Comments on: Glove Winner: Dog Couch http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/glove-winner-dog-couch/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:03:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: mstenner http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/glove-winner-dog-couch/#comment-185259 Sat, 22 Dec 2007 02:51:23 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/glove-winner-dog-couch/#comment-185259 I'm not sure I'd recommend doing it the way I did. It worked out OK, but was difficult. I made the internal platform (25 x 50 inches to fit two cushions I might use) out of 7/16 OSB with a 2x4 frame (two in the 50-inch direction and 3 in the 25-inch direction) on the bottom for strength. I then attached the visible trim boards around the top with 6 inches above the top of the OSB. I attached them with carriage bolts. The legs are just ripped fir 2x4s carriage-bolted to the inside corners of the frame's 2x4s so the OSB sits on top of the legs. I set the height so they could look out the windows from a reclined position :) The real problem with that approach is that wood is tempermental (most of my experience is in metal) and getting the outer boards to fit the inner frame AND each other was a pain. If you go that way, I'd just recommend cutting the outer boards long and then trimming them down in-place with a decent hand saw. The stool was just simple table-style (aprons + legs with dowels and then corner braces). I DO NOT recommend that for the dogs, though. It's too slippery for them and it tends to tip when they step on it. Dogs don't understand that the force must be downward. I may make another that's much deeper so it doesn't tip, and leave it with half sitting under the couch. I didn't really make plans, but rather just whipped it up, so I don't have any to share, but I'd be happy to answer questions. I’m not sure I’d recommend doing it the way I did. It worked out OK, but was difficult. I made the internal platform (25 x 50 inches to fit two cushions I might use) out of 7/16 OSB with a 2×4 frame (two in the 50-inch direction and 3 in the 25-inch direction) on the bottom for strength. I then attached the visible trim boards around the top with 6 inches above the top of the OSB. I attached them with carriage bolts. The legs are just ripped fir 2×4s carriage-bolted to the inside corners of the frame’s 2×4s so the OSB sits on top of the legs. I set the height so they could look out the windows from a reclined position :)

The real problem with that approach is that wood is tempermental (most of my experience is in metal) and getting the outer boards to fit the inner frame AND each other was a pain. If you go that way, I’d just recommend cutting the outer boards long and then trimming them down in-place with a decent hand saw.

The stool was just simple table-style (aprons + legs with dowels and then corner braces). I DO NOT recommend that for the dogs, though. It’s too slippery for them and it tends to tip when they step on it. Dogs don’t understand that the force must be downward. I may make another that’s much deeper so it doesn’t tip, and leave it with half sitting under the couch.

I didn’t really make plans, but rather just whipped it up, so I don’t have any to share, but I’d be happy to answer questions.

]]> by: Lorenzo http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/glove-winner-dog-couch/#comment-185060 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:52:02 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/glove-winner-dog-couch/#comment-185060 Any plans available for this? Care to share Mstenner? I'd like to take a crack at building something like this for my animals. Any plans available for this? Care to share Mstenner? I’d like to take a crack at building something like this for my animals.

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