Milwaukee FTW!!!

It looks like you put the bolt on one end through horizontally and on the other end vertically. I think the brace would be stronger if you could put both in horizontally. But to do this you would need to have the surfaces where the brace attaches be in the same vertical plane, which is where the suggestion about recessing the stalks into the trunks someone made on a previous page would come in handy.

how sturdy is it

This is awesome. You are hysterical also, I love you! Thank you for posting this.

correct  2x4s and 4x4s  and 1x6s and 2x12s  are never actually those dimensions,  they used to be but they are not any more,  it has something to do with the finishing process,  it is so they wont rot or bow as quickly if i am not mistaken

What about a guy with no arms and legs under a bundle of leaves?

Russel!

You could eliminate a lot of possible "racking", boards twisting around the bolts, by making several cuts in the 4x4 w/circular saw, 1 1/2 inches deep and the width of 2x4. Then with a chisel and hammer, remove the cut pieces. It sounds very involved but is very simple and makes for a much stronger connection. Basically you are recessing the 2x4 into the 4x4. For a cleaner look without much trouble you could drill some holes that would let you recess the bolts into the 4x4 and 2x4.

Your cuts would be square if you used a miter/table saw, but if it was a hand-held circ. they probably weren't.

When I built my loft, instead of 4x4's which are expensive, I nailed 2- 2x4's together, back to back. As far as being smaller then 2"x 4", I heard that is how big the lumber is when it is cut at the mill, but shrinks when dried prior to shipment. Or so I heard.

Does it actually work, cause if so i may try it...

thanks for all your ideas. i need to do this to my place in Hawai'i.

This rocks! But I have to ask. . .Do you rent or own? If I did this in my apartment I would get evicted!

Nice pic.. I cant tell if its a real seal or a bronze statue... Great pic!

No monkey, I prefer the seal.

hahahahaha a drag

Your sense of humor is nowhere near as good as you think it is, man. The loft owns and you did a great job documenting it but PLEASE don't try to be funny in your future instructables! It is painful to look at.

awesome instructable! love the idea of lofts..

nice instructable. I have made numerous lofts, and all of them go something like what you have done. I usually make them to fit the space I have. Often times you can get plywood cut into smaller pieces for transport and that takes good planning so you know what size you'll need. I always use more 2x4 supports than what you did-- especially if the loft will be used by kids. I even use only 2x4's and no plywood when the 2x4's are on good sale. I have also made lofts of 2x6 lumber and I prefer those. They cost more, but are much sturdier. Yes, it is common for lumber to be actually less than the size advertised.

Hey, I really like your loft. I really want a loft When i go to uni i will make a loft in my dorm Also really funny instructable ! Your jokes are fantastic, especially the bob one hahaha Also your bike is really weird and definitely not suited to hauling timber ! Im going to read your other instructables. 5 Stars !

We can no longer have hand made lofts in our dorm. I have to rent steel framed one for $175 a semester.

my response to your joke is... DEAD? naw, i joke, i joke

i see yours overlaps a window too... how does that work for you?

i like your loft. i had one once. good luck getting busy with low headroom. thats why i tore mine down.

is it you, anon?

I'm thinking about building one of these and then i thought, if i wanted to watch movies in the dark or play games, you could put up those darkening curtains or blankets to make a small dark room.

I'm sorry, but it is NOT the "reality" that you are being 'cheapskated,' but are in fact having a SERVICE performed for you. Originally, two by four lumber was pretty much just that (though standards were looser back then). But, the lumber had a very, very rough exterior, straight from some very large, gnarly-toothed mill saws. If you think carpenters now probably exceed the general population in splinters, it was really bad with the lumber of yore. So mills started 'planing' lumber, running it over long, horizontally mounted blades set axially in a rapidly spinning drum. This removed the roughness -- and about a quarter inch -- off of each face. Hence, a "two by four" is usually a "one-and-a-half by three-and-a-half" (Prank got his a little thicker apparently). Truth be told, all these sort of DIY projects would really be impractical were it not for this added service. Just take a look at some old construction that's being torn down or repaired. The stuff was totally unsuitable for interior use, unless it was behind plaster and lathe (itself now replaced by sheet rock). The moral? Be careful what you don't wish for. LOL

You got bummed when you woke up? Harsh.

about how much did it cost?

haha nice joke heres another one. Q.) What do you call a dog with no back legs and metal balls? a.) SPARKY!!!!

Hmm, those screws on the braces look good, i would also pick up some of those metal 45* angle flat sheets(sorry, its 11pm, their name escapes me)...i have a crappy pic though.
http://images.orgill.com/200x200/6791727.jpg
and this was made in 2006 so if it hasn't fallen over, i doubt it will. but for any future projects, these things are great.

That looks absolutely great! Nice one. [:

you guys get more off topic than anyone i ever known