| Project by Chris Davis | posted 393 days ago | 809 views | 8 times favorited | 18 comments |  |
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This is loft bed that can be used as either a twin or a full. If used as a twin it has a center bar that separates the remaining space. This extra space can be a small play area beside the mattress.
Features
Can be used as either twin or full size.
5 drawer chest
Bookcase with adjustable shelves
Staircase with drawers
Challenges
Not many challenges on this project, besides thinking of the design layout. The customer requested the full size width, but wanted to use twin size mattress. The extra space would be used for the child’s toys. They didn’t really request that it could be used with a full size mattress, but why not. I was already building it about a full size. Just make a removable center rail.
I did have to special order 5’ x 8’ sheets of MDF for the ends of the bed and staircase. That is some heavy stuff.
One interesting thing to note is the 55” radius arc used on the staircase. I accomplished this by swinging my router around a pivot point on a long arm. I mounted my router base to a piece of ½” birch 60” long (I’ve used this for many projects). My panel was 56” wide. I knew I couldn’t put a pivot point (a screw) on the edge, so I came in one inch to 55”. I also came down from the top 55”. On the router, I measured from the leading edge of my stright bit, down the extension arm, to a 55” mark. I drilled a hole and mounted it to the marks on the panel made at 55”. When I cut arches, I usually set my depth at about 1/8 of an inch deep, just enough to use it as a cut line for my jig saw. I’ll cut just outside the line and come back with the router fully extended to clean it up. This keeps the load off the router motor.
The finish on this was a white lacquer.
I included some picture of the project in the building process from my web site www.wwbed.com. where I post pictures of what I’m working on each day and broadcast live video from our shop.
First pass with the router
The clean up pass
Staircase
Chest
Pre-fit
-- Check out the live video stream from our shop. http://wwbeds.com
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18 comments so far
MsDebbieP
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11437 posts in 595 days
posted 393 days ago
fantastic
LOVE the design … the staircase is magnificent.
and the stair drawers. SWEET.
Bravo. Bravo
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
snowdog
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565 posts in 417 days
posted 393 days ago
I would have given my brother and sister away for this when I was growing up. It is great. I don’t know any kids that would not want this. Great design.
-- "so much to learn and so little time"..
Don
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2586 posts in 611 days
posted 393 days ago
How cool is that! I can imagine this would appeal to any child with a fertile imagination. And what child doesn’t have one when placed in the right environment? Great project, Chris!
-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/
Chris Davis
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212 posts in 417 days
posted 393 days ago
Thanks for the great comments.
-- Check out the live video stream from our shop. http://wwbeds.com
TomFran
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2338 posts in 429 days
posted 393 days ago
Chris,
Nice work!
Thanks so much for the detailed explanation of the construction process. This is so helpful and answers a lot of questions. That was especially insightful on how you cut the arch with the router and saber saw – I never would have thought of your method which reduced the load on the router.
These kinds of posts are very instructive!
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
TomFran
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2338 posts in 429 days
posted 393 days ago
I have a few questions for you regarding the finish.
Thanks,
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
edp
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96 posts in 395 days
posted 393 days ago
Heah Chris, I agree with Tom. That router-jigsaw-router is the perfect triple punch. Thanks for a great tip. I’ll be using that soon.
I don’t suppose you have a set of plans for that bed do you?
Ed
www.crookedlittletree.com
-- Come on in, the beer is cold and the wood is dry. www.crookedlittletree.com
Chris Davis
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212 posts in 417 days
posted 393 days ago
Tom,
I am using an airless paint rig right no, I just picked it up this morning for a $223 repair. I am looking into air assisted air-less, but don’t know much about them.
I’m using Gemini lacquer right now. I try to use pre-cat in the clear, but sometimes I can’t find it in the colored lacquers.
I don’t do a lot of kitchens, but I do know that the pre-cat would be better. It is a harder finish and I’ve seen where it passes some kitchen standard. I don’t remember who’s standard that was, some initials.
-- Check out the live video stream from our shop. http://wwbeds.com
Chris Davis
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212 posts in 417 days
posted 393 days ago
Ed,
Thanks for the post. I don’t have true plans. If you saw how I draw my stuff out, you’d wonder how anything got built. Most of the time it is just doing a sketch as I go and adjust here and there.
Send me a message reminding me, if I get a little extra time, I’ll send my notes to you.
-- Check out the live video stream from our shop. http://wwbeds.com
Bob Babcock
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1811 posts in 521 days
posted 393 days ago
Very cool Chris.
-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org
mot
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4835 posts in 471 days
posted 393 days ago
Great writeup and project, Chris!
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
TheGravedigger
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195 posts in 459 days
posted 393 days ago
Very nice. I always like to see someone try something different. The stairs remind me a bit of a London bus.
-- Robert from Raymond, MS. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is therefore not a practice, but a habit." - Aristotle
DAN
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2810 posts in 417 days
posted 393 days ago
Awesome project !! Great design. Best yet. I’d like to make one like it someday, except adding another story for my son’s two children.
-- ..... art for lifes sake
Bob #2
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1778 posts in 456 days
posted 393 days ago
I’ve been looking at his unit since this morning.
It is very well executed and doubtless right on the specs provided.
My questions that haunt me are:
1. How do you get at the top bunk to make up the bed?
and 2. Where are the handrails? There seems to be no where for a kid to grab comming up or down from the bunk.
Cheers
Bob
-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner
Chris Davis
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212 posts in 417 days
posted 393 days ago
Bob,
to you question on making the bed. It’s very difficult. I decorated it for the picture and had to get on the extra section to tuck the quilt in. I’d suggest a fitted sheet and fold the top sheet. On the handrail. The right side arch can be used. It wouldn’t be hard to add a real handrail. Thanks for the question.
-- Check out the live video stream from our shop. http://wwbeds.com
oscorner
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4576 posts in 745 days
posted 392 days ago
Great use of space…using the steps as drawers!
-- Jesus is Lord!
Brent
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16 posts in 391 days
posted 391 days ago
Very cool.
-- Brent - Shreveport, Louisiana
Karrie
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12 posts in 708 days
posted 387 days ago
Wow – the steps are just too cool and then to find out they are drawers – Wow!
I will keep this in mind for “someday” in the future. As a mom I would feel much better about this than my little on “hanging” of the end on the traditional ladder at the end of the bed.
Great design
-- Karrie