| Tools Required:
Circular saw, drill, drill bits, tape measure, pencil,
combination square, screw driver, 9/16" wrench,
adjustable wrench, chisel, wood glue, and clamps.
Do not forget safety equipment: Safety
glasses, gloves, and ear plugs.
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| Optional tools:
These will simplify construction: drill press, miter saw,
table saw (not shown). |
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| Step 1 -
Measure and cut all pieces. Most of the individual measurements
are on pages 4 and 5 of the purchased plans.
Measure and mark pieces for saw cuts (always double
check all measurements against plans). Remember: "Measure
twice, cut once!" |
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| Make sure all cuts are right angles (use
combination square). |
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| Cutting with a miter
saw will insure all cuts are at right angles. |
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| If you do not have access to a miter saw,
a circular saw will do the job. A hand saw will work,
but it may take forever. |
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| Step 2 -
Measure and mark locations for drilling holes. Most
of the individual measurements are on pages 4 and 5
of the purchased plans. Always double check
all measurement against plans. |
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| Using a drill press will
insure that all holes are at right angles. |
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| If you do not have access
to a drill press, a hand drill will work. Try to make
the holes as close to right angles as possible. (This
will make assembly easier.) |
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| Step 3 - Make the miter cuts
on the ends of the mattress support pieces. Set
the circular saw (or table saw) blade to 45 degrees. |
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Step 4 - Cut
the inside notch on the mattress support pieces.
The photos here illustrate how the plywood will rest in
this notch.
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Circular Saw Method of Cutting Notch
Set the circular saw blade depth of cut to 3/4"
for cutting out the 3/4" x 3/4" notch.
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If available also set a rip guide to a distance of
3/4" from the blade.
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Rip the mattress support on the wide side of the
board. Note: This photo shows a short piece of
2x6 being used. It is a good idea to test your saw
set up on a scrap piece of lumber before making the
cuts on your final mattress support piece.
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Rip the mattress support on the narrow side of the
board. (Be sure that the board is held securely for
this step.)
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Remove the wood from the 3/4" notch. Save this
picece of wood to use on top of the the OP
Loftbed Guardrail Side Table.
|
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Table Saw Method of Cutting Notch
Set the table saw blade depth of cut to 3/4"
for cutting out the 3/4" x 3/4" notch.
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Set the rip fence to a distance of 3/4" from
the blade.
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Rip the mattress support on the wide side of the
board.
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Rip the mattress support on the narrow side of the
board.
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Step 5 - Assemble the Legs
Use a 1/8" drill bit to predrill the pilot holes
in the 2x4 leg piece. Use the 1/8" diameter holes
in the 2x6 leg pieces as a guide. |
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| Remove the 2x6 board that you used as a
guide and finish drilling the pilot holes in the 2x4 piece. |
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| Apply a bead of wood glue on the leg pieces
before assembling. |
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| Assemble the leg pieces with #10 x 3 1/2"
long wood screws. |
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| The left and right legs should look
like mirror images of each other when properly assembled.
|
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| Step 6 - Assemble and match
drill the diagonal braces
Apply a bead of glue on the diagonal braces before
assembling. |
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Make sure the overall dimension matches
the plans before assembling the two pieces of each diagonal
support. Also remember that mirror images will be needed,
so half of your diagonal braces will be opposite of the
other half.
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Use a 1/8" drill bit to predrill the
pilot holes in the diagonal brace
pieces.
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Only drill part of the way into the bottom
piece.
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| Assemble the two pieces together with
(6) #8 x 2" flat head philips wood
screws. |
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| Temporarily assemble the bed and make sure
that the angles between the legs and mattress supports
are square. |
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While keeping the leg and mattress support
square to one another, place the diagonal brace in position
and match drill the 7/16" diameter hole from the
leg to the diagonal brace. Note that there are three different
holes in the legs for adjusting the height of the mattress
support. In this photo, we have the mattress support in
the highest position, therefore we are using the uppermost
hole in the leg for match drilling into the diagonal brace.
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Attach the diagonal brace to the leg with
a 3/8-16 x 3-3/4" bolt,
washers and wingnut. |
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| Recheck to make sure the leg and mattress
support are square to one another, then match drill
the 7/16" diameter hole from the mattress support
to the diagonal brace. |
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| Safety note: Don't place your hand
behind the diagonal brace for support or you may accidently
drill through your hand. |
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| Finish by attaching the diagonal brace
to the mattress support with a 3/8-16 x 3-3/4"
bolt, washers and wingnut. |
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| Step 7 - Assemble the center
mattress support.
To make the center mattress supports, glue the center
pieces together and draw them together with #8 x 2"
flat head phillips wood screws.
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| To complete the center mattress supports,
attach the end pieces with 4 #10 x 3-1/2" flat head
phillips wood screws. |
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| Step 8 - Assemble the shelf.
To make the shelf, attach each of the two side pieces
with #10 x 3-1/2" flat head phillips wood screws.
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| Attach the top and bottom of the shelves
with #8 x 2" flat head phillips wood screws. |
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| Depending on your personal preference,
the shelves can have any shape that you choose. (Angled
and Square Cut shown.) |
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