Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Oct 14, 2009 02:08am | #1

   Whether the wood is strong enough depends on the specific design.  Either oak is plenty strong for most designs.  Softer woods, including alder, can be used, but you might want to be a bit more conservative with the design.  

   Oak is relatively easy to stain.  Alder can have blotching problems without special attention.   

2. 
   dkellernc | Oct 14, 2009 02:32am | #2

   Both white and red oak are extemely strong.  Unless, as Steve mentions, you come up with a weak design.  But in that case, any wood would have the same problem.

   The only thing I'd say about alder, yellow or white pine, butternut, basswood, and other softer species is that a youngster is likely to put a good many dents in such a material.

   Depending on where you are in the country, another good wood for this application is maple.  It is hard, so it produces a durable surface, and it takes aniline dye and/or paint well.  In the East, it's also cheap if it's not figured - about $2-$4 a board foot.

1. 
   iamrip | Oct 14, 2009 04:28am | #3

   Thank you both for your help.  I have a plan from Rockler that I was planning on using.  Bunk bed construction seems pretty straight forward.  Maybe I will buy her an extra thick mattress just in case. :) I am thinking red oak is the way to go since I don't want her making dents in the bed.  I am hoping it lasts for a few years.

   Edited 10/13/2009 9:28 pm ET by iamrip

   Edited 10/13/2009 9:29 pm ET by iamrip

1. 
   ASK | Oct 14, 2009 04:01pm | #5

   "I am hoping it lasts for a few years"

   Well, back in 1984 when my 2 girls were 2½ & 7 I made 2 sets of bunk beds out of maple. My 3 year old granddaughter now sleeps in one of them and fell off the top bunk last weekend but was not hurt. I need to put the railing back so she doesn't fall off again.

   ASK

1. 
   iamrip | Oct 14, 2009 06:10pm | #6

   I am planning on installing a railing that is pretty permanent.  I have seen designs where instead of a ladder, there are steps at the end of the bed with drawers in each of the steps.  I would like to go that route just to add some extra storage in their room.  That way there is no climbing over the railing and it shouldn't be in the way.  (I had a bunk bed when I was young and I hated the railing and moved it any time I could.  It was not built into the bed, just a board that went across.)  That is different than the plans I am looking at but I don't think it will hurt the stability of the bed. 

1. 
   ASK | Oct 14, 2009 07:00pm | #7

   The railing I used was integral with the bed. Maple 1 X 4 if I remember. The beds were made so that they could be taken apart and the top bunk foot board could be replaced with the bottom footboard so that they could be used as 2 single beds not bunked. We kept it that way for the 2.5 year old for a couple of years. The "ladder" was actually the horizontal parts of the footboards lower and upper.

   I like the idea of the "ladder" being done so that is becomes storage.

   Lets see pictures when it is done

   ASK 

3. 
   roc | Oct 14, 2009 06:16am | #4

   Way back my surfer girl friend made such a bed out of basic wood from the local Home Depot, probably yellow pine. It was for her/our bike racer friends to crash on when they were traveling through town on their way to a national level race etc.

   Held up just fine. She tended to rush the design process. No problems. This kind of wood is rather green/wet so I don't recommend it but there you are.

   She tended to be a house framer first and a furniture maker second. Yah she was somethin' !

   roc

   Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

4. 
   MrSQL | Oct 20, 2009 08:10pm | #8

   for me, white oak is so hard I don't work with it (except for exterior projects as it is naturally rot resistant).

   Poplar is easy to work with and takes a nice finish if you are into staining.

   If you don't want to stain, then cherry has nice working properties and nice natural coloring [same goes for walnut].

    

1. 
   iamrip | Oct 20, 2009 08:53pm | #9

   Thank you.  I think I am going to go with red oak.  I like the look of furniture made of red oak and the price is right.