My first project... the Simple Bed

[Mark Whitsitt]

Here are pictures of my first woodworking project since junior high shop class 32 years ago, and also my first project using the Kreg pocket hole jig...

This is a bed built for my 2 year old son's new "Big Boy Bed" at my wife's request. This was built with dimensional lumber from plans found at "Knock Off Wood", a blog that seeks to provide plans that "knock off" far more expensive furniture from high-end retailers. Here's the link to the plans I modified to make this bed: http://knockoffwood.blogspot.com/2009/11/plans-how-to-add-arch-to-s...

The first modification I made was joining the head and footboards to the bed posts with pocket holes & screws.

Next, I designed a (imho) more attractive head and footboard cap, the original simply called for a 2x4. Instead, I used two 1x6's, one ripped and crosscut shorter than the other, both half chamfered on the edges, and laminated together before joining to the head and footboards with Kreg pocket holes and screws.

Finally, the original plans called for simply screwing the bed rails to the posts. For the sake of being able to actually move this bed into my 2 yo son's room, I used 4" Rockler Heavy Duty Wrought Steel Bed Rail Fasteners (item number... to connect the bed rails to the posts. This was a great learning experience in using my brand new router, building a template, using template bushings, chisels, shims, etc. One suggestion on this one is to use much longer screws than those that come with the fasteners. Another is to make sure your chisels are excruciatingly SHARP!!!

After assembly, my wife sanded and finished the project wonderfully. She used 2 coats of Benjamin Moore IronClad Latex Low Lustre Metal & Wood Enamel in Tudor Brown. We absolutely love Benjamin Moore paint; it's a bit more expensive, but it covers wonderfully and you end up using less paint per coat. Also, don't get too impatient as this dries to a nice enamel finish, but it takes a couple of days to set up properly.I figure this isn't too bad for a first project...

Cheers!

[Larry Barnett]

I bet little man is proud of his big boy bed. sometimes moms have to just give us a little push.
I will have to check out the knock off web site.

[joseph]

this looks real good. just what i was looking for. thanks for sharing it with all of us and now i will need to find the time to start to build it. i may even take a look at it as far as turning it into a set of bunk beds

[Kim C]

That is one sharp bed. Thank you for posting the link to the blog! I am sure your "big boy" will have many pleasant dreams.