Table of Contents
- 1Introduction
- 2Identifying the parts
- 3About measurements, bunk size, mattress
- 4Materials, Cutting list for the beds
- 5Materials, Cutting list for the bunk ends
- 6PLANS - The bed
- 7PLANS - The bunk ends
- 8PLANS - The ladder
- 9Making the bed - Base and ends
- 10Making the bed - Ends and side guardrail
- 11Making the bunk ends and ladder
- 12Assembling the bunk and adding the ladder
- 13Finishing - Nut guards and screw caps
- 14Safety guidelines - Must read
- 15Safety guidelines continued - Must read
About measurements, bunk size, mattress
Bunk size
Each bed is 64 1/2″ (1641mm) long overall and 30″ (750mm) wide, and is the perfect size for kids up to the age of 10 or so.
The overall bunk unit is 64 1/2″ (1641mm) long, 31 1/2″ (787mm) wide and 57 1/2″ (1437mm) high.
The mattress area is 63″(1575mm) by 27″ (675mm).
If you already have a mattress that is a slightly different size, with a little bit of thought it shouldn’t be too difficult for you to alter the plans to suit.
About the mattresses
Use 4″(100mm) thick foam rubber mattresses.
Sometimes it is cheaper to buy standard size single mattresses and cut them to size.
There always seems to be special or sale somewhere for such items. It is not too hard to cut a standard size single foam rubber mattress. Just take off the cover, cut the foam rubber to size with a long bladed craft knife and re-sew the cover to suit.
About the measurements
The measurements throughout this project are given in both Standard (inches) and MetricMillimeter measurements. (mmAbbreviation for millimeter which is a metric unit of length equal to one thousandth of a meter. 25.4 mm equals one inch.).
The standard measurements are given first followed by the metric measurements in brackets ( ).
For example: 3/4″ x 3 1/2″ (90mm x 19mm).
For rounding-off purposes, the metric sizes in this project are not an exact match to the equivalent imperialStandard. Feet and inch measurements. sizes.
A structure built using the metric measurements will be approximately 1.6% smaller than the same structure using the imperial (ft and in) measurements. Not really worth worrying about.
The imperial measurements are more suited to North America. The metric measurements are more suited to Australasia and other countries.
The size (width and thickness) of the woodTimber, lumber. The hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees used in this project is the ‘actual’ (true) size.
That is the size of the wood after it has been dressedSurfaced; planed; smooth; even surface; gauged. (surfacedSee Dressed., planed and/or seasoned).
The ‘nominal’ size of the wood is in reference to its size before being dressed.
The ‘actual’ size of the wood is smaller than the ‘nominal’ size.
Below is a ‘nominal’ versus ‘actual’ chart, listing the wood sizes that are used in this project.
| Standard (inches) | |
| NOMINAL SIZEThe rough-sawn size of a piece of lumber. Before the lumber is surfaced, planed or dressed. The nominal size is usually greater than the actual dimension. e.g. 100x50 (2 x 4) actually equals 90x45 (1 1/2" x 3 1/2"). | ACTUAL SIZEThe finished (dressed) size as opposed to the nominal size of a piece of wood. |
| 1″ x 4″ | 3/4″ x 3 1/2″ |
| 1″ x 6″ | 3/4″ x 5 1/2″ |
| Metric (millimetres) | |
| NOMINAL SIZE | ACTUAL SIZE |
| 100mm x 25mm | 90mm x 19mm |
| 150mm x 25mm | 140mm x 19mm |
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