Photon's Platform Bed

This is a full size platform bed I completed a few months ago.

The front and side panels are made of birdseye maple and purple heart and the headboard is A1 maple ply and purple heart. Everything was coated three times with linseed oil, sprayed with 4 coats of polyurethane, then buffed with steel wool and paste wax. Even though I love the way the finish came out I don’t think I would spray polyurethane again due to the slow dry time and the need make sure your spraying in an almost clean room.

After some back and forth about how to make the frame being there would be no box spring to support the mattress, I suggested using 8020 extruded aluminum and my client loved the idea of it being “engineered”. You can make some amazing stuff out of so it’s no wonder they call it the Industrial Erector Set. A thin sheet plywood goes over the frame and then the mattress. Its probably overkill for just a bed frame but it’s good hiding place in the event of an earthquake ;)

The panels attach to the frame using threaded inserts that were drilled and tapped into the panels. Everything comes apart and back together no problem.

I was never able to get a picture of the bed with a mattress and bedding but then you couldn’t see all the cool insides.

This was my first commissioned piece of furniture and in my newly ventured woodworking career it’s been so satisfying to have somebody appreciate and enjoy something I was able to make specifically for them. This certainly will not be my last.

-- Jacob, Houston, TX