Building buckbeds need info - Woodworking Talk

blackenedk10 · 09-11-2008, 12:39 AM

I am in need of some guidance. I will be possibility moving in the next month. Here is my current situation. I have two kids (6&2) that are very hard on furniture. 2 beds & 2 dressers KO'd. I have plans for making bunk beds. Due to the lack of time I have, I need suggestions on which wood(s) to go with. I need the wood to be pretty much ready to cut, stain (if needed) and bolt together. The plans i have call for 2x6's. I just need to keep it as simple as possible. Least amount of work possible. I don't have the time or place for drying wood. I also don't want to pay a fortune for the wood. Thanks for all replies.

cabinetman · 09-11-2008, 03:23 AM

Your least expensive lumber that would be applicable would be pine 2x6's, found at lumberyards, HD and Lowes. Some stores carry a variety of lumber, such as White Pine, Yellow Pine, Spruce, and Hemlock. If you want a specie with some more character, look for Douglas Fir. The selection at lumberyards may be better. You can look through and select.

blackenedk10 · 09-26-2008, 09:43 AM

Thanks for the reply?

What's the general opinon on using redwood for a bunkbed? All replies welcome.

jerry · 09-26-2008, 10:51 AM

Redwood is quite soft and expensive. Go will the douglas fir,as was suggested.

Regards

Jerry

frankp · 09-26-2008, 11:14 AM

blackened: redwood is soft and splinters easily with any rough use. I think expensive is relative to your geographic location, but I wouldn't choose it for my kid's furniture just because of the splinters etc.

blackenedk10 · 09-26-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankp

blackened: redwood is soft and splinters easily with any rough use. I think expensive is relative to your geographic location, but I wouldn't choose it for my kid's furniture just because of the splinters etc.

OH well....I thought it would look really nice. Thanks....I think i will go with the Douglas fir. I sure didn't think redwood was that soft...my router and E. screwdriver didn't take to it to well. The pieces I picked up from HD were pretty damn hard. I am sure it was the operator

frankp · 09-26-2008, 05:06 PM

blackened, are you sure it wasn't red oak you got somehow? It's not ridiculously hard, but much harder than redwood in my experience. You can stain the fir to look really nice as well, so that's an option.