Slat Back Platform Bed

Marc Spagnuolo

This bed was designed specifically for my mom for her new house here in Denver. It features tapered legs, a tapered/slatted headboard, pillowed slats, solid mortise and tenon joinery, and a half-lapped platform frame. The bed can break down easily thanks to sliding dovetails at the footboard and bolts at the headboard. This video series demonstrates the construction of a King size bed but we also provide a secondary plan containing a cut list and measurements for a Queen size version.

The King Size version of the bed measures 77 1/2" W x 85" L x 11" H (Platform), 48" H (Headboard)

9 lessons

166 min

$79.00

Here's what you'll learn how to build:

Here's what we'll cover:

Project Tour

A close look at the bed and how it goes together.
Wood, Milling, & Legs

Selecting the best grain for our rails and legs then gluing the legs together.
Mortises

The mortises are cut in the legs using a router and edge guide.
Dovetail Slots

Making a large dovetail slot.
Tenons & Dovetails

The rails are milled up and tenons and dovetails are added to the ends. The front rail mortise is also cut at this time.
Headboard Tapers & Slats

The headboard slopes back at an angle which is created by tapering the three headboard legs. The mortises for the headboard slats are cut parallel to the taper angle so that the slats slope back with the taper angle. The mortises are cut using the same router setup we used previously. Be sure to create […]
Platform & Extra Support

The top frame is concstruction and supports are added to the rails.
Details

Pillowing the headboard, adding tapers, and finalizing the knock-down hardware.
Assembly & Finishing

The bed is glued up, finished, and set up in the driveway.

What will I receive?

Detailed cut list and plans including a PDF and a SketchUp file (Metric and Imperial). Main project is a King size bed but we will provide measured drawings and a cut list for Queen as well.
Hours of detailed video instruction (9 videos in total) showing every step of the build.
All videos and plans are digital and will be available for download upon purchase.

What will I learn?

Wood selection
4-Way bookmatch
Knock-down hardware solutions
Large sliding dovetails
Mortise and tenon joinery
Tapered legs
Half-lap joinery
Pillowing back slats
Finishing with Rubio Monocoat

What will I need?

Materials: 17 BF of 4/4 Hardwood, 10 BF of 5/4 Hardwood, 32 BF of 8/4 Hardwood, and one sheet of 3/4″ plywood.
Tools: Jointer, planer, miter saw, band saw, table saw, router with edge guide, router table, chisels, flush trim saw & rasp (for rounding tenons), drill press, Circular saw or track saw (for cutting down plywood slats)
Blades & Bits: Dado stack, 1” forstner bit, 3/4” forstner bit (for pre-drilling mortises), 1/2” upcut spiral router bit, 14 degree 7/8”L dovetail bit (#7695), Flush Trim bit, drill bit slightly larger than 1/4” for bed bolt, 23/64” bit for threaded inserts, 1/8” roundover bit
Hardware: TWO 1/4-20 threaded inserts , TWO 3 1/2” bolts with lock washers and regular washers

About Your Instructor:

Marc is a podcaster, video producer, woodworking enthusiast, and author of Hybrid Woodworking and Essential Joinery. He has contributed articles and video content to FineWoodworking.com, Popular Woodworking Magazine, WOOD Magazine, and Woodcraft Magazine. He is also the host of The Wood Whisperer, an instructional woodworking video series that’s been going strong since 2006. He is also one of the hosts of the Wood Talk podcast. He has taught classes at the William Ng School, Marc Adams School, Weekend with Wood, Fine Woodworking Live, as well as at various Rockler and Woodcraft stores. He also speaks periodically at woodworking events like AWFS and IWF.

Slat Back Platform Bed

Here's what you'll learn how to build:

Here's what we'll cover:

Project Tour

Wood, Milling, & Legs

Mortises

Dovetail Slots

Tenons & Dovetails

Headboard Tapers & Slats

Platform & Extra Support

Details

Assembly & Finishing

What will I receive?

What will I learn?

What will I need?

Reviews:

About Your Instructor:

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