Any woodworkers out there?

[user 6393]

I have a really nice pine bed with a traditional head and footboard set up.

What makes me crazy is the slat support system. It's too low to the ground to be able to put underbed storage boxes under, and well....it's squeaky as hell.

My plan is to build a "unit" that the mattress can sit on, doing away with the need of a boxspring. The unit will have drawers for storage, and hopefully be on casters for vacuuming/dog hair patrol.

My quandry is in not knowing how to attach the head and footboards in a manner that the bed will also be able to be taken apart and moved when need be.

Also worthy to mention, the footboard is a negotiable in the set up. I have it and would like to keep it if poss, but if it doesn't work, it can also become one of my "I'll hoard this, just in case it becomes handy in the future" items.

I currently looks very similar to this:

 

[Dudewado]

I wish I could help you, but I would have to thoroughly examine the bed and investigate the construction and sturdiness before

I could make a recommendation.

First, I would have to have a demonstration of this squeaking problem to make sure there isn't a structural problem.

 

[user 6393]

I wish I could help you, but I would have to thoroughly examine the bed and investigate the construction and sturdiness before

I could make a recommendation.

First, I would have to have a demonstration of this squeaking problem to make sure there isn't a structural problem.

Pack your cardiac meds.....

J'es sayin'

 

[FJRay]

Barb, Just the thought of helping you solve a squeaky bed issue is going to cause smoke to roll out of at least half the computers on this forum. Probably from a fair number of members also. I am sure there will be a multitude of ideas :dribble: :yahoo:

 

[Zorlac]

Wow,

Can't a girl be serious?

Don't mind those pigs barb, squeaky beds ward off evil spirits.

 

[beemerdons]

I wish I could help you, but I would have to thoroughly examine the bed and investigate the construction and sturdiness before

I could make a recommendation.

First, I would have to have a demonstration of this squeaking problem to make sure there isn't a structural problem.

Pack your cardiac meds.....

J'es sayin'

Lisinopril? - Check!

Metoprolol? - Check!

Furosemide? - Check!

Pravastatin? - Check!

Bandolero of Viagra? - Check!

Airline ticket to Victoria, BC? Check!

Instructions to AZ Coroner to not bother to cold chisel the smile off of my face? - Check!

I'm on it Guys, we're going to modify that bed and solve that squeaky spring problem, muy pronto!

 

[bellman]

A good screw, use the largest tool available...

Back to fixing the bed... deck screws from your local Home Depot, Lowes or neighborhood harware store should work. They may also have a creative solution to cover the holes so they can be hidden and later removed for dis-assembly.

 

[RaYzerman19]

I see Papa Chuy is the only one who stepped up who has all the meds..... he may be the most qualified.... after his thorough investigation, perhaps he could be convinced to send a wee sketch and someone could help with the project.....

Try this, imagine a box affair to hold the drawers, which would also have vertical support for a flat plywood top, onto which you would place the mattress. Head and footboards could be attached to this box. You are really looking for a hybrid type of thing, but all you need is someone to build you the box and drawers. Be careful of scale as your headboard may appear to be not as tall afterwards... I did notice there seemed to be a lack of suitable anchor points for the velcro straps and handcuffs......

https://www.platformbeds.com/index.php3?cart_id=174035022904774345&category=0000000587&l2=true

 

[Blind Squirrel]

A good screw, use the largest tool available...

Back to fixing the bed... deck screws from your local Home Depot, Lowes or neighborhood harware store should work. They may also have a creative solution to cover the holes so they can be hidden and later removed for dis-assembly.

+1. Just make sure you are screwing into solid wood (on both accounts). May need to countersink into the head/footboards a little.

 

[Patriot]

nice pine bed.

....it's squeaky as hell.

wholly molely...my head reals

be back in a minute

 

[allrider]

Not sure where i saw it but someone sells a hide-a-drawer kinda thing that goes under your existing bed and it props it up like you want, and i'll bet they make it in something that will match to some degree. Just can't remember where i saw it. I'd do a little research and see what you can find.

As for the squeaks, screw it, like everybody else is suggesting.

 

[user 6393]

Back from looking at new storage beds, and getting some groceries...

Now, where to start with you all, yeesh LOL

Thank you to the 2 people who replied, in private, with real ideas and even a diagram. Thanks!

Zorlac? I don't wanna ward anyone off in my bedroom. Ok, well......except for Old Michael

Papa Chuy? When does you flight arrive? Do I have time to shave my legs?

Bellman? "A good screw, use the largest tool available...Back to fixing the bed..."

FINALLY, someone who understands me LOL

YzermanFan? I was planning to keep the scale of the box unit to that of the exisiting side rail and boxspring, but that is a great point!

As for the attachment points, nothing a lil strategically placed hardware won't fix. But seriously? "velcro", metal handcuffs? ouch!

I'm an old fashioned girl; leather retsraints and hemp rope.

Blind Squirrel? I had planned on countersinking and using dowel caps to hide any necessary holes on the footboard

Now, after having seen the crap out there for $600 to $2400 that is still mostly particle board and veneer (almost NONE of them having a solid top to support a mattress), I think I may opt out of drawers that pull. After looking over the diagram I was sent, I am thinking I can build a pretty solid unit with side shelves that will hold decorative baskets. No sliding hardware etc to buy and I can rip the existing side rails on my table saw to become the face trim on the shelves, so the finish will match.

I could use angle iron on the head/footboard to support the ends of the unit, have a couple feet on the unit itself and bolt it all together.

..........and hope the squeeking issue subsides, although the suggestion of waxing the wood surfaces that rub might just be enough.

It's either that, or ship the kids out on the weekends :lol:

 

[user 6393]

kinda like this

 

[Old Michael]

You could keep a lotta batteries in those things.

 

[user 6393]

You could keep a lotta batteries in those things.

\\\
I KNOW!

*insert gleeful, bordering on maniacle, giggling*

 

 

[user 6393]

You could keep a lotta batteries in those things.

then, there is the toy storage possibilities......seemingly ENDLESS!

 

 

[user 6393]

You could keep a lotta batteries in those things.

What did you think I planned on storing in my bed anyway? clothes? oil filters? bike gear? :blink:

 

[TriggerT]

I would suggest going with something heavier duty than deck screws. Form the outside of the head board, use a lag bolt, but nothing larger than half the diameter of the thickness of the wood the screw is going into. Also us the largest washer you can get to help distribute the tension over a larger surface area. Since the back of the head board is going against the wall, and you wont see it, it wont matter what this looks like. If there is anything you can do to keep the outside of the foot-board from being seen, I would do the same thing there. Otherwise I would use large wood screws, countersink the heads, and try to get wood caps or buttons to cover the screw heads and match the finish that is on the foot-board.

Make sure to make that frame for under the bed as solid as possible. Repeated movements will loosen it up quickly....if, um you know what I mean.

 

[user 6393]

The only repeated movements on my bed are when the cat jumps up, then jumps off, then jumps up, then jumps off...

Lag bolts and big washers make sense. I have been online looking at these cam type bed bolts, but they look kinda finicky and needing a drill press or like item to get the holes to line up.

I have a few possible ideas now....just gotta draw it out and see what I can to with a table saw, mitre saw, and drill.

:glare: