The best choice is a log from a fire-killed standing dead tree. A wildfire burns diseased trees to the ground, but leaves healthy trees dead but still standing. Therefore, your chances of getting good logs are best from these trees. Fire-killed wood also loses its bark, saving you time when you start building. [1] X Research source {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/a/a5/Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-1Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-1Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/a/a5/Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-1Bullet1. jpg/aid1390404-v4-728px-Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-1Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} You can find fallen logs or logs that wash onto a beach or riverbank. You can also buy logs from a sawmill. However, you may find after you start working that these are rotten or have other problems that make them unsuitable. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/8/8f/Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-1Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-1Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/8/8f/Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-1Bullet2. jpg/aid1390404-v4-728px-Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-1Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Cut live trees down to get logs if it’s legal to do so. You will have to wait about a year for the wood to dry enough to build with it. Stripping the bark will help it dry faster. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/9/9f/Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-1Bullet3. jpg/v4-460px-Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-1Bullet3. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/9/9f/Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-1Bullet3. jpg/aid1390404-v4-728px-Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-1Bullet3. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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Saw 2 4-foot (1. 2 m) posts and 2 3-foot (90 cm) posts to make the legs and the ends of the headboard and footboard. The posts should be cut from large, sturdy logs. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/c/c0/Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-2Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-2Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/c/c0/Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-2Bullet1. jpg/aid1390404-v4-728px-Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-2Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Saw 4 rails to separate the posts. Measure the mattress width and cut the rails to be 1 inch (2 to 3 cm) longer. When you cut the tenons to fit the rails into the posts, they will be the width of the mattress. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/1/13/Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-2Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-2Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/1/13/Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-2Bullet2. jpg/aid1390404-v4-728px-Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-2Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Cut spindles to place between the rails of the headboard and footboard. You need 36-inch (90 cm) spindles for the headboard and 24-inch (61 cm) spindles for the footboard. After cutting the tenons, they will measure 1 inch (2. 5 cm) shorter. The number of spindles you need depends on the size of the bed. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/9/9b/Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-2Bullet3. jpg/v4-460px-Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-2Bullet3. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/9/9b/Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-2Bullet3. jpg/aid1390404-v4-728px-Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-2Bullet3. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Prepare 4 bed rails to connect the headpost to the foot post on each side. Measure the mattress length and cut the bed rails so they’re 1 inch (2 to 3 cm) longer. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/f/f0/Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-2Bullet4. jpg/v4-460px-Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-2Bullet4. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/f/f0/Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-2Bullet4. jpg/aid1390404-v4-728px-Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-2Bullet4. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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Mortises for the headboard should be cut at 9 inches (23 cm) and 44 inches (1. 1 m) from the floor. For the footboard, the mortises are cut at 9 inches (23 cm) and 32 inches (80 cm). {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/7/7e/Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-5Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-5Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/7/7e/Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-5Bullet1. jpg/aid1390404-v4-728px-Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-5Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Spindle mortises are cut so the spindles will be evenly spaced. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/1/1f/Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-5Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-5Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/1/1f/Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-5Bullet2. jpg/aid1390404-v4-728px-Build-a-Log-Bed-Step-5Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Mortises for the bottom bed rail are drilled at 5 inches (13 cm) above the floor in all 4 posts. The mortises for the top bed rail are drilled at 13 inches (33 cm) from the floor.