Bunk Beds

Give the kids a fun place to sleep.

Bunk Beds

Children will love climbing into these sturdy bunk beds. The steps, complete with drawers, can be positioned on either side or end of the beds. They offer surer footing than the usual ladder access.

Instructions:

General: Cut and label the parts as needed, using the Cut List as a guide and adjusting for fit. If you plan to place the steps on the side of the bunk beds (as shown here), cut a back panel from 3/4-inch plywood to fit between the face frames, concealing the drawer sides.

1 Build the face frames

a. Using glue and 11/4-inch pocket hole screws, attach all rails and stiles listed in the Cut List to create two identical face frame assemblies following Figure 1.

b. Fill the pocket holes with wooden plugs or wood filler, and sand smooth.

2 Build the steps

a. Position the (10) bottom riser between the two face frame assemblies and flush with the front edge and the bottom of each face frame (see Figure 2). With glue and 11/4-inch pocket hole screws, attach the (10) bottom riser to both face frames.

b. Position the first (11) tread so that it overhangs the (10) bottom riser by 3/4 inch and is flush with the top of each adjacent (05) A rail. Attach the (11) tread to the (10) bottom riser and to the (05) A rails with 2-inch screws.

c. Butt the first (12) riser against the back of the first (11) tread so that it is flush with the face of the (02) B stile. Attach the (12) riser to the (11) tread and to the (02) B stile with 2-inch screws.

d. Repeat Step 2c for the remaining (11) treads and (12) risers.

e. Attach pairs of (13) glide supports between the face frames. The rear (13) glide support of each pair should be attached to the face frames with glue and 11/4-inch pocket hole screws. The front (13) glide support of each pair should be attached to the (10) bottom riser and (12) risers with glue and finishing nails (see Figure 2).

3 Build the drawers

Before building the drawers, decide on the placement of the bunk beds in the room and whether you want the steps on either side or end of the beds. This will determine how you build the drawers because they only pull out from one side.

a. The width of the drawers is determined by the metal drawer slides (full-extension recommended). Adjust the width of the drawers as needed, following the manufacturer’s sizing directions for clearance.

b. Assemble each drawer by attaching the ends to the sides with glue and finishing nails. Note: The sides of drawer A, drawer B, and drawer C are the same. Drawer D has one short side, (22) D left side, and one tall side, (21) D right side, as shown in Figure 2.

c. Attach a bottom to each drawer assembly with glue and finishing nails.

d. Attach one half of each metal drawer slide to each drawer side and the other half of the slide to each (13) glide support per the manufacturer’s instructions.

e. Insert the drawer assemblies, and center a face on each drawer. Then drive 1-inch screws through the drawer ends and into the drawer faces.

f. On the other side of the step assembly, attach the false drawer faces with glue and finishing nails.

g. Center a drawer pull on each drawer face, and then attach following the manufacturer’s instructions.

4 Assemble the bed legs

a. Create each lower leg assembly by sandwiching a (LB02) long filler, (LB03) short filler, and a (LB04) wide filler between two (LB01) lower leg faces as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Make sure that the ends of the filler strips are flush with the ends and edges of the (LB01) lower leg faces, and that one long edge of the (LB02) long filler is flush with one long edge of the (LB01) lower leg face. Nail these parts together after gluing.

b. Create each upper leg assembly by sandwiching an (UB02) upper long filler and two (UB03) upper short fillers between two (UB01) upper leg faces.

c. Test-fit the (LB07) splines into the openings of the lower leg and upper leg assemblies. They should be sanded to a thickness that allows them to fit easily. The (LB07) splines will be used later to connect the two beds.

5 Build the lower bed

a. Apply glue to an (LB05) end panel, insert it into the openings of the two lower leg assemblies, and clamp. Then attach two (LB06) end rails to the (LB05) end panel with glue and finishing nails (see Figure 5). Repeat for the remaining end assembly. Allow the assemblies to dry overnight.

b. Using glue and 2-inch screws, attach the (LB09) slat supports 1/2 inch up from the bottom of the (LB08) side rails.

c. Using glue and five 21/2-inch pocket hole screws, attach each side rail assembly to the end assemblies.

d. Equally space and position the (LB10) slats on the (LB09) slat supports as shown in Figure 5. Then attach the (LB10) slats to the (LB09) slat supports with 2-inch screws.

