Page 2
General Notes & Tips
We customize each bed to your exact specifications, the Assembly Instructions pictures may not show your exact bed.
Please Read through the entire set of instructions first to familiarize yourself with the entire process before beginning
assembly.
The parts bag will have extra screws. It is okay if you end up with extra screws when done.
If you ordered multiple beds, the major components are packed in separate boxes and are labeled as Bed #1, #2. Some
accessories may be packed together in the same box. We recommend you assemble one bed at a time. You will find
assembling the next bed will go much faster once you have completed the first bed.
Tools and Supplies Needed:
Cordless drill/screwdriver with a Phillips #2 medium head bit. Hammer or rubber
mallet. Note
:
If you use a regular electric drill, it needs to have an adjustable torque setting so as to not strip the screws
into the wood. Optionally you could use a small tube of wood filler to fill in the screw holes and a few sheets of 80 grit
sandpaper to sand the wood filler smooth before finishing the bed.
Assembly takes roughly 2 hours for the basic bed, and 30 minutes for the optional accessories. It is easiest if you have
two people doing it. If you are not sure how to install a piece always refer back to the photo on page 1
to see how
everything fits together.
Pilot holes have been predrilled into all necessary pieces, they do not go all the way through the wood and are only on the
piece being attached. If you are having a hard time driving screws into the wood you may want to add soap to the screws.
Soap acts as a lubricant and makes driving them into the wood easier. If you hit a knot or screw you can drive the screw
at a slight angle to miss it.
If you strip a screw into the wood, a trick to make the hole smaller is to fill the hole with wood glue and hammer in a few
wood toothpicks into the hole. Once the glue dries cut off the excess toothpicks and you can re-insert the screw into the
hole. You can also change the angle of the screw or move it slightly to go into a new clean section into the wood.
You may also install additional screws as needed. We recommend you use a 1/8” drill bit to pre-drill pilot holes to prevent
the wood from splitting.
The general rule for selecting the proper screw size if you are attaching a ¾” thick piece to a 1-1/2” piece then use a
1-5/8” screw. If you are attaching a 1-1/2” thick piece to a 1-1/2” piece then use a 2-1/2” screw. If you are attaching a ¾”
thick piece to a ¾” piece then use the 1-1/4” screw.
Lumber Sizing:
2x2's are roughly 1½" x 1½", 2x3's are 1½" x 2½", 2x4's are 1½" x 3½", 2x6's are 1½" x 5½" and after
sanding the boards will be slightly smaller.
Safety
Think safety when using power tools, hammers and drills. Wear gloves and safety glasses. Watch for splinters near the
end grain of the wood. Provide adequate ventilation when sanding, painting or staining.
Finishing the Bed
For help on finishing the see our Frequently Asked Questions at:
http://www.collegebedlofts.com/faq.html#painting
Sometimes when attaching two boards together, the bottom board will be pushed away
from the top board and will not have a tight fit. When this happens slowly drive the
screw half-way into the bottom board, then unscrew it so it is just slightly comes out of
the bottom board, squeeze the boards together then drive the screw all the way back
in. The screw should recess about 1/8” into the top board to make a nice tight fit.
