Log canopy bed advice wanted

[wawajake]

I have done two sets of bunkbeds (one with cedar logs and one with maple logs) the maple log one is attached pic (I could not find pic of the other set I built for my cottage since sold)

I would strongly suggest against using Spruce logs...........I used 16 of them for a storage building project and the bleed spruce gum for years after.

I would suggest cedar or maple, and either one it is best to peel in spring , suprisingly maple was by far the easiest to peel because for that thickness of tree it is still the immature type of bark (smooth) and in spring it comes off in full strips with a simple stiff putty knife or wonderbar and so no gouging , Cedar you will get gouging but soft enough wood to sand them out with belt sander.
If you do not have a source for either wood ...try your local TSC or that type store , they sell 8 ft lengths of cedar logs already peeled various diameter and they work great.....even if grey a bit they will sand to nice brown.

and yes get yourself a tendon cutter and at least 1 and a half inch diameter and then use spade bit for female joint.

good luck

 

[NS Gearhead]

I would strongly suggest against using Spruce logs...........I used 16 of them for a storage building project and the bleed spruce gum for years after.

This is what I needed to know. You Sir, have saved me ALOT of work only to be disappointed after. I have a fair bit of maples on my property... the larger ones all seem to be hollow... but I'll see what I can find.

 

[wawajake]

One other thing I learned from the first set of bunkbeds I made was that the joints even with glue are flimsy........I reinforced every major joint with a long lag bolt (small hardened long ones I found at Home depot) that I run right thru the log into the end of the centre of joint , then by countersinking the lag head I hide that with a plug the same size as the joint tenon I made . So my 1 and a half inch plug looks like the inch and a half wood joint goes right thru the log.

Also attaching the plywood for the mattress to the horizontal legs can be wonky on a round log. So I instead made the horizontals out of Spruce 2 x 4's with log type tenon joint inch and a half , but then faced the 2 x4 with a half log so it looks like a full log was used for horizontals but the back face is the 2 x4 which gives you a much better anchor point for plywood and narrower build to get same size mattress in. ...just some thoughts, they were very enjoyable projects , although mine I did lag to the wall for extra security for kids...........you might want to lag yours to the headrest wall for extra security for the adults