I want to say a quick thank you to those that have posted helpful reviews and pictures along with details of how they finished their bed frames. It was immensely helpful to me and gave me confidence my hard work would pay off in the end.
All the reviews stating so are correct, if you want a finished, protected bed frame it will take time, work and a little extra money to get the desired result. BUT it will be worth it.
We bought a queen bed frame directly from Frames since doesnt sell that size.
I followed a similar method to those posted here:
1). Sanded all pieces with 120 grit sandpaper followed by another round with 220. I purchased a cheap random orbital sander from Harbor Freight to help with all the sanding. It still took a LONG time to sand as it is recommended to sand slowly with an orbital sander to ensure the sander doesnt leave swirl marks, but I know it was much easier than doing it by hand.
2.) One of the top reviews described using Minwax Paste Finishing Wax for the bed slats. After some research I decided to go this route as well. I applied two coats of wax, following the Minwaxs instructions for unfinished wood. I really liked how they turned out. I used the natural color wax and it made the wood slightly warmer, but did not change the color much...which is what we wanted.
3.) My wife and I decided we did not want to stain the bed frame. Our bedroom walls are painted a darker color so we didnt want a dark stained bed frame as well. We debated using the wax for all the other pieces as well, but after some research learned that polyurethane would probably protect the wood a little better and require less maintenance. We opted for the Wipe-On Poly (Clear Satin) that a few reviewers recommended. We ended up doing 4 coats of Poly (was probably overkill), sanding in between 1 and 2 and again between 3 and 4.
4.) The wood was not as smooth as expected after the 4th coat of poly dried so we rubbed each piece with 0000 steel wool. That made a huge difference.
5.) We could have left it as is, but I liked the feel of the wax finish more so we took the extra step and waxed/polished on top of the final coat of poly. Again, this was not a necessary step. This is also probably atypical since most people probably use one or the other, but we are very glad we did it.
Installation was extremely easy. It took about 1.5 hours, but it didnt feel that long at all. The instructions are straightforward. Two of us put the bed together, but I am confident one of us could have done it nearly as easy.
I am very happy with the final result and the construction of the bed itself. It is super sturdy and hope it will last for many many years.
Incredibly Pleased With My Purchase
I want to say a quick thank you to those that have posted helpful reviews and pictures along with details of how they finished their bed frames. It was immensely helpful to me and gave me confidence my hard work would pay off in the end. All the reviews stating so are correct, if you want a finished, protected bed frame it will take time, work and a little extra money to get the desired result. BUT it will be worth it. We bought a queen bed frame directly from Frames since doesnt sell that size. I followed a similar method to those posted here: 1). Sanded all pieces with 120 grit sandpaper followed by another round with 220. I purchased a cheap random orbital sander from Harbor Freight to help with all the sanding. It still took a LONG time to sand as it is recommended to sand slowly with an orbital sander to ensure the sander doesnt leave swirl marks, but I know it was much easier than doing it by hand. 2.) One of the top reviews described using Minwax Paste Finishing Wax for the bed slats. After some research I decided to go this route as well. I applied two coats of wax, following the Minwaxs instructions for unfinished wood. I really liked how they turned out. I used the natural color wax and it made the wood slightly warmer, but did not change the color much...which is what we wanted. 3.) My wife and I decided we did not want to stain the bed frame. Our bedroom walls are painted a darker color so we didnt want a dark stained bed frame as well. We debated using the wax for all the other pieces as well, but after some research learned that polyurethane would probably protect the wood a little better and require less maintenance. We opted for the Wipe-On Poly (Clear Satin) that a few reviewers recommended. We ended up doing 4 coats of Poly (was probably overkill), sanding in between 1 and 2 and again between 3 and 4. 4.) The wood was not as smooth as expected after the 4th coat of poly dried so we rubbed each piece with 0000 steel wool. That made a huge difference. 5.) We could have left it as is, but I liked the feel of the wax finish more so we took the extra step and waxed/polished on top of the final coat of poly. Again, this was not a necessary step. This is also probably atypical since most people probably use one or the other, but we are very glad we did it. Installation was extremely easy. It took about 1.5 hours, but it didnt feel that long at all. The instructions are straightforward. Two of us put the bed together, but I am confident one of us could have done it nearly as easy. I am very happy with the final result and the construction of the bed itself. It is super sturdy and hope it will last for many many years.