QUEEN SIZE BED FRAME MADE INTO BENCH (part 1 OF 4)

For my first documented project I decided to make a bench out of my old wooden queen size bed frame. The type of bench you would find in a foyer, living room or a bedroom. I will try to document as much as possible, thoughts, ideas, photos, tools used, etc. Although I will try to post the complete project at once, I will post partial work done when I have time and will let you know when the project is done at the end of the post. All projects should be inexpensive to build and have the potential of being sold for a profit.

I hope you enjoy all my projects. So let's begin with:

"The Queen Sized Bench"

These are the materials and tools I will use (so far! I will add as I use and include a tools pic when done):

Queen Sized Bed Frame

Materials:

Queen Sized Bed Frame

(4 wooden pieces)

1 Headboard

1 Foot board

2 Side Rails

Tools:

Measuring tape

Drill/Screw

Drill bits                                                         

Pencil/Marker
Straight Ruler
Wood Glue
Wood Putty
Sander
Primer/Paint

This is the headboard made of solid wood. It is made very simple with top trim, 3 panels and one ornament as the accents. It does have two metal side rail attachments (as well as the foot board) that must be removed (although I did think about keeping them and trying to make the bench easily dismantled but decided against it for my first project).

Queen Size Headboard

Headboard Ornament

Let's start with the foot board because it does require sawing to size. Two things you need to know at this time is the measurements for height and depth for the requirements of sitting down. You can search the internet for the answer or just grab one of your regular chairs in your home and measure it. Like this:

Seat Measurement

My chair measured 16" at Depth and 24" for seat height. I made one adjustments to the depth because most benches are made as accents to a room and not for seating (as much as a regular chair that is). Anyway I added a little more room to the bench depth to 18" to make it roomy, but I left the height for comfort (remember we will be adding a cushion at the end).

I laid the foot board on a large table and removed the rail attachments:

Foot board

Foot board with rail attachment

Rail attachment removed

Measure from the edge of each side the depth of 18". Mark the measurement on a few different spots up and down the foot board so that when you line it up with your ruler you can mark a straight line for cutting.

My project head & foot boards had some uneven levels because of the trim so if your does too you need to find a way to get that straight line. Mine had one benefit for straight line and cutting. One of the panel boards evened up at the 18".

Now since it had panels I knew that once I would cut this I may have wood from the panel in a slit on the part I was keeping. I figured I would just putty the slit but as it turned out the panels were going to be easily glued in and when I cut the section the wood from the panel was wonderfully integrated with the slit. All I have to do is pull the wood out and 1/2 fill slit with glue then press in, wipe excess glue and then sand.

Measure depth

Draw line for depth cut

Since I marked both sides with the depth of 18" I then cut it with my circular saw. I wound up with three pieces. The two sides and the middle panel (which is not used).

This project is NOT done. I apologize but I will have to pause this project for a cpl of days due to other things I have to do, but I will finish it. I am doing this bench for sale so the commitment is there but life calls. LOL. Stay tuned!

MORE TO COME!

LINK TO OTHER PARTS:
PART 2
http://creativeprojectsbyjohn.blogspot.com/2012/09/queen-size-bed-frame-made-into-bench.html
PART 3
http://creativeprojectsbyjohn.blogspot.com/2012/09/queen-size-bed-frame-made-into-bench_5.html
PART 4
http://creativeprojectsbyjohn.blogspot.com/2012/12/queen-size-bed-frame-made-into-bench.html