keen reef
I’m trying to build a bedframe and would like some advice with materials, structure etc, I’m looking to recycle as much of my current bedframe as possible for obvious reasons, one problem though is that the legs of the bed are part of the foot and headboards.
I was wondering if just for the legs I could attach 2x4s to the legs somehow, and if so how I would go about doing that
Thanks.
Added context when I say extend the legs I forgot to mention I’m building a loft bed
soft obsidian
We need pictures. But legs are almost always part of the head and footboards
bitter lava
I think I'd want more more than a single 2x4 for a bunk bed/loft bed.
keen reef
keen reef
I think I'd want more more than a single 2x4 for a bunk bed/loft bed.
I didn’t say I wasn’t going to add other support things I’m just asking abt the legs
keen reef
It’s like this on both sides
bitter lava
ok
keen reef
The answers probably no but I was wondering if I could attach like a 2x4 to the bottom somehow
Without having to remove the boards
median shale
So is the simplified version: please help me make my bed into a loft bed?
bitter lava
Then the answer is "yes".
keen reef
Don’t know why u had to be sarcastic like that
median shale
I'm not trying to be sarcastic, I'm trying to understand
bitter lava
It’s a yes or no question
This.
soft obsidian
I don't understand what you want to do with the legs
bitter lava
Stilts.
soft obsidian
You haven't told us the end goal
keen reef
Stilts.
So could I attach them with glue or is that a no, it’s probably a no but it’s worth asking anyways
median shale
If you're talking about modifying an entire piece of furniture questions about the legs are going to be dependent on the rest of the piece as well
bitter lava
I haven't figured out yet if we're allowed to say if it's a good idea or not. You can glue them on. I wouldn't.
soft obsidian
You want to raise your bed to be X' high?
keen reef
You want to raise your bed to be X' high?
Yeah
soft obsidian
But you don't want to rebuild the headboard?
keen reef
I’m short on money
And I told my dad I’d pay for myself
Trying to cut costs wherever it’s safe
soft obsidian
How short
keen reef
I have like $130
bitter lava
I think another relevant question is "Do you care about the look at all?"
opaque sparrow
how much taller do you want it
soft obsidian
Can you build into your walls? That's the cheapest way to do this
bitter lava
Can you build into your walls? That's the cheapest way to do this
ooh, this sounds neat.
keen reef
Can you build into your walls? That's the cheapest way to do this
Explain
But the answer is probably no
soft obsidian
You put ledgers on your walls and make a simple platform
keen reef
Well I was hoping to mount a TV to the support pieces or whatever they’re called on the one end of the bed
And then put a recliner on the other side
This is what I’m basing it on Bc thats the free guide on Home Depot but I’m going to change some things like adding more support
soft obsidian
Looks like you found a plan
keen reef
Yeah I’m just trying to recycle what I have instead of starting from scratch tho
So the question abt the legs is very important
Ya know
median shale
So, not just gluing a 2x4 to the ends of the legs, but you could maybe make "stilts" similar to these out of 2x4 that you strap/screw to the existing legs. Green is where the existing legs make contact. You might want some sort of cross bracing like in that picture and the way in which they're oriented towards each other is probably important as well.
keen reef
I see
median shale
Poet's wall idea is going to be much more robust I would think
Doing DIY "improvements" to the place you sleep feels like risky business
keen reef
Well we recently finished a room in the basement thats much larger than my bedroom but it was decided to give it to my brother
bitter lava
harsh
bitter lava
The legs in your picture appear to be (I could be wrong) a 2x4 and a 2x6 in an 'L' formation, which creates considerably more strength then alone.
It's possible you could replicate that design in your stilts, and then use some giant bolts to attach those to the existing legs, but it would honestly still make me pretty nervous. I am perhaps just being a wimp.
keen reef
Unfortunately although the leg looks like a seperate piece of wood to the boards
I think they’re nailed together rather than screwed
Would it be possible to seperate them
median shale
it depends ™️
opaque sparrow
can you show us how the legs are affixed to the rest of the bed
bitter lava
In the picture they sure seem to be continuous from the headboard/footboard. 🤔
median shale
if you're at the point of disassembling and re-engineering your bed you've probably gone too far
"build a platform to put my bed on top of" is a much more achievable goal
soft obsidian
It's going to cost you more to try to reuse those legs instead of just buying a single 2x4
and reusing the hardware
keen reef
I talked to my popop
He suggested attaching them to 4x4s with pins or something
What do u guys think
bitter lava
Here's what I think I would try (assuming I was trying to lift my bed, that is) but I want to REALLY STRESS that I'm mostly suggesting this so that the more experienced folks can pick it apart. 😅 Please do not pretend I have done this before. I would buy 4x4 posts, cut a big honking mortise in the top and insert the current legs as a tenon. Glue that up nice, maybe even with some mechanical fasteners of stout size. Then add the otherwise planned rails, braces, etc. to help prevent racking.
opaque sparrow
I would say mechanical fasteners here are a must, esp. considering whatever 4x4 he gets his hands on will have a relatively high moisture content. But I'm also a noob so take my advice with a lethal dose of salt
median shale
slotting the ends of a 4x4 would be functionally equivalent to what I suggested so that seems fine, whatever you do its important that the point at which the legs make contact with your stilts is properly supported and ensures they stay together. I think doing it with 2 pieces of 2x4 would be considerably easier and require fewer tools though