Need some woodworking advice...King size bed

[Cuerno Largo]

I had a huge old mule barn built around 1910 blow down on my place. It has some nice old wood timbers, etc. I am thinking about making a king size bed out of some of this wood. I don't really care for woodworking, but I REALLY don't care to pay for overprice rustic furniture I can possibly make for next to nothing.

Not thinking of anything fancy. Big posts on 4 corners. Foot board, side rails, headboard from siding, possibly with leather insert on headboard. Not going to finish the wood, just leave the natural patina.

I have a table saw and router.

How hard would this be to do properly and it not look like an amateur did it? I would assume that I could get the same type hardware that connects side rails to Head/footboard. Any pointers or site that sells bed hardware?

 

[bigndn]

I had a huge old mule barn built around 1910 blow down on my place. It has some nice old wood timbers, etc. I am thinking about making a king size bed out of some of this wood. I don't really care for woodworking, but I REALLY don't care to pay for overprice rustic furniture I can possibly make for next to nothing.

Not thinking of anything fancy. Big posts on 4 corners. Foot board, side rails, headboard from siding, possibly with leather insert on headboard. Not going to finish the wood, just leave the natural patina.

I have a table saw and router.

How hard would this be to do properly and it not look like an amateur did it? I would assume that I could get the same type hardware that connects side rails to Head/footboard. Any pointers or site that sells bed hardware?

I'd go to your local thrift shops and look for a super cheap bed frame with/without headboard. You should be able to find something.....

 

[jjfj80]

Both Rockler and Woodcraft have hardware available.
Buy No-Mortise Bed Rail Fittings, Set of 4 at Woodcraft.com

 

[john_eckels]

With a tablesaw adn router, you should be able to build a mission style bed. I think the style would match the rustic wood

http://amishamericanfurniture.com/images/mission_bed.jpg

 

[Cuerno Largo]

Both Rockler and Woodcraft have hardware available.
Buy No-Mortise Bed Rail Fittings, Set of 4 at Woodcraft.com

Looks like a good site. Thanks for the link.

MUD is definitely better than google for stuff like this.

This No-mortise hardware would obviously be easier, but is there benefit to a mortise type hardware beyond the hardware being totally hidden?

 

[AShoe]

I make custom furniture for a part time job. I will never put a piece of barnwood furniture in my house. It is impossible to keep clean. That being said With a table saw and router you can make a nice barnwood bedframe.

 

[Cuerno Largo]

I make custom furniture for a part time job. I will never put a piece of barnwood furniture in my house. It is impossible to keep clean. That being said With a table saw and router you can make a nice barnwood bedframe.

you underestimate how dirty I am......but i'll pick your brain anyway.

Do you mean impossible to keep clean from a dust collecting standpoint or something else?

Do you have an opinion regarding no-mortise or mortise hardware for connecting side rail to head and footboards?

 

[dizzidave]

Cuerno Largo,

Don't know if this will help. I am learning carpentry as I go but was real happy with my results. This bed frame is the sturdiest thing ever. Doesn't move at all. Even when having tons of fun with the wifey Had to construct it in the room because the stairway would not allow a queen size bed frame. It's way better than some cheap chit from the furniture store. And it was cheap to build. Check it out dude.

4x4 legs. 2x6 sides and 2x4 braces. 3 lag bolts in each corner.

 

[AShoe]

you underestimate how dirty I am......but i'll pick your brain anyway.

Do you mean impossible to keep clean from a dust collecting standpoint or something else?

Do you have an opinion regarding no-mortise or mortise hardware for connecting side rail to head and footboards?

Dust. Not... er anything else. You can dust a raw wood piece of furniture again and again. It never cleans well.

As for the no mortise or mortise hardware i would build a mortised frame. I would guess it would be more durable. The no mortise hardware would probably loosen over time.

If you cut a groove in two pieces of a leg with a table saw kinda like this [] and glue them together you can essentially cut a mortise without a mortise chisel. you just have to line it up well when gluing it together. good luck

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Cuerno Largo,

Don't know if this will help. I am learning carpentry as I go but was real happy with my results. This bed frame is the sturdiest thing ever. Doesn't move at all. Even when having tons of fun with the wifey Had to construct it in the room because the stairway would not allow a queen size bed frame. It's way better than some cheap chit from the furniture store. And it was cheap to build. Check it out dude.

4x4 legs. 2x6 sides and 2x4 braces. 3 lag bolts in each corner.

Nice deck....but why did you build it in the bedroom? It's gonna be a bitch to get that outside.

 

[tag3]

A chainsaw will get it out.

 

[dizzidave]

Nice deck....but why did you build it in the bedroom? It's gonna be a ***** to get that outside.

uh, in my reply. Box spring would not fit up stairway. Glad you like the deck.

Yes, the chainsaw/skillsaw is the only way that puppy is coming back out of that room. What a shame...

 

[D'Animal]

You may not want the aroma of 100 years of barn yard animals in your bedroom.

I would recommend using compressed air and blowing the wood off as good as you can. Then pressure washing the wood. After it dries completely, seal it.

 

[hammer1]

You HAVE to seal the wood, no matter what kind it is. If its old chestnut, you need to get a good penitrating sealer, otherwise every few years, you'll get a layer slough off, like skin.
better yet, if its chestnut, sell it to me!

Also, be real carefull before you cut any old wood. The chestnut beams I salvage from a local barn had nails, spikes, and all sort of iron sh*t in them. best get a small metal detector, or you'll be out a few hundred in saw blades

 

[Cuerno Largo]

Cuerno Largo,

Don't know if this will help. I am learning carpentry as I go but was real happy with my results. This bed frame is the sturdiest thing ever. Doesn't move at all. Even when having tons of fun with the wifey Had to construct it in the room because the stairway would not allow a queen size bed frame. It's way better than some cheap chit from the furniture store. And it was cheap to build. Check it out dude.

4x4 legs. 2x6 sides and 2x4 braces. 3 lag bolts in each corner.

Whoa..... I can see why it does not move. You could probably put a hot tub on top of that and be fine

 

[Cuerno Largo]

You may not want the aroma of 100 years of barn yard animals in your bedroom.

I would recommend using compressed air and blowing the wood off as good as you can. Then pressure washing the wood. After it dries completely, seal it.

Good thought. I'll wash it and see if I can find some sealant that does not add color to the wood.

 

[Cuerno Largo]

You HAVE to seal the wood, no matter what kind it is. If its old chestnut, you need to get a good penitrating sealer, otherwise every few years, you'll get a layer slough off, like skin.
better yet, if its chestnut, sell it to me!

Also, be real carefull before you cut any old wood. The chestnut beams I salvage from a local barn had nails, spikes, and all sort of iron sh*t in them. best get a small metal detector, or you'll be out a few hundred in saw blades

Yeah, If it were chestnut it would be a mint. It is oak. I have a metal detector, so I'll scan for nails, etc.