Thread: Loft Bed

HI Grimalkin,

Over here, timber (=US lumber) is specified in fractions of an inch if you're talking out of the mill, and in metric when it's dressed. If you're younger than 35, it's more common to talk entirely metric.

So, inch and a quarter rough sawn (5/4) dresses down to about 25mm

I'd personally go to the six inch wide stock if it was my call - but I'd use something closer to 1.5" rough sawn (32mm dressed) or greater. I'd be concerned about the legs buckling under the weight of a queen sized bed.

CHeers,
eddie

Originally Posted by Grimalkin

I will be making my daughter a loft bed.
It will have to support a queen size futon 7' in the air.
I'll be using Maple and am concerned as to the lumber size for the corner posts for proper support.
Will 5/4 x 4 be adequate or should I go 5/4 x 6...5/4 x 4 seems a bit skinny to me.

The posts will be made as per picture.

If you make all solid joints and cross bracing, 4" wide should be more than adequate so the question comes down to aesthetics. 6" wide boards will look substantial ie a more chunky look and give the underneath more of a closed in effect. 4" will look more elegant. You could also go for a combination 4" on one side and 6" on the other. That way you could choose where you want to direct the closed in look.

I'll be interested to hear/see what you finally make.

I appreciate your input eddie and BobL....I'll post back when the project is complete...

Originally Posted by Grimalkin

I will be making my daughter a loft bed.
It will have to support a queen size futon 7' in the air.

if its a trade-off between aesthetics and safety, i tend towards over-engineering the project

I have a queen size loft bed in the garage taking up valuable space- belongs to daughter who may need it again one day. It is an IKEA one made of radiata pine and the measurements are no where near the sizes you are quoting- much smaller.
I will measure and get back to you.
Carry Pine