Iconic VW Bus Becomes a Kid's Bed
Everybody in SA knows and loves the iconic Volksie Bus. Here's how to make a Volksie Bus children's bed using materials you can buy at your local Builders Warehouse.
How adorable is this Volksie Bus bed - and practical too! The bed is made with 16mm MDF [supawood] and incorporates a storage cabinet at the front, and pullout storage underneath.
The raised design for the bed allows for storage underneath - without taking up any more space in the room. At the bottom of this feature you will find basic instructions for cutting and assembly to make a Volksie Bus bed for your little one.
YOU WILL NEED:
All sections 16mm supawood unless otherwise indicated
2 of 800 x 2065mm - sides
1 of 500 x 920mm - back
2 of 434 x 920mm - drawer supports
1 of 560 x 920mm - cabinet base
1 of 248 x 746mm - drawer front
2 of 245 x 916mm - drawer sides
1 of 245 x 740mm - drawer back
1 of 740 x 900mm - drawer base
1 of 78 x 920mm - front support
2 of 418 x 455mm - doors
1 of 350 x 920mm - windscreen
4 of 350 x 350mm - wheels
1 of 920 x 1900mm - 16mm BisonBord - bed base
4 x 30mm screws
12 steel angle braces and 16mm screws
2 drawer runners and 16mm screws
4 hinges and 16mm screws
4 wheels and 16mm screws
Wood filler
TOOLS:
Drill / Driver plus assorted bits
Countersink bit
Jigsaw, circular saw or table saw
Orbital sander plus 120- and 240-grit sanding pads
Tape measure and pencil
Buy everything you need for this project at your local Builders Warehouse.
CONTINUES BELOW
HERE'S HOW:
1. Draw out the design on both side sections. At the back end of the bed the sides are 500mm high. The front is 800mm high and incorporates the side window design. Allow for fitting a drawer on one side of the bed and cut out any openings with a jigsaw.
2. Attach the sides to the back and secure the BisonBord bed base using steel angle braces and 16mm screws. Allow a 50mm lip with the top of the back and back section of the sides. This will prevent a mattress from slipping off the base.
3. Secure the drawer supports through the sides. All holes should be countersunk to allow for filling later on.
4. Assemble the drawer section as shown below. Once you have the wheels (approx. 45 - 50mm), this will determine how high the bed wheels need to raise the bed assembly off the floor - See Step 8 below.
5. Secure the front support and cabinet base through the sides. Again, countersink for filling later on. The cabinet base aligns at the back to the drawer support and is flush with the bottom of the sides.
6. The doors allow for standard butt hinges (2 per door). It is best to paint the doors and fit these last. Allow clearance at the top and bottom of each door.
7. If the windscreen is a different colour than the bed, cut out, sand and paint before securing into position. Drive screws through the sides - countersunk for filling later on. If you have the tools, cut an angle along the bottom edge of the windscreen for a flush fit.
8. The same applies to the bed wheels; sand, paint and attach to the sides. The bed wheels raise and support the bed, so use 6 screws per wheel to the attach to the sides. The height to raise the bed from the floor is determined by the height of the wheels on the drawer, so remember to factor this in.
FINISHING:
Fill all screw holes with wood filler and leave to dry. Once dry, sand smooth and finish off the edges to prepare for painting.
The best and easiest way to paint the bed is to use a Bosch PFS spray system. The Bosch PFS 2000 is exclusive to Builders and is what we use for all our furniture painting projects.
Use a matt paint such as Prominent Paints Select in your choice of colour. It's better to use a matt paint, as this allows you to sand down between coats for a super smooth finish. Once the colour part is done, finish off with two coats of Prominent Paints clear acrylic sealer for a durable finish that is washable and tough.
Not responsible for errors or omission