If you have tried the rail from the previous page you are now ready to start building a bed. Beds are actually quite simple to build compared to some deck rails. You want to start by selecting the pieces, match up two 48" posts & two 36" posts, the head & footboard and select four rails. The beds that we build are not just bed frames but actual beds, the box spring sits on the top rail which has been notched out to accept it.
    Start by building the headboard posts, set them side by side and turn them so that the crack is facing away to the back of the bed also keep in mind any feature that the post may have and position it in a suitable manner. You don't want the crack in line with the headboard or the lower rails ( you don't want to drill through a crack as it will make a weak joint). Next mark the top of the post showing the postion of the headboard and the rails. If you are using a 6" post you will need a square piece of 2X8 block to screw to the bottom of the post. The block should be marked off into quarters to find the center of each side, then cut a thin groove on all 4 sides of the block in about an inch. Now attach the post in the center of the block with the headbord side up and with a chalk line mark the center of the post from end to end. With a 2 1/4" wood boring bit drill holes at 9" & 44" , 2 1/2" to 3" deep. Next turn the post so that the rail side is up and drill holes at 5" and 13", repeat for other post. The footboard is done the same way except that the footboard holes are at 9" and 32".
    The next step is the head board and foot board, these pieces are cut to 61" for a queen size bed if you have 5 1/2" posts. This will give you 60 1/2" for a 60" box spring. Put a 2 1/4" tenon 2 1/2" long on these pieces and build a set of blocks with a 2 1/4" hole to accept the tenons. You require a radial drillpress if you wish to have your spindles on an angle, if you are going to have your spindles straight up and down follow the procedure for spacing deck rail spindles and drill 2" holes. Five spindles look good on a queen size bed. If you are putting the spindles in on an angle use 9" spacing from center on the to rail and 7" spacing on the bottom, this will give the proper fan pattern. Once you have the top and bottom headbord rails done put them together with the posts and measure for the spindles. The spindles should have 2" X 2" long tenons, if you make the center spindle a bit longer, force will be needed to squeeze the rail together to get it to fit the post. This will help keep the headboard tight. Repeat for the foot board.
    The rails are cut to 85" and get a 2 1/4" X 2 1/2" long tenon. The hardest part of building this bed comes in notching the top rail for the boxsping to sit in. It can be done on a table saw, with a circular saw or with a chain saw. We use a 10' long radial arm saw but have tried all of the others in the past. The notch should be cut at center from the top down to the top of the tenon and the horizontal cut should be from the top of the tenon to center cut.
    If you have made it this far its time to finish and put the bed together. We use cables to hold the bed sturdy, secure 5/16 X 4" eye hooks to each post. These should be at 45 deg to the holes that you drilled for the head board and the side rails and at the center of the top side rail. This will be 1" below the boxspring, next attach 1/8" cable to one eyehook and the other to a turnbuckle. When attached diagonally from post to post and tightened this makes for an extremely secure bed. When the measurement of both cables is equal your bed is square.