Replies

1. 
   GHR | Sep 20, 2005 03:56am | #1

   Find your pro. Ask him for his designs and how much wood he needs to accomplish what you want.

   For reference I built 3 beds out of 175bdft of 8/4x9', and 2 beds out of 135bdft of 8/4x11'. No waste and no left overovers.

2. 
   dirtstirrer | Sep 20, 2005 07:44am | #2

   Hi Marc,

   Nice bonus find!  Different beds use different amounts of lumber, and the range can be quite a lot.  I make sleigh beds and I'd order about 75 bf, mostly 2" or 8/4 stock, for starters, for a bed like I build.  If you want a bent lamination headbord and footboard, which I'd recommend, that means you'll need veneer, which can be made of your lumber, but you'll need another 10 or so bf to saw into veneer.  Hope that gives you some idea.  I've seen some sleigh bed designs that would require a little less wood, but because of the curves on a sleigh bed, you're going to need a bigger pile of wood to start with than a bed made with boring old straight boards.  Of course you'll also end up with more scraps too.

    

   Steve
1. 
   Marc5 | Sep 21, 2005 08:10am | #3

   Thanks for the responses.  Again, I really know very little about woodworking.  Stupid question:  units of thickness--does 8/4 mean 8 fourths, ie 2"?  Why not just say 2"?

   If I have 1" boards, which I'm guessing would be 4/4, would I need twice as many board feet than if I had 8/4?

   Also, how would you rank crafting a bed in terms of degree of difficulty?

   Thanks again for your help,

   Marc

1. 
   DougF | Sep 21, 2005 05:14pm | #4

   Marc, "4's" are a shorthand way to convey the dimensions of rough milled boards.  In actuality, a 6/4 board could be over or under exactly 1.5" by as much as 1/8" and sometimes more.  Usually, when you are given dimensions in inches, they are net or finished dimensions.  Regarding your question regarding the bf and 8/4 boards, an 8/4 board measuring 1' x 1' does equal 2 bf.  If you take that same 1 x 1 x 8/4 board and resaw it on a band saw, you end up with enough wood to make 2 lineal feet of 3/4" finished wood.  If you think wood working is something that will interest you, save your 8/4 stock and only use it when the furniture dimensions indicate thicker stock.  It may be cheaper to buy 3/4" finished boards then resawing 8/4 boards and then finish planning them unless you already have the equipment.

   Regarding building a bed as a beginner, personally, I think it is one of the easier projects a beginner can take on.  Several of the wood working schools have their students build a pencil post bed using hand tools as their project during their week-long stay.  Take a look at Jeff Miller's book on beds: it is an excellent recourse and provides plans and step-by-step instructions for the construction of 5 or 6 different styles of beds.   Obviously, the tools you have at hand or are willing to purchase may dictate your project  but I would encourage you to at least look at the book and then decide.  You can usually find a cabinet shop that will finish plane your wood for a nominal amount or invest in a used or new bench-top finish planner for anywhere from $200 - $550.  The amount you will save in building it yourself will purchase a lot of tools as well as providing you with an immense amount of pride and satisfaction.

   Check with your local hardwood supplier or woodworking store to see if you have a woodworking club in your area and then contact them and see if you can find a mentor to guide you through the process.  If there are none, try the local high school wood shop teacher and see if they can recommend someone to work with you.  There may be an adult education wood shop course offered at the local high school.  And, you can always post here at Knots and ask if there is anyone in your area to help.  I live in the Dallas area if that helps any.  Good luck.

   Doug  

2. 
   Bepperb | Sep 21, 2005 05:25pm | #5

   --does 8/4 mean 8 fourths, ie 2"?  Why not just say 2"?

   Yes, 8/4 is 2".  Why not just say 2", someone around here should know....

   --would I need twice as many board feet than if I had 8/4

   No.  One board feet equals 1" x 12" x 12".  A 1" x 12" x 8' board has 8 board feet.  A 2" x 12" x 8' board is 16 board feet.  So 2 of the 1" boards will have the same amount of board feet as one 2" board.  Yes, you will need twice as many boards, but the number of board feet will be the same.  I wouldn't worry too much about only having 1" boards to work with.  There are clever, and not so clever ways to deal with that.

   --Also, how would you rank crafting a bed in terms of degree of difficulty?

   Some beds are relatively simple, some are relatively complex.  A sleigh bed will take longer than most other beds, since the craftsman will have to slice veneer for the curved ends, and laminate it on top of a curved form.  In the larger picture, it would fall in the middle of the difficulty spectrum.... harder than making a coffee table and easier than making a rolltop desk.

   The best thing for you to do would be to find the person you want to do this work for you.  They'll better answer any questions you have, having seen your wood and having heard your ideas firsthand.