Murphy Bed

[jonathan snyder]

Hi Folks

I'm considering building a murphy bed. Anyone built one? Any recomendations on which hardware to use or which to avoid? Anyone have any pictures that might give me some ideas.

Thanks
Jonathan

[Hoa Dinh]

Check out Create-A-Bed (http://www.wallbed.com/). I bought from them to build a queen size 10 years ago. I think Rocker (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=9) carries exactly the same things.

It does look expensive - just a few hardware parts and a simple plan for $280. But by the time you collect all the individual parts of comparable quality, you'll spend that much anyway, plus your time.

[Craig Feuerzeig]

I've done a few. The Haefle mechanism is definetly superior, but also expensive. The legs retract automatically (can be important to the design), and much easier to use, both in the construction and in everyday use.

[Jesse Cloud]

Here's a couple of pics of one I did. I used the create a bed package. They are on the web at www.wallbed.com (http://www.wallbed.com)

The instructions and video that come with the package are great. Tech support was great, too. I had to set the project aside when it was half done due to competing priorities, would up misplacing a few small parts. They mailed me new ones with no charge and no hassle. I would definitely do business with them again.

One thing to think about, the project is BIG. There is one piece that is the size of the length and width of the mattress and several pieces that are the length of the mattress, so you will have components all over the shop before you assemble it. There are a couple of stages at which you will need help to lift and place parts.

Having said all that, we love the bed and our company likes it too. The bed is very firm, so we added an extra pad to the mattress to soften it up a little. You know how some folks put a sheet of plywood under their mattress to make it extra firm - well that's exactly what a murphy bed is.

Sorry for the quality of the pics, the room isn't big enough to get a good focus on the whole bed.

[Jamie Buxton]

I'm another satisified customer of Create-a-bed. I've built two queen-sized beds with their kit. It works well. IIRC, Lee Valley had the lowest price.

[Lee DeRaud]

One thing to think about, the project is BIG. There is one piece that is the size of the length and width of the mattress and several pieces that are the length of the mattress, so you will have components all over the shop before you assemble it. There are a couple of stages at which you will need help to lift and place parts.Another happy CreateABed/Rockler customer here:
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=27677
It is possible for one person to do this unaided...in retrospect, probably not the brightest thing I've ever done, but so it goes. :p

[Ed Moehlenpah]

I saw a murphy bed by the "original" murphy bed company at a home and garden show. It was different from the "create-a-bed" system, in that much was pre-created by using various metal components. Only the cabinet had to be made by the woodworker. I liked what I saw, and thought about buying the kit (probably twice as expensive as the create-a-bed).
Ed

[Lee DeRaud]

I saw a murphy bed by the "original" murphy bed company at a home and garden show. It was different from the "create-a-bed" system, in that much was pre-created by using various metal components. Only the cabinet had to be made by the woodworker. I liked what I saw, and thought about buying the kit (probably twice as expensive as the create-a-bed).Ok, I'm confused. What do you mean by "components" and "cabinet"? (As opposed to the components that come in the CreateABed kit and the cabinet that you have to build for it.)

[Ed Moehlenpah]

By components, I don't just mean the mechanisms. In this kit, the frame itself is metal, and you bolt it together. The leg mechanism is complete, you don't have to build the little legs and mechanisms. The frame is then attached to the outside plywood that is the finished side of the bed. There is a lot less woodworking in this kit than in the create-a-bed version.

Ed

[Lee DeRaud]

By components, I don't just mean the mechanisms. In this kit, the frame itself is metal, and you bolt it together. The leg mechanism is complete, you don't have to build the little legs and mechanisms. The frame is then attached to the outside plywood that is the finished side of the bed. There is a lot less woodworking in this kit than in the create-a-bed version.Ok.

Given the way mine was designed, I'm not sure it would have been much less work overall: the platform was trivial compared to the towers and the bridge connecting them, and I didn't use the CAB legs.

[Ed Moehlenpah]

I'd like to see a detailed picture of how you didn't use the CAB legs. disclaimer: I bought a CAB a long time ago, and the project has languished in my shop - waiting for the leg mechanisms to be built/installed. I saw the other murphy bed at the show, and am intrigued into changing my mind.

