For the production of beds in plank processing or beam processing , no glued wooden panels are used, but solid wood elements in the form of planks or beams. The stability of a solid wood bed in plank processing or beam processing is reduced by a significant risk of warping due to “working” wood.
In addition to the type of processing, the type of wood used for production also plays a major role in the stability of a bed made of solid wood. Softwoods such as pine generally offer less stability than hardwoods such as oak or beech. Timbers are divided into strength classes, with a distinction being made according to C for softwood, D for hardwood and GL for laminated timber. Numbers after the letter abbreviations provide information about the quality or strength. The higher the number, the better or stronger and more stable the wood is. (More about the marking and classification of structural timber for load-bearing purposes – .pdf file Holzbau Deutschland )
In addition to the quality of the material and the woodworking, the design of the corner connection on the frame also plays a role in solid wood beds when it comes to assessing stability. The simplest connection of the long and short sides of the bed frame is the butt joint, in which one part with the end grain is set at right angles to the long side of the other part. For a miter connection, the ends of the wooden elements are first mitred (45 ° diagonally) so that the ends are flush with each other, resulting in a harmonious and attractive joint pattern. The overlapping is a corner connection which is found in solid wood beds primarily in beds with plank or beam processing. The two wooden elements are each cut in steps by half their thickness so that they can be stored in one another in a form-fitting manner. The overlapping can also be made with a miter cut. With a mortise and tenon connection, a slot is made in the middle of a wooden element. The other wooden element receives a matching exposed pin, which can be positively inserted into the slot. The production of corner connections in the form of prongs is very stable and also suitable for solid wood. In the case of the tines, multiple teeth of straight or wedge-shaped pegs (dovetails) are produced. With a mortise and tenon connection, a slot is made in the middle of a wooden element. The other wooden element receives a matching exposed pin, which can be positively inserted into the slot. The production of corner connections in the form of prongs is very stable and also suitable for solid wood. In the case of the tines, multiple teeth of straight or wedge-shaped pegs (dovetails) are produced. With a mortise and tenon connection, a slot is made in the middle of a wooden element. The other wooden element receives a matching exposed pin, which can be positively inserted into the slot. The production of corner connections in the form of prongs is very stable and also suitable for solid wood. In the case of the tines, multiple teeth of straight or wedge-shaped pegs (dovetails) are produced.
Bed frames of metal
Metal beds are often referred to colloquially as iron beds. However, it is never pure iron, but always an alloy, which is characterized by a low carbon content. Many metal beds are still hand-forged in full or in parts, which creates particularly attractive and high-quality beds.
Metal or the iron used to make beds basically offers a high level of stability. With high-quality workmanship and a statically consistent construction principle, metal beds are pieces of furniture that can withstand high loads without any problems and can be used over the long term.
However, there are also very simply processed metal beds, which are often offered at very reasonable prices and by no means offer the durability and robustness that are often associated with metal. The decision for a metal bed that is too inexpensive is therefore usually also the decision for a bed that is less stable.
Slatted frame
So that the slatted frame can fulfill its function as a spring base, it must be properly stored in the bed frame. The so-called slatted frame support or slatted frame holder is used for this purpose. The slatted frame is part of the bed frame. It should be stable because the weight absorbed by the slatted frame has to be carried or passed on by it.
There are basically three different principles for slatted frames in the bed frame:
- Support bracket The slatted frame holder consists of corner brackets, which are mounted in the four inside corners of the bed frame. In addition, with this support principle, the length of the slatted frame is supported by side brackets (usually two pieces per long side of the bed). In the case of double beds, there is also a so-called central support bracket for the slatted frame or frame in the middle of the bed. As a rule, all support brackets are made of sturdy metal. A bed frame with support brackets for the slatted frame (s) is not suitable for use with roller slatted frames.
- Support slats With this type of slatted frame support, the slatted frame is mounted on continuous slats made of wood or metal, which are firmly attached to the inner surfaces of the long sides of the bed frame. In double beds with a width of 160 cm or more, a continuous central spar (longitudinal cross member) is usually used, on which the slatted frame or slatted frames are stored. Bed frames that have support strips can in principle be combined with any kind of slatted frame.
- CrossbarsIn the case of a bed frame with crossbars, the bed legs are often offset inwards, which gives the bed a floating appearance as a whole. The bed legs are attached to two so-called cross members, which extend over the entire width of the bed and are usually attached to the frame at an identical distance from the head and foot sections of the bed. With this type of slatted frame support, the slatted frame is accordingly supported in two places over the entire width. For optimal storage of the slatted frame or slatted frames, cross members are usually combined with four support angles in the inner corners of the bed frame (see above). Bed frames with crossbars are not suitable for use with electrically adjustable slatted frames, which require “freedom of movement” in the form of floor clearance.
