Carpentry and Woodworking - building a bed

Hi, Im new on the board. I wish to ask a question on building a bed.
I am building my wife a king size bed. I am using rough sawn cedar.
my question is, is this material sturdy enough. Someone told me that cedar is to soft of a material,and i will need to sturdy the mattress supports with pine or some other sturdy wood.

any reply will greatly be appreciated:confused:

If you are using a set of plans to build the bed and follow the dimensions for the wood pieces and use the fasteners as directed, you should be fine. The box spring has its own frame to help carry the load.

Hope this helps.

The only plans i have are in my head. Still working on what fasteners to use...

thanx:)

OK. Now we are on the same sheet of music. There is more than one type of bed rail fastener. I prefer the ones that set into a mortise. Much stronger and more satisfactory to use.

These from Rockler are a good example.

http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product_details.cfm?sku=10

When you make the side rails, take a look at trying for 3/4" x 6" and set the lip on that. Four inches tends to look scrawny at that length.

The combination of the rigidity of the side rail with some slats and the frame of the box springs should be enough. A board on edge is quite rigid compared to on the flat. I would make the lip for the slats 1" x 1", glued and screwed. There are metal lip style slat substitutes that mount on the side rails. I am ambivalent about them. Not enough wood for me.

Well, here I am trying to take over your project. Keep us up to date, and come back anytime.

Hope this helps.