. I figure the different frames will straighten each other out when they are screwed together.




I added lots a felt pads as feet to protect the wooden floor.


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I would have liked to polyurethane this part but there simply isn't enough time. I don't even have time to seal the edges. They won't be visible. I just thought some polyurethane would make it last longer. Probably it doesn't matter.

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Dear little wife helped me carry this platform inside. She had to give me a stern warning that I must remember she is not a man and I can't expect her to carry my heavy projects. Fortunately we got it into the room without injuring the little lady.


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The felt pads make it quite easy to move even a heavy bed. Hopefully not too easy to move during 'special cuddles' time.

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Be great to see the finished product, hope it worked out for you.

I bought some sheets of melamine to make the drawers. I tried to cut one of these on the Triton workcentre. What a disaster!
I really need a table saw and ideally a track saw.

I'll have to skip the drawers for the short term. No time.

I may as well fit the runners now though.


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I thought Triton Workcentre is a table saw? I have an 80 tooth saw on my Triton that I use for cutting melamine, works fine. The saw is $58 from Bunnings but can also be used for cutting aluminium.


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I cut this entire melamine robe on the triton, what issues are you having with it?

Originally Posted by DaveVman

I bought some sheets of melamine to make the drawers. I tried to cut one of these on the Triton workcentre. What a disaster!
I really need a table saw and ideally a track saw.

or perhaps, just a more suitable saw blade and/or better technique? If you have a ripping blade or a general purpose blade in the Triton, then chipping of the melamine would be expected.
Among the work arounds is cutting oversize and them trim with a router, pre-scoring, and painters tape along the cut line.

The problem is that the cuts are not square. I should take the circular saw out of the work center and do rough cuts then put it back in the workcentre, carefully spend a fair bit of time re aligning the saw and then cut to size. Perhaps then it would work if I was very careful. I just don't have the time now.
Great to know someone else has done it so it's possible.

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So plan B. False drawer fronts for now.

I forgot to mention that when I made the frames I put some pocket holes in the wrong place on the first set of small cross braces so I had to redo these. Thus I had some scraps the right thickness. A shave off these with the SCMS made them the right height. Backed with sone MDF scrap they can lock a false front in place until I eventually make the drawers.



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I have never done upholstery before but I'm one of these people who won't die wondering.

One 1800 x 600 MDF sheet cut in 6 creates the front. Then contact adhesive to glue on foam. Then some fleece as cheap batting. Then the material with a pneumatic stapler. Can't recommend a pneumatic stapler highly enough for this task.



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Scrap used as spacing to make it all even.
2 screws hopefully will hold the fronts in place for a few months. Quite a few months if I return to my usual glacial pace after this rushing around.

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