How to Build a Pedestal Bed With Drawers

Making the Frame

• 1

  Cut four pieces of 2-by-4 75 inches long with a circular saw. Cut four pieces of 2-by-4 39 inches long, using a circular saw. Cut 10 pieces of 2-by-4 10 inches long. Cut two sheets of 1-inch thick hardwood 75 inches long and 18 inches wide. Cut two sheets of 1-inch thick hardwood 39 inches long and 24 inches wide. Cut 23 pieces of 1-inch thick hardwood 37 inches long and 2 inches wide.

• 2

  Fit the 1-inch pilot bearing into the router. Cut a groove 1-inch deep and 1-inch wide into one edge on one of the 2-inch wide faces of a 75-inch piece. Cut a second 1-inch wide, 1-inch deep groove in a second 75-inch piece in the same way.

• 3

  Measure and draw a 1-by-1-inch square on each end of the 2-inch wide faces of the 75-inch and 39-inch long pieces of a 2-by-4 with a pencil and ruler. Cut these squares out of the 2-by-4 pieces with a hacksaw. Fit the cut pieces together by interlocking the cut ends, to form two rectangles 39 inches wide and 75 inches long. The grooved pieces must face one another.

• 4

  Glue the interlocking joints together with wood glue. Reinforce the joints with a hammer drill and screwdriver drill bit to countersink long screws into the joints. Glue and screw 10-inch long pieces to the corners of the non-grooved rectangle so the 10-inch pieces stand vertically. Glue and screw the other rectangle on top of the 10-inch pieces, to form the bed frame.

• 5

  Glue and screw one 10-inch piece in the middle of the 39-by-18-inch sides of the bed frame. Glue and screw two 10-inch pieces side-by-side in the middle of the 75-by-18-inch sides of the bed frame. These are the side support pieces for the bed.

• 6

  Cut two pieces of 2-by-4 to 71 inches long. Cut four pieces of 2-by-4 to 16 inches long. Glue and screw the 71-inch pieces into the bottom of the bed frame 20 inches from the inner edge of the 75-inch-long sides. Glue and screw the 16-inch pieces into the bottom of the bed frame between the 71- and 75-inch-long pieces, 16 inches from the 39-inch-long ends of the frame.

• 7

  On the 75-inch-long hardwood pieces, measure 2 inches along the bottom 75-inch side, then 4 inches up. Draw a rectangle 10 inches tall and 31 1/2 inches wide. Measure across 8 inches and draw another 10-by-31 1/2-inch rectangle.

• 8

  Fit the 1-inch drill bit into the drill. Drill starting holes in the corners of the rectangles you just drew. Cut the rectangles out of both 75-inch-long hardwood sheets, using a hacksaw. Screw the 75-inch hardwood sheets onto the sides of the bed. Screw the 39-inch-wide pieces to the ends of the bed. Screw the 37-inch-long pieces into the grooves, with 1-inch gaps between them.

Making a Drawer

• 9

  Cut one piece of 1-inch thick hardwood 31 1/2 inches long and 20 inches wide, using a circular saw. Cut two pieces of 1-inch thick hardwood 20 inches long and 9 inches wide. Cut one piece of 1-inch thick hardwood 29 1/2 inches long and 9 inches wide. Cut one piece of 1-inch thick hardwood 33 inches long and 11 inches wide.

• 10

  Glue and screw the 20-by-9-inch pieces to either end of the 29 1/2-by-9-inch-wide piece, to form a “U” shape. Glue and screw the 31 1/2-by-20-inch piece to one of the large open faces of the “U” shape to form a drawer with no front panel on it.

• 11

  Screw a drawer handle to the center of one side of the 33-by-11-inch piece. Turn this piece over. Glue and screw the drawer to the 33-by-11-inch piece so there is at least a 1/2-inch lip all around the drawer and the handle is on the outside of the drawer. Repeat this process to build the other three drawers.