In which I build a bed: Part 3

Man's second best friend.

Ok, now that we have the two steel L-Pieces from the old bed, it's time to build the structural support.  Because we have a split box spring, we need to make sure we are supporting the middle as well as the sides I elected to accomplish this by building two Hs out of 2x8s and bolting the L-pieces to the top. 2x8s are the perfect width to make an bed of appropriate height.  However, we also need to make sure we are supporting them at relatively the same height.  So out comes my second favorite power tool, the router.  Being cheap, I have the bare bones (read: not plunge) router, not that it stops me from plunging it.


 The idea is to rout the end of the 2x8 so that is just fits the angle steel.  We rout it down by the thickness of the steel so the top of the steel is flush with the top of the wood (about 1/8").

Don't do it this way

Nicely routed

Countersunk Lag Bolts

I started by clamping all four pieces of wood together and screwing in a scrap piece as a router guide.  The scrap piece was a good idea, but there was so much variation in the width of the 2x8s the router cuts were a mess.  A little experimentation showed I could do about 2 at once.  I only needed to cut 8, so that was fine.

A Finished H

The routed pieces would form the legs of the Hs, and two more 2x8s would make the cross pieces.  Because I was bolting these together and the H's would need to lie flush up against each other, I used by non plunge router as a plunge router and countersunk the bolts on that side.  The other sides I didn't bother countersinking.  The whole thing bolted together to make 2 H's.  Having two H's instead of one big structure will also make it easier to move than one big structure that doesn't come apart.

The steel pieces were also attached to the frame via lag bolts, albeit smaller ones, and I had to drill new holes in the steel for them.  The wooden frame couldn't attach where the old cross pieces attached because we needed room for those plastic bins.I bought a nice metal drill bit and some cutting oil for this to make it easier.  


Of note, Home Depot or Lowes might tell you they don't have cutting oil, but they do.  They just don't keep it in the tools sections so the tools guys don't know about it.  It is in the plumbing section and labeled "thread cutting oil."  Get some, your metal bits and blades will thank you.


For those who are paying attention, you will note that I went to all the trouble of routing the 2x8s to accommodate the thickness of the metal, but then bolted it on with the bolts rising higher than the top of the metal.  Good catch.  I am figuring though, since the rivets on the old bed rose up only slightly less than the bolts do, we are probably ok.  The bolts plus the metal thickness might be too much though.


So that's it, drill some holes, bolt it together, bolt the headboard on and I've got a new bed!  The bed skirt covers it completely, the plastic bins fit, and there is no more motion transfer.  My wife and I can sleep in the same bed again without the threat of impassioned homicide.  Not bad for an unqualified guy.

The finished product.

Have fun trying it on your own.

Qualified Schmalified,

TRW