6 Build the upper bed

a. Position the (UB04) upper end rails 73/4 inches up from the bottom of the upper leg assemblies, and attach them with glue and five 21/2-inch pocket hole screws (see Figure 6).

b. Position the (UB05) end guardrails 33/4 inches up from the top of the (UB04) upper end rails and with a 33/4-inch space between them. Then attach them to the upper leg assemblies with glue and 11/4-inch pocket hole screws.

c. Using glue and 2-inch screws, attach the (UB08) slat supports 1/2 inch up from the bottom of the (UB06) side rails.

d. Using glue and five 21/2-inch pocket hole screws, attach each side rail assembly to the end assemblies.

e. Equally space and position the (UB09) slats on the (UB08) slat supports as shown in Figure 6. Attach the (UB09) slats to the (UB08) slat supports with 2-inch screws.

f. On the side opposite of where the steps will be placed, position the (UB07) side guardrails 33/4 inches up from the top of the (UB06) side rail and with a 33/4-inch space between the two of them. Attach with glue and countersunk 3-inch screws by drilling through the leg assemblies and into the (UB07) side guardrails. Insert black nylon hole plugs into the countersunk holes.

g. On the side of the bed where the steps will be placed, cut the (UB07) side guardrails for access. Position the (UB07) side guardrails 33/4 inches up from the top of the (UB06) side rail and with a 33/4-inch space between the two of them. Attach the (UB07) side guardrails to the (UB10) guardrail supports using glue and 11/4-inch pocket hole screws. Then attach the (UB07) side guardrails to the upper leg assembly with glue and 3-inch screws. Attach the lower (UB10) guardrail support to the (UB06) side rail with glue and 11/4-inch pocket hole screws.

7 Connect the beds, and attach the step assembly to the bed assemblies
No matter where you position the steps (on either side or either end of the bed), you will need to attach the step assembly to the bed assemblies using screws.

a. For the side configuration (as shown on page 4), drive three 2-inch screws through the (LB08) side rail into the (01) A stile on each side of the step assembly.

b. Repeat Step 7a to attach the (UB06) side rail to the (01) A stile on each side of the step assembly.

c. Drive two 3-inch screws through the upper leg assembly into the (01) A stile.

d. Drive two 2-inch screws through the (UB10) guardrail supports into the (01) A stile where they meet.

Bunk Beds

Part	Quantity	Materials	Size (in inches)
Face Frames
A stiles	4	1 x 6	3∕4 x 2 1∕4 x 70 1∕2
B stiles	2	1 x 6	3∕4 x 2 1∕4 x 55 13∕16
C stiles	2	1 x 6	3∕4 x 2 1∕4 x 42 5∕8
D stiles	2	1 x 6	3∕4 x 2 1∕4 x 29 7∕16
A rails	6	1 x 6	3∕4 x 2 1∕4 x 31 1∕2
B rails	2	1 x 6	3∕4 x 2 1∕4 x 22 1∕2
C rails	2	1 x 6	3∕4 x 2 1∕4 x 13 1∕2
D rails	2	1 x 6	3∕4 x 2 1∕4 x 4 1∕2
E rails	12	1 x 6	3∕4 x 2 1∕4 x 6 3∕4
Measure length from long point to long point. *Cut from the (05) top.

Part	Quantity	Materials	Size (in inches)
Cut List
Step Assemblies
bottom riser	1	3∕4-inch plywood	3∕4 x 111 1∕16 x 23 3∕4
treads	4	3∕4-inch plywood	3∕4 x 9 3∕4 x 23 3∕4
risers	3	3∕4-inch plywood	3∕4 x 13 3∕16 x 23 3∕4
glide supports	8	3∕4-inch plywood	3∕4 x 3 x 23 3∕4
Measure length from long point to long point. *Cut from the (05) top.

