Building Your Bunk Beds - What Wood Should You Choose

Selecting your lumber for your DIY Projects Plans

Now that you have your bunkbed diy projects plans and have decided upon the style of bunk[s] you are going to build, it's time to select the lumber. Sounds like a simple thing to do right? Well, it is if you do some slow and easy planning. First, pine makes an easy and inexpensive lumber of choice. You are free to purchase whatever type you want, but I painted my bed[s] to match the decor of the room, they were bolted and glued together and the pine lumber I used will outlast me. Just a thought

Oak is an excellent choice for a hardwood and would make a sturdy bed, but it is an expensive choice. Mahogany is a beautiful wood but too soft and the kids would have it looking aged in no time. I chose pine because it is easy to work with, inexpensive to purchase, and a breeze to paint to match a 'Theme' for kids rooms.  For outdoor decks though, I would use a Cedar for it's 'weathering' ability, for furniture such as end tables and coffee table, I would choose Oak or Burl wood even, but for a child's play bed? Pine for sure.

Like the plans tell you, take the measurement of the parts you intend to buy and have them cut to length by the lumber center you have chosen. Most centers do this as a courtesy, and quite frankly if the one you have chosen does not? Well, there are lots of other places to buy lumber...

The reason this step is important, is two fold. One, you save a tremendous amount of time on your project if your parts are pre-cut and all you have left is some minor trimming. Secondly, you pay for lumber by the board foot, so you are paying only for what you use. Sometimes having leftover lumber stored at home is nice. You never know when you might need a piece, but storing it, well that can be a problem after awhile. I like to simply buy what I need and get more when I need it for another project. Make sense?

Now that you have the lumber necessary for your project, it's time to buy the nuts and bolts, screws, and drill bits (in case you don't have the counter sunk bit) Your directions should give the sizes necessary or you may have something else in mind. If that is the case, talk to the folks there about what you are going to do and they can help you select the right sizes. All total, for the twin bunk beds, hardware, glue and paint was just under $500. Exactly 1/4 of what it would have cost me to buy a set that I would still have to assemble myself anyway.

Now, the only thing left to do, is take my lumber home and assemble my new bunk bed[s] as per the plans. That's all there is to it. (except for the painting.)

DIY Projects Plans should include a list of Tools

Have the Tools You Need Before You Start

This project doesn't require a ton of tools, but it does require more than a hammer and saw.

For my project, I chose to build with screws.

A drill and three different drill bits was required. My drill was a battery powered portable, but you can use what you feel comfortable with. So...back to the bits. One bit to drill the holes through the parts to be bolted together. A second bit, (a counter sink bit) so that big old bolts would not show, and a third bit to use for 'pilot' holes for the pieces that would screw together.

Next, a wooden or rubber hammer to help tap some of the pieces into place that may be slightly reluctant. Using a metal faced hammer would leave marks on the wood. If you don't have a wooden faced or rubber hammer, use a small piece of wood as a cushion. Place the piece of wood against the wood you wish to tap and tap on it instead. No marks left on your finished pieces.

A saw, either a good cross cut saw or a small skill saw with a fine cross cut blade. I used a hand saw, for all of my finish work, as I like nice smooth edges and sometimes, no matter how good we are, a skill saw will chew the edges just a bit.

Finally, a good socket and wrench set for the bolts and a nice 'new' Phillips blade screwdriver. I say 'new' because the new screwdriver is less likely to leave marks on your screws as you tighten them up. 

Finally, a good wood glue. I used it on all of the pieces I was joining together, whether they were bolted or screwed. After all, kids can be rambunctious and the more help I could give my project to withstand an onslaught of jumping playing boys? All the better.

Next up: Thing to consider when you buy your lumber

My first DIY Project: Bunkbeds

Now to find the Plans for those bunk beds

Rather than wing it, at this stage (I know the limits of my own skills), so I began looking around for a set of plans to build my bunk bed[s]. To be honest, there are tons of places to get these plans, but just I couldn't find anything that I felt was complete. Now....before anyone gets upset, let me explain.

Most bunk bed plans out there in home project magazines and the like, are incomplete. They list the different styles and choices of beds, but  I wanted to know the in's and out's of building a bunk bed and the very best way to construct one. I wanted to see a set of plans from someone who does this for a living and not just a weekend project. I wanted to see 'how' each part of the project was put together, which is what brought me to Ted's woodworking plans.

 

The first time I looked over what he has, I fell in love with his thinking. He works with wood for a living and his plans are complete. If you want the very best that's out there, but want something that is in plain, understandable English? 

Buy his DVD set, I did. It is a place of not just how to build a bunk bed (or in my case, a set of bunk beds) but all of the steps one at a time. It was the complete 'how to' that I was looking for. Plus as an added bonus, there are all kinds of other woodworking projects. Not to brag, but since the bunk beds project,  I have also built a toy box and coloring/reading book racks from the same source. Do you have to buy this to build your beds? Of course not. But if you want a job done right? This is the guy to go to... which I will share, but just not yet. The reason for that is this.... before you can get started... you really do need the right tools. So let's talk about that next. 

Next up: Tools you will need.

Bunkbeds- A good DIY Project to get started with...

Bunkbeds

 

You've moved into the new house and everyone is planning a visit. Your daughter is bringing her four boys. The normal guest room set up will just not do. Four boys on a queen bed? Not a chance.  Or maybe you have growing children and you want them to have their own set of bunk beds.What to do? Simple put in a couple of sets of bunk beds.  True story! I had recently moved into a large 5 bedroom house to accommodate my growing family and this was the situation I was faced with. A room with two sets of bunkbeds would be the perfect solution so it was off to the furniture store to look at them....

 

Now maybe it's just me, I don't know, but I looked at all types of bunk beds, from the standard over under set up to the 'L' shape to the 'toy house playroom style' (whatever that means, but it did have a slide) and I have to tell you, I was shocked at the pricing. From $600-$700, all of the way up to $1,000! Well, I have to say, that it was just not in the budget. I then set myself on a path I intend to share with you today. Building my very own set (in this case, 'sets' ) of bunk beds. As it turns out, they are easy to build and Inexpensive.

 

I've worked with wood for years, skills learned from my Grand father who was a master carpenter. I work with it only as a hobby, but still remember my way around the tools necessary.  The best part? I still remember how to cut a straight line with a handsaw. I simply had to choose the pattern I wanted to build. That was a bit of a process...

 

Welcome to my Blog!

Welcome to my blog on "Do It Yourself Projects" and related stuff or DIY for short. I am a home project guy from way back (mostly out of necessity with four kids) and I thought I would share some of my experiences and tips on home projects I've done over the years. From making an end table/coffee table combo to bunk beds to a green house or maybe even an outdoor deck. You name it, and I have worked on it. Gazebo for the back yard, kids play station or even the proverbial 'sandbox.'

 

I'll go over some of the what to do, how's and why's to help take some of the mystery out of home projects. Building things on your own for yourself and your family can be fun and rewarding. A real sense of accomplishment. All it takes, is that first step: 'Commitment.' My years of experience should help guide you along so that YOUR project is flawless and smooth. Besides, if you have gone furniture shopping lately? "Sticker Shock Central" for me, so I continue building what I need.

 

 

So again, Welcome and thanks for stopping by.  Let's get to it.