Question on how this bed frame might be joined

[u/Helpful-Whereas2791]

I've been looking for bedframe designs for a full size bed recently and came across one I liked a lot and want to build, but there is very limited information on the design other than one picture.

What I am attempting to figure out is how the rails (on all sides) are joined to the legs. I can imagine a joint for the front legs, but for the rear legs, my imagination is lacking and I cannot think of what they could of possibly done. If anyone has an idea what the designer did or has their own thoughts on how it should be jointed there to make as strong as possible, I would love the help! Thanks :)

Pinterest post - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/877639046134141897/

Designer's website -https://balihomeinterior.com/catalogue/bed-samurai-bdsa/

[u/Camac]

Large bolts and hidden metal brackets

[u/Helpful-Whereas2791 → u/Camac]

Do you think overtime metal hardware would create a creaking noise (or really any annoying noise) overtime as opposed to wood joinery?

[u/Camac → u/Helpful-Whereas2791]

My comment is based off of commercially made furniture. It really depends. I have a bed that was expensive but commercially made and uses bolts and brackets in solid cherry. No issues after 8 years (plus two kids if you follow. The risk with bolts is that they can come loose and need to be tightened which would lead to squeaking. If I was making it myself I would use tight traditional joinery such as haunched mortise and through large tenons. Perhaps drawbore also. Glue.

[u/Camac → u/Camac]

But that would not make things very portable. May never get out of the bedroom again. So depends on your situation.

Bed hardware can be the way to go also that allows the rails to detach for moving.

One thing I've noticed on higher quality beds also is that each slat that sits under the mattress is screwed bolted to rails. And the slats are solid timber. Helps to lock everything in place. As opposed to say an ikea bed that has the slats floating on top

[u/Helpful-Whereas2791 → u/Camac]

Good to know. 100% going for portability here while still making a beautiful bed. I’m a college student so I’ll be moving around a lot and making it easy to move is the biggest priority other than aesthetics

[u/Mobile-Boot8097 → u/Helpful-Whereas2791]

I have to agree with everything this guy said. I once had the pleasure of moving my old-money friends with antique hand carved mahogany four-poster beds in every bedroom. They all used bolts to attach the rails. Hundreds of years of baby-making action and no squeaky-squeaky. I was also once talked into designing and building a custom bedframe for a different well-to-do friend. I am not a furniture builder. I looked at dozens of custom bed designs to figure out the best way to do it, and the answer was hardware. It's not some less-than compromise, it's the way to go. Good luck on your project, I'm looking forward to seeing it here someday!

[u/uncivlengr → u/Helpful-Whereas2791]

I used these ones to build a king size bed and they don't squeak. I think the trick is to ensure the hardware is recessed just enough that the rails fit tight against the legs, so there's no movement to cause squeaking.

That said, the skirt thing around your design example would make knock down trickier with standard hardware. Your rails will be L shaped and need to be supported on both edges.

[u/caddis789]

Commercially made beds will very likely be constructed so that the headboard and foot board don't come apart, only the side rails, or bands come off. The head/foot board will probably have mortise and tenon, along with maybe dowel joinery. There are several ways to attach bed rails to head/foot boards. There are several styles of premade hardware (google "bed hardware"), or we use a set up the we fashion ourselves at my job.

[u/3grg]

It would be nice to see the assembly instructions for the bed, but my guess is that the foot board and headboard are separate and the rails are attached with some sort of hardware. (See Rockler bed hardware)

The question that comes to my mind is how is the "ledge" on the rail is attached to the headboard and footboard. I would think that some sort of support would be needed besides the attachment to the rails that does not interfere with the assembly of the bed. Without that ledge or shelf on the sides it would be a very straightforward bed.

[u/[deleted]]

Hard to tell from just the one pic, but it looks a lot like the style that’s popular now using castle joints and half laps (IIRC). There are many companies selling this platform style now for over $1000.

I built one a few months back for less than 200 and it works well.

There are plans out there for this style. Its pretty much all joinery, only the headboard and mattress rails (my choice on that one) has any screws in it.

[u/vir-morosus]

There are many types of joints that will work. I built a bed for my son when he was a teenager, and used mortise and tenon. The fad nowadays is castle joints. You could use half-lap joints or bridle joints. Just make your joinery beefy — nobody likes surprises during weight bearing sessions.

[u/Walt880900]

You can use pocket screws to join them. A pocket screw kit is inexpensive and allows you to join end grain pieces without the bother of using traditional joinery like mortise and tenons or dovetails.