Part	Quantity	Materials	Size (in inches)
Drawer Assemblies
A sides	2	1∕2-inch plywood	1∕2 x 6 x 18
B sides	2	1∕2-inch plywood	1∕2 x 6 x 18
C sides	2	1∕2-inch plywood	1∕2 x 6 x 18
A ends	2	1∕2-inch plywood	1∕2 x 6 x 29 1∕2
B ends	2	1∕2-inch plywood	1∕2 x 6 x 20 1∕2
C ends	2	1∕2-inch plywood	1∕2 x 6 x 11 1∕2
D ends	2	1∕2-inch plywood	1∕2 x 6 x 2 1∕2
D right side	1	1∕2-inch plywood	1∕2 x 9 x 18
D left side	1	1∕2-inch plywood	1∕2 x 2 1∕2 x 18
A bottom	1	1∕4-inch plywood	1∕4 x 18 x 30 1∕2
B bottom	1	1∕4-inch plywood	1∕4 x 18 x 21 1∕2
C bottom	1	1∕4-inch plywood	1∕4 x 12 1∕2 x 18
D bottom	1	1∕4-inch plywood	1∕4 x 3 1∕2 x 18
A faces	2	3∕4-inch plywood	3∕4 x 9 1∕2 x 33
B faces	2	3∕4-inch plywood	3∕4 x 12 7∕16 x 24
C faces	2	3∕4-inch plywood	3∕4 x 12 7∕16 x 15
D faces	2	3∕4-inch plywood	3∕4 x 6 x 12 7∕16
Measure length from long point to long point. *Cut from the (05) top.

Part	Quantity	Materials	Size (in inches)
Lower and Upper Leg Assemblies
lower leg faces	8	1 x 8	3∕4 x 2 1∕4 x 43
long fillers	4	1∕2 x 6	1∕2 x 3∕4 x 36 3∕4
short fillers	4	1∕2 x 6	1∕2 x 3∕4 x 3
wide fillers	4	1∕2 x 6	1∕2 x 2 1∕4 x 6 1∕4
upper leg faces	8	1 x 8	3∕4 x 2 1∕4 x 29
upper long fillers	4	1∕2 x 6	1∕2 x 2 1∕4 x 21 1∕4
upper short fillers	8	1∕2 x 6	1∕2 x 3∕4 x 7 3∕4
Lower bunk bed
end panels	2	1∕2-inch plywood	1∕2 x 33 3∕4 x 42 3∕4
end rails	4	1 x 8	3∕4 x 2 1∕4 x 39 3∕4
splines	4	1∕2 x 6	7∕16 x 11∕16 x 6
side rails	2	1 x 8	3∕4 x 7 1∕4 x 75 3∕4
slat supports	4	2 x 2	1 1∕2 x 1 1∕2 x 36
slats	9	1 x 4	3∕4 x 3 1∕2 x 40
Upper bunk bed
upper end rails	2	1 x 8	3∕4 x 7 1∕4 x 39 3∕4
end guardrails	4	1 x 8	3∕4 x 2 1∕4 x 39 3∕4
side rails	2	1 x 8	3∕4 x 7 1∕4 x 75 3∕4
side guardrails	4*	1 x 8	3∕4 x 2 1∕4 x 75 3∕4
slat supports	4	2 x 2	1 1∕2 x 1 1∕2 x 36
slats	9	1 x 4	3∕4 x 3 1∕2 x 40
guardrail supports	2	1 x 8	3∕4 x 2 1∕4 x 3 3∕4
Finished Dimensions for Beds Height: 70 1∕2 inches Depth: 44 1∕4 inches Width: 72 inches
Finished Dimensions for Steps Height: 70 1∕2 inches Depth: 251∕4 inches Width: 36 inches
*Two side guardrails will be cut to accommodate opening for access.

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