James Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 Hi There I plan on making bunk beds out of 2X4's and 1X4's with 2X6's for side rails. What I want to do is make it so the top bed will lift off so I need to make some kind of butt joint or whatever. I do plan on cleaning up the wood to make it look nice, not just some 2X4's thrown together. There will be two 2X4's for each corner laminated together, this will be necessary for the plan I have. Any ideas for doing this? Thanks James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 Dowels, Dominos or mortice and tenon. The open hole, mortice whatever goes in the upper bunks legs. The protruding part on the lower bunk could have a cap that fits over it in case they get set up as 2 single beds. Just make a cap for the upper posts on the top bunkers so they match. And welcome to the Forum ! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 Look into a wide stock dowel jig like this one. I have this exact model and it self centers nicely. I've used it to secure 2x4s butt jointing in 4x4s similar to your project. You will want larger dowels, 3/8" diameter or greater for this project. I think it is a good option, in terms of cost, as the only other tool required is a hand drill, which everyone has. https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-America-445-7600-Professional-Self-Centering/dp/B009K0GD1Q/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1488066790&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=Large+dowel+jig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted February 26, 2017 Report Share Posted February 26, 2017 I did something similar years back for my grand kids. I wouldn't do the overlapping thing, just make the legs flush this way that can be used separately as twin beds down the road. I drilled holes in the center of each leg using a Forstner bit for a 3/4 inch dowel. I went a good 2 1/2 inches in each leg. If you can finds some nice poplar in you area it would be nicer and not much more then the construction lumber you are planing on. Especially if you are going to paint them. Poplar takes paint real well. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted February 26, 2017 Report Share Posted February 26, 2017 http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-PCS-STAINLESS-STEEL-ROUND-ROD-302-5-16-315-8MM-X-3-LONG-/152440524777?hash=item237e29cfe9:g:S7EAAOSwwbdWGKJ1 or longer. There are any number of different diameter, and length, stainless rods available on ebay. Let us know where you find 2x4s that will stay straight. If you are set on Yellow Pine, find some http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/woodproducts/lumber/southern-lumber/framer-series/ pieces to cut the parts out of, but be aware that it's not quite as good as they say it is, even though it is much better than other Yellow Pine available these days. I wouldn't make it out of Spruce framing lumber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharleyL Posted February 26, 2017 Report Share Posted February 26, 2017 The beds that we had for the two youngest boys just had a 3/8" hole an the top and bottom of each leg. Short steel pins were inserted in the top of the four legs of the bottom bed and then the legs of the top bed just slid onto the pins. 3/8 button caps plugged the holes in the top ends of the top bed's legs. These were purchased beds, but the joint was simple and effective. We never had a problem with them. Charley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted February 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2017 Thanks all. Just so I got it straight, butt joint the wood together and use a dowel, metal or wood, to join together. Would this make it stable enough with just gravity holding? Or build a sleeve to fit the top portion into? Good point about 2X4 being straight though, will look into this. Remember that there are head board 1X4's and 2X6 side rails to hold everything. Also cutting the vertical portion so I can lift off the top bed will greatly shorten the vertical length and I would suspect less likely to warp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted February 26, 2017 Report Share Posted February 26, 2017 I would also go with illustration 1, any home center should sell dowel stock. I would go with 2 dowels each. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted February 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2017 Oh great now I have to line up 2 dowels Thanks for the advice 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted February 27, 2017 Report Share Posted February 27, 2017 19 minutes ago, James said: Oh great now I have to line up 2 dowels Thanks for the advice If you don't have them, dowel centers are cheap and do a great job of helping you line up dowels on blind faces. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted February 27, 2017 Report Share Posted February 27, 2017 One larger dowel should do. I have seen many commeecially made beds like this, which just use a steel rod as the dowel. It slip-fits into the holes, and gravity keeps it all together. You must obey gravity, its the LAW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted February 27, 2017 Report Share Posted February 27, 2017 Yea, the ones I built just had the one dowel and they held up to two rough housing kids for 6 years at which time they had their own rooms and the beds were separated to twin beds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Wright Posted February 27, 2017 Report Share Posted February 27, 2017 We have one that was commercially made with 3/8" steel pins like these http://www.rockler.com/bunk-bed-pins You could also easily make these from a 3/8" bolt with a long enough unthreaded section using a hacksaw and grinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kem Posted February 27, 2017 Report Share Posted February 27, 2017 A hacksaw and http://www.homedepot.com/p/3-8-in-x-36-in-Plain-Steel-Round-Rod-802447/204273959 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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