Slightly whacky idea - any suggestions

[DiscoStu]

As per the title I've got a slightly nuts idea. I am looking to build a loft bed for my middle daughter. No problem with that but our house is only a few years old and has relatively low ceilings. She wants to have a desk under her bed. Having had a bit of a measure up I'm not sure that it will all fit and give her enough head room to comfortably walk under the bed to her desk, and if there is then I'm not sure that there will be enough head room for her when in bed.

I did see Tommy Walsh's Ultimate Workshop programme a few years ago and he had a phneumatic lift system to raise and low his loft floor. I am interested in exploring options for raising and lowering the bed platform.

I've thought about pneumatics and also about a powered scissor jack. I did also wonder about normal gas struts but not sure how that might work. I can't justify spending a fortune on it and I'm struggling to find any solutions that are viable.

So I thought of you lot and thought you might have some ideas / suggestions.


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[Phil Pascoe]

Have you room at the end of the bed? You'd only need a couple of feet. If so, you could build storage under say two thirds of the bed and a desk under the bottom third, accessible from the end. There would be no need to walk under the bed then, and it would give loads of cupboard or drawer space.

 

[Roughcut]

A Murphy style bed that folds against the wall to reveal the desk maybe?

 

[Roughcut]

Found this one on ebay at an eye watering price:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Horizontal-Si ... 1798693207

 

[ColeyS1]

A couple years ago I bought some cheap linak linear actuators. You could use something like that to get the required space for working underneath.
I fitted mine to a birch ply corner desktop then covered with laminate. Mine were capable of lifting half a ton so would be more than adequate for your purpose, providing you could find a set cheap ( I'm always looking for more aswell lol )

Coley

 

[Jacob]

Rope and pulleys?
If the bed is fairly light and has foam mattress 8mm rope and the blocks you'd need for a clothes airer would do it.
The two ropes linked so that you pull on just one doubled up rope, with a ring in the right position to clip over a hook on the wall.
You'd pull it up out of the way when not needed then lower it onto stops when in use.

 

[shed9]

I would have thought there will be an additional barrier in guarding off the lift mechanisms as well, especially on a child's bed.

One issue I can see in making something that easily lifts and lowers a large weight is that you will end up with something that easily lifts and lowers a large weight. If the mechanics of the thing are exposed this will be an accident waiting to happen.

I'm not looking to knock the idea, far from it, just pointing out an aspect concerned with the lift itself.

One thing you could do is to use four sprockets at all four posts chain linked with a geared hand drive on one post at the base. This way the lift will be controlled slowly, forcing the user to be physically away from the lift itself. This would also lock the position without any additional mechanics. You could use motorbike sprockets, lots of cheap chain and lengths of threaded rod - if this makes sense?

I've just ordered some bike sprockets and chain for a home built twin vice - admittedly not anywhere in the league of your project but my point is that they are readily available, cheap and up to the job.

Will be watching this with interest.

 

[cammy9r]

Hi, most of the time you sit at a desk. Is there enough height to build the bed so as to have clearance underneath for a seated person that can wheel themselves in.
I have a desk in my loft with low sloped roof that i cannot stand at but can sit very easily on a castor chair.

 

[RogerS]

Take a look at what Bob (9fingers) has done to power-drive his 200kg thicknesser up and down. http://thewoodhaven2.co.uk/viewtopic.ph ... lit=mosfet

 

[Jacob]

Bit of over thinking going on here!
Lifting it is no problem with rope and tackle. If very heavy you could put in a block to gear it down. Top class kit for every possible arrangement available from yacht chandlers. Or cheaper kit from many builders merchants and the sheds.
Then lower it onto suitably secure stops.

 

[Wildman]

The drop down bed in my motorhome is powered by 12V struts, however the old HYmer had some sort of vacuum strut that took the weight off the bed, then again you could use weights as per old sash windows to make the bed light enough to raise and lower. Other option is to hinge the bed to the wall and fold back away from the desk. Or what about a hammock, hee hee
Just had another thought what about having the bed on the floor slide out from under the desk like a drawer

 

[Shultzy]

I built a desk under a raised bed (3ft), the desk pulled out on rollers and had small drawers down on one side.

 

[rafezetter]

Hi, most of the time you sit at a desk. Is there enough height to build the bed so as to have clearance underneath for a seated person that can wheel themselves in.
I have a desk in my loft with low sloped roof that i cannot stand at but can sit very easily on a castor chair.

this was going to be my suggestion - sit in chair and wheel in - you're only talkign about a distance of a couple of feet or so at most, then you can allow for more head height as she grows, so she can sit fully upright to get in, out.

 

[DiscoStu]

Thanks for all the ideas. Went to IKEA today and you guys were right we can live with it being a little low so you have to duck your head as you walk under. It's not worth worrying about. Although I like the idea still!


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