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How to Balance to your Muphy Bed Frame by Adding Weights
Step-by-Step how add weight to the Easy DIY Murphy bed if it floats off the floor!
Introduction
A Murphy bed uses easy-lift pistons to counteract the weight of the bed frame and mattress. This action is what makes the Murphy bed easy to open and close. We always recommenced you use mattresses within a certain range of weight specified in the guide so the combined weight does not overpower the force of the easy-list pistons.
In most cases, you will need to add no more than 5 lbs to 10 lbs. of weight to your Murphy bed if your bed frame does not stay down on the floor.
However, there are times when you may have to use a lighter mattress that usual therefore in this section you are going to learn how you can add weight to the footer end of your Murphy bed to make it heavier so the bed frame stays down on the floor when the bed is opened.
Shown here is a 5 lb. plate on the footer end of the bed frame. If you are using one plate only center the plate on the bed frame as shown here.
Here is the bed frame with two 5 lb. plates on the footer end of the bed frame. The combined weight will now be 10 lbs of extra weight on the bed frame to counter balance the presure in the gas pistons. Place the weights on the bed frame as shown here to distribute the weigth evenly.
Cut a piece of strapping 4 to 5 inches longer than your weight plate as shown in the photo.
You can cut the strapping using a metal shear or other appropriate cutting tool.
Important When selecting the wood screws to attach the strapping to your bed face panels, make sure the screws are 3/4″ long or less. (Thickness of face panels parts I) This will avoid driving the screws through the other side of the face panels. If needed you can place a piece of scrap wood under the weight to make the thickness of the face panels greater if you plan to use longer screws. Just make sure the combined thickness of the wood and weight plate is less than 1-1/2″.
Drive one screw into each section of the strapping as in the photo. We used 3 3/4″ wood screws like the ones that came with your Murphy hardware kit.
Driving a screw in the middle hole of the weight plate will stop it from sliding out.
If using heavier weights, for example, 10 lbs, use more screws to hold the plate to the face panels.
We have now completed adding weight to our Murphy bed.
Now put back the mattress supports and mattress and you are all set.
It is important to stay within the weight range for your mattress.
However, for a lighter mattress, you can add weight to solve the problem. (if the bed frame does not stay down on the floor) If the mattress is too heavy there may not be a solution.
Congratulations! You are now done.
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