On a futon

[drumpriest]

I know that some people here have built futon couches before. I am considering either building or buying one. The question I have is whether there is a cost savings from building, or should I just buy one. I'd rather build, but time is short, and money is always short. So the issue is about how much did it cost for those made them??

I'm thinking red oak for the lumber, and considering using the rockler hardware for the thing.

Thanks all!!

[Pappy]

A lot of times, the cost is better to buy an item rather than building it. What you have to consider is the quality of the materials and workmanship in the ready-made item vs. the same thing built in your shop.

[mehranh]

I agree with Pappy. One may save a dollar or two buidling vs. buying. But the joy of woodworking is to spend money on tools, material, etc. Then build things and make mistakes, and watch your familly enjoy it, and seemingly "not see" the errors in your project.[?] Then share the pics with the friends on the forum and get their input on it.

I built a china cabinet for my wife a couple of years ago, and I was more novice that I am now. So I can see many of my mistakes, but she refuses to let me build her a "better new one". She calls it the familly hairloom that she wants to give to her grand kids!!![:0]

Anyway, so go ahead build the futon, don't worry about the cost (I am sure you can get one at Walmart for $99.99 )it would be worth it. PS. Wood magazine has had couple of nice plans for a futon couch, chair and accessories.

[Napoleon]

Hi there! Just registered after lurking and reading for a while. I am a new user to the BT3100. I saw some plans for a futon on E-Bay and picked them up rather cheap. (http://stores.ebay.com/ClassiCraft_W...ecatidZ0QQtZkm) The project uses just wood, and a pair of simple casters for the mechanism, nothing complicated. Looks like something I, a rather rank beginner could build. I'll need some advice when I start that project though.
Right now, I'm off to HD to get some mdf to build a doll crib for friends grand daughter
Lots of luck in your project
Mark

[drumpriest]

Not to disagree with you aged wise ones (forum age, not real age), but almost everything that I've built has been less expensive to build than to buy. And certainly the quality is MUCH higher than what I could have bought. Regardless, I still look forward to anyone who could help me with a cost estimate. Gotta get the wife's approval to build it regardless. []

Thanks all,

[Mainemarc]

Hi drumpriest:

I agree with others that with most furniture, you can often buy cheaper than you can make, but never at the same quality level. I also agree with folks who say that a dollar to dollar comparison largely misses the point; there's a lot of satisfaction that comes from making things yourself. (And Mehranh, my hat's off to you; you are a truly, truly blessed man).

Just an FYI: details of the cheaper of these two items aren't isted anymore at the Rockler website, but they have a couple of futon plans on sale right now: http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/saleite...urrentPage=2&?.

[Tom Miller]

quote:Originally posted by drumpriest

...almost everything that I've built has been less expensive to build than to buy....

Hmmm, then I'd say you're doing something wrong. Are you rationalizing a new tool for each project? Maybe start with that.

As I tell my wife when she points out a new piece of furniture, "I could make that for twice the cost, easy!"

But seriously, our futon (store-bought) doesn't have any special hardware, so you could probably guess-timate just on the cost of lumber. And the amount of lumber could be approximated from a free plan.

Regards,
Tom

[mleichtle]

Hi Drumpriest, I built a futon from a plan in Wood Magazine Feb 2002, I thinks its online to. I posted a picture in the completed projects. I don't think I saved any money over a store bought, but I'm very happy with it. It dosen't take any expensive, special hardware, and I didn't have to buy any new tools I had no choice but to build one cause the futon is an odd size.

[Lefty]

quote:Originally posted by Tom Miller
As I tell my wife when she points out a new piece of furniture, "I could make that for twice the cost, easy!"

Tom, have you looked at Ethan Allen's prices? You might come in even!

[don_hart]

The price comparison depends on where you look. Of all the thing I have made that walmart sells an equivilent of I have found that walmart is cheaper. But I consider the items I have built to have been of much better quality in both wood and workmanship than the stuff at walmart. Now if I copmpare the prices with a high end retailer I have always built for cheaper than I could buy. So the decision to buy instead of buld has always come down to a decision on if I want to build it and what use it is going to be put too. Some things are just easier to buy cheap as I have no desire to build one. In other cases I really want to build it and the decision does not come down to price.

This same idea is applied to the prices I put on things I make and sell. I do not set my price by the prices you find in the big discount stores like walmart and kmart. I set my prices by the higher end higher quality manufacturers. I like to think that each thing I build is unique in its own way and deserves to be priced accordingly.

[zedzeo]

Out of curiosity for those who are building/have built futons, is there a way to make the mattress at home? Or does it need to be bought?

[JeffH]

Keith:

I built a red oak futon a few months ago with wood from the BORG. I'd take a wild guess that my cost was in the $200-$250 range for all materials. But that's for SOLID oak, not the type of stuff you find at wal-mart, or even at many local furniture stores. It was pretty easy, even for a novice like me. I got my plans from U-BILD, if I remember correctly, and had to work around several plan errors, but all-in-all I was satisfied. For you more experienced guys, I bet it could be built and ready for stain in a single weekend. Some pictures (sorry they are so large) can be found in this thread:

http://www.bt3central.com/forum/topi...TOPIC_ID=15328

Good luck!

-Jeff

[hitekrednek]

I built a futon a couple of years ago from plans out of Wood Magazine and I went with knotty pine for mine to match some existing decor and wound up spending about 200 for materials including the mattress.

[drumpriest]

The debate is about time and money, as always. When I make a comparison, I agree with Don, I don't compare apples to oranges. When I say that I save money when I make things, I mean that the price/quality ratio is better. For instance, I made my microwave cabinet for just under 100$ I could have probably found a big lots or wal-mart special for less than that, something to plop the microwave onto. Obviously the cabinet that I built is superior because it's custom, also because the materials are so much better. I cannot buy 2 cabinet doors of maple for the money I spent building the cabinet.

I've also gotten lucky on wood purchases, that cabinet was from HD birch ply at 26$ a sheet, and maple "hobby board" that I found on clearance at 2$ for a 4 foot section or 1$ for a 2 foot section. But then, I could have built it out of oak and spent more.

I am also lucky enough to be graced with a home town lumber yard within striking distance who will mill stock for me at little to no charge from 8/4 lumber. They are always cheaper than HD, and have a much wider variety.

From the numbers you guys have stated here, it would probably be worth my building. Now for other questions, how do you like them?? Have they made good beds?? Can you sit on the end of the bed without tipping the bloody thing over? Has swelling of the wood affected performance, as that'd be the reason to use the expensive rockler plan, I think......

thanks again all, this site is the best.

[mleichtle]

I modified the plans a little because our matress is so huge, in fact its just a big peice of foam with a futon cover. Its just a little over queen size. I was affraid of tipping also because it hangs over so far, or sinking in the middle, or rolling into the gap. I've spent enough time in a fold out couch with metal bar going across my back. But all my tests were 100% I'm still amazed at how well the folding mechinism works for how simple it is, some dowels that ride in a couple slots. we've had alot of company sleep on it and so far not 1 complaint.