[Lee DeRaud]

I'd like to see a detailed picture of how you didn't use the CAB legs. disclaimer: I bought a CAB a long time ago, and the project has languished in my shop - waiting for the leg mechanisms to be built/installed. I saw the other murphy bed at the show, and am intrigued into changing my mind.It's on that thread I linked to upstream aways. I just put a fixed shelf on the bottom of the platform where the feet would normally be installed: when the bed is closed, it's at about the 6' mark, about 7" deep. The latch release cords come out under the shelf just inside the supports, with small lamp pulls on the ends.

[jonathan snyder]

Hi folks,

Thanks for the info the the pics.

Craig - Any idea where to get that Haefle mechanism? I could not find anything on the web.

Jesse - beautiful job. I love the cabinet. Did you use ply or soild wood on the cabinet? How about the bed box. I read somewhere that particle board or ply is recomended for the bed box. Just curious is it walnut?

Jamie, How was the documentation/instructions/plans with the LV kit? Any pics for ideas??

Lee, Great looking bed. I really like the shelf/leg and the built in nightstand. Was construction of the torsion box covered in the plans or was it you own design?

Thanks for all the info guys, really appreciate it

Jonathan

[Lee DeRaud]

Was construction of the torsion box covered in the plans or was it you own design?That was all covered in the instructions that came with the CAB hardware kit. (As a "side effect", the internal torsion-box structure ties together the two pieces of plywood that form the bottom of the platform: anything except a twin is wider than a single 4x8 sheet.)

[Jamie Buxton]

Jamie, How was the documentation/instructions/plans with the LV kit? Any pics for ideas??


The create-a-bed parts collection (which you can buy from several sources including Lee Valley) comes with a plan and construction instructions. IIRC, there are pics on the create-a-bed site about ways to dress it up a little. The plan is very good, and very clear. That said, I didn't follow the plan, but took off from it to make my own -- surprise, surprise.

[jonathan snyder]

Thanks Jamie,

I was hoping to see some pics of the murphy bed you made. I was looking for ideas from your design not the website!!

Thanks
Jonathan

[Jamie Buxton]

Thanks Jamie,

I was hoping to see some pics of the murphy bed you made. I was looking for ideas from your design not the website!!

Thanks
Jonathan


There are some (not too good) pics of one of the beds on my site. Per the SMC terms of service, I can't post a direct link. Go to my SMC profile to find the site URL, and hunt around there. This particular bed has flanking bookcases, and a "Murphy table" -- a table which folds down out of the bottom of the bed.

[Charlie Plesums]

I get the Create-A-bed kits from Rockler - cheaper than from the factory. Some of the hardware is custom made for them, which makes it doubly hard to beat their price.

A couple things to look for when picking a Murphy Bed design.

1. Does it attach to the wall studs or to the floor. I prefer the wall, since the leverage 7 feet means the connection can be simple, rather than trying to get a floor connection with only inches of leverage.

2. As a user, I hate the Murphy beds that rest on the floor and attack your toes when you approach the bed. Be sure yours has legs. I don't like the metal legs that fold up over the mattress... what happens when a kid doesn't fold the legs right, then sits on the unsupported bed?

3. Plan for a nightstand. The pillow area is inside the cabinet, so there isn't a good place for light, clock, pills, glasses, book, etc. etc. I usually do some kind of cabinet next to the bed, with a pull-out that can be used as a nightstand.

4. If you put a light in the cabinet (everyone seems to like the idea) consider what happens if the light is left on with the bed closed. Hot light, almost touching the foot of the mattress and bedding. Hmmm.

5. Plan your delivery (like the proverbial guy who builds a boat in his basement). A queen size murphy bed is larger than my van, and weighs a couple hundred pounds. Final assembly "in place" isn't fun.

[jonathan snyder]

Charlie,

Those are realy good things to consider. Thanks. Does the rockler design attatch to the wall? How was the documentation/instructions/plans in the rockler kit? Did you like the leg design?

Thanks
Jonathan

[Jesse Cloud]

Hey Johnathan,
If the Rockler kit is the create a bed kit, then it does attach to the wall. The 'legs' are a kit that gives you a hinge with a spring to set the leg at 90 degrees to the platform when you open it. The hinge is attached to a door style bolt and catch that will lock the bed in place when it is closed.

As far as the woodworking part of the legs go, its just a piece of wood with a handle on it. I made mine a simple rectangle with a chamfer around it, but you could make it any style you want as long as its big enough to cover the hole for the hinge.

What Charlie said about the nightstand is right on. A couple of guests have commented that a nightstand would be helpful. They all really like the light package, glad I bought that.