- 1). Cut all 2 by 6's to the length indicated. Measurements are for a standard 36 by 72 inches twin mattress. You won't need box springs with this bed design, although you can use them if you want to raise the height of the bed. If you use a longer or wider mattress, you can extend the sides or ends to accommodate the larger mattress. Screw together two rectangular frames. The long sidepieces (76 inches) will overlap the ends of the sidepieces. Pre-drill screw holes through the sidepieces into the ends of the end 2 by 6's (38 inches) and screw together with 67-inch screws. To make it look better, you can use specially made decorative brass screw washers on any exposed screws. Repeat with remaining sidepieces to make two rectangular frames.
- 2). Pre-drill the 72-inch 2 by 2's putting screws at both ends and every 16 inches along the length of the boards. Screw the 2 by 2's to the lower inside of the long sides of each box frame with 2 ½ inch screws.
- 3). Route all the edges of the four 64-inch 2 by 6 legs to round the top edges and corners for safety.
- 4). Set up the four 64-inch legs with the wide sides facing each other. C-clamp the two box frames to legs, the lower one with its top edge at 18 inches above the ground and the upper box so the top edge is 59 inches above the floor. Pilot drill two ¼ inch holes through each leg into the ends of the sidepieces. Use the paddle bit to widen the top quarter inch of the hole to recess the bolt head. Thread washers over the 6-inch lag screws and screw them into each leg to attach the long sides of the frames.
- 5). Go over the bed's exposed edges with the router and edge-rounding bit. Screw the 41 inch 1 by 4's to the inside of the frame 4 inches above the frame at the head of the bed. Screw two more 1 by 4's outside the foot of the frame, 4 inches above the frames with a third 1 by 4 halfway between the two to act as a step. Attach all head and footboards with 2 ½ inch screws and trim washers if desired.
- 6). Measure and trim two plywood panels so they are exactly 38 by 72 inches. Cut the eight 1 by 4 by 38 inch slats and place four across each frame sitting on the 2 by 2 shelves at the bottom of the long sides.
- 7). Add side rails to the top bunk for safety. Cut two 1 by 4's 76 inches long and screw them to the sides of the legs so they run the length of the top bunk. Route any sharp exposed edges, sand, stain and varnish. Allow the whole assembly to dry before tossing the mattresses in the frames and making the beds.
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