Thread: Platform bed advice

additional support is probably not required

the frame looks to be around 75mm thick -- and is probably a torsion box to save weight.

Originally Posted by ian

additional support is probably not required

the frame looks to be around 75mm thick -- and is probably a torsion box to save weight.

I should probably add, that I am currently looking at building the bed from 144x22mm wood to create the boxes around the sides, with supawood underneath and on the inside to bring the costs of materials down. I can work in bracings into channels" to strengthen them.

I will try to get some tidier sketches done and post them to get some input. Unfortunately I have not done anything of this scale yet.

Make sure you round the outside edges much more than the ones shown there or pad it well; that style platform bed is very good at finding shins when you are near them - it's even worse than the 'treading on lego in the middle of the night' category of pain.

Check out this video here How to Make a Platform Bed - The Footboard | The Wood Whisperer

You may find it useful. The headboard is different to what you are planning on but the rest of it should be of assistance.

Rickey

Originally Posted by Rickey Herb

Check out this video here How to Make a Platform Bed - The Footboard | The Wood Whisperer

You may find it useful. The headboard is different to what you are planning on but the rest of it should be of assistance.

Rickey

Thanks Rickey. That is an awesome site. I will be watching the videos this afternoon when I get a chance.

As mentioned earlier. I was able to sketch a quick couple of drawing in my tea break to illustrate what I am planning, if you can call these sketches planning. For those of you with an eye for detail. You want to close them as these aren't very neat or accurate, but they should bring across the basic idea.

I plan on using wood (probably pine) 144x22mm as that is freely available and supawood 22mm thick to keep the costs down, especially on the sections that won't be visible. My biggest concern is with the base and how to ensure that, if I use the side rails for structure, is that they don't bend or buckle with just four torsion boxes as legs. If I decide to go the "floating bed" style. It should increase the strength. The side rails would then also only be for looks, not so much functionality. Will the torsion boxes be enough or should I look at a more rigid base, perhaps something boxed?


Sorry for the pdf, that's the best our scanner could do.

I would like to find out if the side rails will be strong enough if I brace them similar to this? or would it be better to just use two 44x144mm planks and glue them together?

I realize this will push the weight up considerably and probably the cost.

Phoenix

I'd need to do a bit of design work, especially at the corners, but at first glance, what you want to build can probably be constructed from quality 1/2in ply or 12mm thick pine boards.
The keys to a strong construction will be
1) build the side and end rails as hollow boxes
2) fit diaphrams within each box to prevent the boxes becoming "sloppy"
3) reinforce the box at critical locations to allow joints to be made


looking at the item you want to emulate, I suspect
1) the rails are made from 16mm black melamine board
2) the rails are hollow and glued together using dowels plus possibly a few knock down connectors
3) the underside of each rail is possibly screwed on

Do you have laminated veneer lumber (used in house building) available?

A quick look at the span tables suggests that 150x60mm is quite adequate to take floor loads (in single span) over the sort of span a bed uses. Assuming your bed won't be longer than 2.3 meters, it'll probably be more rigid than the floor it is on!

Have a look at the span tables here: The index
(and the Plywood box beam span tables)

Originally Posted by ian

additional support is probably not required

the frame looks to be around 75mm thick -- and is probably a torsion box to save weight.

I agree, Torsion box construction would be the way to go. Keep the weight & the cost down, it's easy to do & very strong. You could even do the feet the same way.


Steve