Thread: How to make a frame for a foldup bed?

Hi All,

I have a fairly large rumpus room, and a spare queen size ensemble.

What I was wondering is how would I go about making a frame to bolt to the wall and ford the bed up against the wall, so it doesn't take up so much space when not necessary? I'd presume that you'd forget the base, and make up a slat base to take the mattress.

How do I go about hinging it? Do I bolt up a board the thickness of the mattress plus a bit, and just use a couple of sets of door hinges, in order for it to fold up at least vertically/slightly over vertical? If the hinges were against the wall, then the thickness of the mattress would stop it from folding up vertically?

Then I guess the next problem would be the legs. Not sure what to do there. Chains from the ceiling is a possibility, but then the base/frame would need to be quite substantial to cope with any "twisting" loads.

Any comments/suggestions? Perhaps I should just sell the spare bed and keep the futon!

Tas_Dean

Depends on what the wall is. Is it solid brick, cavity or brick veneer and will it take the weight when it is swinging past 45 degrees at maximum draw on a hinge and likewise do you want it to sit on the wall when raised or still rest on the floor to take the weight? Personally, if you were able to mount it to the wall, then I would be inclined to use off-set strap hinges rather than butt hinges which will have to be extended so no matter which one, they will still protrude the thickness of the bed + mattress + bedding and still need to be anchored to the floor for support in some way. However you mount it, going to look rather ugly - you really can't inlet them as the mattress is still going to be proud to the wall and you would either have to mount the mattress to the frame of the bed or else use a barge board to stop it squashing onto the hinges when folded and would also have to have removable legs - usually Q/S have 9 legs. Either way, will still protrude the thickness of the barge board/bed head

Probably only option if you want it mounted to the wall out of the way as per above is to then build a false wall around it - to hide it - that way you loose a lot of space, or why not just get a sofa/bed with casters instead...reckon it would be a lot cheaper than building it in as there's a lot of carpentry involved? FWIW.....Lee

Do a search on 'Murphy bed' - that's what the Yankees call them.

If you have the $$$ you can buy kits of the metal parts - hinges, springs, pneumatic dampers - from places like Lee Valley & Rockler.

They look like the folding beds you used to see in 3 Stooges shorts, or more recently in 'Roger Rabbit' in Eddie's office.

http://www.tiltawaybeds.com.au/index.html