Does anyone have any experience with the various kits for making a Murphy bed? Pistons vs. springs???
Thanks, Roger
Does anyone have any experience with the various kits for making a Murphy bed? Pistons vs. springs???
Thanks, Roger
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Replies
I've built two with the Create-A-Bed parts kit. It works very well. It uses gas struts. You can buy it from Lee Valley, or direct from http://www.wallbed.com
Jamie:Thanks. Nice to get advice from someone with experience with the kits. Do you know of anyone who has tried the spring mechanisms?Roger
I work in the building maintenance department of a large resort. Our new hotel has 150 + murphy beds, with spring mechanisms - called "equilibrators" by the manufacturer. The hotel maintenance staff was having huge problems with these mechanisms: multiple and repeated incidents of the beds not raising (except by weightlifter types...), or not staying in the upright position, or not staying closed properly, etc., etc.
I was called in from the woodshop because someone over there diagnosed the problem as being a flexing of the 3/4 plywood cabinet sides surrounding the bed that the pivots were mounted to, and wanted me to reinforce the cabinetry.
What I found was:
1) No one had bothered to read the adjustment procedure, resulting in multiple problems to multiple parts of the whole assembly - cabinetry, pivots, pivot sockets and "equilabrators" due to imbalanced spring tension and/or excessive spring tension. I actually found several instances where the spring tension was so excessive that it rotationally sheared a solid 3/4 round steel pin or axle!
2) Excessive spring tension was also, due to a sloppy fit of a 3/4 square knuckle in a 3 sided socket (at the pivot) bowing out the cabinet sides to the point that the knuckle would disengage and "jump" with a heart stopping BANG, rounding the corners of the knuckle and virtually insuring repeat performances at even lesser tension settings. The solution here was usually replacement of the "equilibrator" assembly, sometimes of the socket as well. That and proper setup and adjustment following installation of new parts.
3) There is a memory or break-in/fatigue factor to be taken into account when adjusting the spring tension - they need to be readjusted according to specs after a certain period of time in use.
4) Balanced spring tension is essential!
5) This particular manufacturer's documentation was difficult to decipher - contradictory and confusing.
By and large, with some (reluctant) reeducation of maintenance staff, a lot of replacement parts and sometimes some minor modifications of the pivot socket to cabinetry mounting configuration, the problems have now gone away, but as a result, I am no fan of these particular spring mechanisms. On the other hand, the gas struts that hold up the rear hatch of my '95 Volvo wagon (best damned pickup I ever owned!) are shot - I keep getting my head cracked, and to replace them the headliner has got to come out......and I remember having to replace gas struts on a crossbed pickup tool box, too.....
You pays yer money and you takes yer chances! Good luck!
Thanks for the advice. Would you recommend the spring mechanism if set up right and maintained?
Roger
Not having experienced gas shock types, can't make a recommendation one way or the other between the two.
Some insight, though: It appears to me as though multiple users/manipulators increase the odds of problems exponentially. Our beds are raised/lowered/slept on and recreated on by everyone from maids to resident kids to amorous couples to maintenance workers, and the list goes on.... Of course this is commercial usage as opposed to occasional residential use.
When I leave (left) after retrofit/adjustment, the beds worked nicely, but I have reservations as to long term, problem free usage. My impression is that they are inherently finicky. Could be wrong, though. Maybe some other users/owners will also respond with their experiences.
My bed will be in a winter home in Puerto Rico. Occasional use but often by non mechanically inclined people. Sounds like I may opt for shock absorbers and replace then when they wear out.
By the way is the recreational use by the maids and the maintenance workers at the same time :)
Thanks, Roger
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