X93
Member
Registered: 06/01/05
Posts: 614
Loc: MA
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I'm building a loft bed for my son out of 2x pine. I'm going to stain it for a finish.
While I'm drawing up plans, I thought of this question:
Can I just use the lumber off the rack, or should I run it through the table saw/planer/jointer to remove any imperfections?
Thanks ...
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David
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John Mihich
Honored Veteran
Registered: 06/08/01
Posts: 15320
Loc: Munster,Indiana
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For a more rustic look do it w/o planning. I have done it both way.
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John
07/29/2011 Retirement Date
Always use the right tool for the job.
We need to clean house.
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MichaelMouse
Member
Registered: 05/17/05
Posts: 8132
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S-Dry SPF is not a good choice for building something you need now. It's ~20% when surfaced, and will normally have 10 more to go, with movement to match. Even with yard grades, there's going to be a large number of pieces with heart in, or barely out, and that's trouble.
Then, unless you have a good choice, you may get spruce, which doesn't work, warp or stain like any of the three common sorts of pine (white,red,yellow), which don't stain like each other either .... Goes on and on.
If you can get Douglas fir in yard grades, and get good flat or close to quarter sawn, you can sticker, dry, and make nice stuff. Otherwise, you're limited to bolting it all together with big fender washers to spread the load, and hoping.
"Rustic" means planer marks to some. To me it would mean jack plane traces.
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Better to follow the leader than the pack. Less to step in.
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Mandrake
Member
Registered: 06/25/03
Posts: 4121
Loc: Cypress, TX
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This will depend on the look and function you are going for.
When I was 18, I worked at 84 Lumber the summer before I left for college. I built a 2x bed loft for college use. Stained it brown and re-tightened the fastners after the wood dried out a little. It was designed for 100% function, and 0% visual.
When I was 26 I built bunk beds for my little girls out of 2x. My entire woodshop consisted of a $30 router and a $30 circ saw I found at Sears on closeout. I used those tools to plane (shave), roundover, and flute the 2x so that it didn't look like 2x. All things considered, it looked great. In reality it was 2 steps up from Hillbillies & Home Depot.
Now, my girls are teens. Last year we moved and they each requested a lofted bed for thier new rooms. I now own stationary tools, finishing supplies, and router bits that have actual bearings (round spinny ones!). Do my children want something crafted with purple heart & maple dovetails? Heck no, they want 2x lumber that they can paint and hang a zillion frilly things from.
Nothing wrong with 2x, just work it to the extend that your project needs.
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Shame on the men who can court exemption from present trouble and expense at the price of their own posterity's liberty! - Samuel Adams
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Jason_D
Member
Registered: 12/27/10
Posts: 487
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I built my son's bed, a friend's coffee table, and several other pieces of fine furniture out of 2x SYP. I sawed / planed it down and treated just like any other wood. In order to get decent mated joinery surfaces, you need to plane it flat, square, etc.
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My dovetailed tool cabinet, Custom coffee table
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kurt18947
Member
Registered: 04/17/05
Posts: 875
Loc: SE PA
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2X lumber that's been in heated/air conditioned space for a few weeks may be near EMC moisture content. I've done the face joint/edge joint/plane/rip routine and gotten pretty decent stock. Staining might be the trickiest part. There can be a big difference in how early wood and late wood absorb stain. Maybe try wood conditioner or a wash coat of shellac?
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WxMan
Member
Registered: 03/06/00
Posts: 2427
Loc: Bellevue NE
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+1.
I've used 2x lumber for plenty of stuff over the years. You will get a lot of movement in it the more you work it--unless you let it sit for a long time and dry out some more.
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Steve N
Member
Registered: 09/28/07
Posts: 8871
Loc: CinDay
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X93 said:
Can I just use the lumber off the rack, or should I run it through the table saw/planer/jointer to remove any imperfections?
Thanks ...
Actually you will see more movement the more you open up the piece. I`d just build as is, and always pick through to get the best boards. Once home, build, and just bring home what you can build that weekend. If left off the stack unattached 2x4`s can start to wiggle. If this stock moved as much as some people act like it does, you wouldn`t be able to frame a wall, and then drywall it. All this supposed movement would blow the drywall right off the studs. Use good stock, use it before it can twist, and the attachments you make to the other boards will hold it stable plenty enough for bunk bed construction. Millions of people been doing just what you are planning for a long time 
I`ve never heard a rash of stories, "3 more children maimed last night when their 2x4 bunk beds exploded while they slept" has anyone else?
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Worst thing they can do is cook ya and eat ya 
GW
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Window Guy
Honored Veteran
Registered: 06/03/01
Posts: 10242
Loc: St. Cloud,Fl., USA
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+ 2 .......... I have used plenty of that and 1 X over the years as that is all that is available, not my favorite but it does work. Now I use a Hand Plane to lightly plane the surface and edges of the material, I think it looks better and obviously glues better if you are laminating. I am headed to shop in a few to work on another small project out of the Borg material  .
Steve
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John Mihich
Honored Veteran
Registered: 06/08/01
Posts: 15320
Loc: Munster,Indiana
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I forgot about the shelves I have made over the years. I made a shelving unit about 40 years ago that I made out of 2x4's right from the yard. Everything was bolted together. I made the shelves out of 1x2 for the frames and plate glass for the shelves themselves. It sits in my bedroom right now. Never a twist or bow. I have a couple others that my daughter is using. I didn't have any tools except a hand saw, drill and a chisel. They are over 30 years old. Shows their age but again no twisting or bowing.
I have no problem using construction lumber for some furniture. I don't own a moisture meter so I take wood as I get it.
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John
07/29/2011 Retirement Date
Always use the right tool for the job.
We need to clean house.
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