DIY bed - Tick Stick

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First attempt at cutting a sheet of ply to suit the back of the van with a ‘Tick Stick’. This is for a removable bed platform which is cut to shape on 3 sides.

I used a smaller piece of ply on axle stands set to the desired height to attach a largish piece of wall paper lining sheet fixing down with masking tape.

I used the tick stick to make many reference points around the perimeter drawing around the tick stick each time.

The template was stuck down on the ply to cut and each reference point transferred. I then drew a line 10mm inside the marks to give clearance and cut to the line. This was curved against the doors, fairly straight cuts for the C posts and tapering outwards moving to the front of the van.

I’m covering in 4W carpet after routing a radius on the edges the front section by the slider will be hinged to flip over and sit on.

Frame will be basic ladder sections of CLS dowelled, glued and bolted.

All designed to assemble in under an hour and pack down flat when not in use.

I’ll add more pics of the build. Google tick stick - its an ancient boat building technique and lots of video tutorials. I’ve been doing carpentry for 40+ years and only discovered them recently!

 

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At a finished height of 450mm + mattress the customer aka SWMBO said the bed board too high. Had to reprofile the edges in a couple of places. Remarkable the sides, C and D pillars are fairly vertical. Just had to cut around the upper wheel arch on the passenger side and the D pillar heater boxing on the drivers side. Now at 360mm high so 490 with the mattress on.

Consequently had to order a lower thetford loo.

 

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This is the trial joint to work out the drilling jigs. It has an M6 100mm furniture bolt and M6 10mm X 25mm barrel nut along with two 8mm dowels

34 of these to do!! :-0

Disappointingly, the CLS studwork sizing is a bit inconsistent / not square. It is relatively knot free and straight (if you’re selective) and cheap!!

 

[Rich20]

First attempt at cutting a sheet of ply to suit the back of the van with a ‘Tick Stick’. This is for a removable bed platform which is cut to shape on 3 sides.

I used a smaller piece of ply on axle stands set to the desired height to attach a largish piece of wall paper lining sheet fixing down with masking tape.

I used the tick stick to make many reference points around the perimeter drawing around the tick stick each time.

The template was stuck down on the ply to cut and each reference point transferred. I then drew a line 10mm inside the marks to give clearance and cut to the line. This was curved against the doors, fairly straight cuts for the C posts and tapering outwards moving to the front of the van.

I’m covering in 4W carpet after routing a radius on the edges the front section by the slider will be hinged to flip over and sit on.

Frame will be basic ladder sections of CLS dowelled, glued and bolted.

All designed to assemble in under an hour and pack down flat when not in use.

I’ll add more pics of the build. Google tick stick - its an ancient boat building technique and lots of video tutorials. I’ve been doing carpentry for 40+ years and only discovered them recently!

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I can’t believe I’ve never heard of the “Tick stick m” technique before !!! It’s so simple and makes perfect sense. Everyday day is a school day

 

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Put my late fathers Black and Decker drill press into action and tested out mitre adhesive for the first time to attach the stops for the jig. Very impressed with the glue/activator!

Made up 7 frames dowelled, glued and bolted and fixed the board down with more furniture bolts and pronged T nuts.

Just got to attach the 3 support frames to the front hinged section.

 

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Legs on the hinged bit fitted, slightly offset compared to main platform to miss the seat brackets. Flipped over they are almost armchair like ;-)

 

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Now with weight saving vent holes and a tweak to the design with a shortened Ikea Adils table leg which unscrews.

Just had a weekend in Lincs and bed is super comfy with the Inofia Z mattress. We also have vanstyle blackout curtains which with the thermal blinds slipped behind helps keep the van cool and makes it incredibly dark. SWMBO opening the sliding door to go loo at 7:00am was a bit of a visual shock! From the daylight of course!!