Old Bed Frame Projects!!!

[bczygan]

Things you can make with old metal bed frames.

What can you make with them?

Let's see your projects..........!

Bill

 

[dr_clyde]

You couldn't pay me to make things out of old bed frames. Angle iron is CHEAP. I'm not going to trash bandsaw blades, twist drills and grinding discs trying to save a buck on material.

Sorry Bill, not trying to take the wind out of your sails, I just don't understand why this stuff is so popular when a stick of angle iron is so inexpensive and readily available.

 

[aka Larry]

As someone has said here on GJ in the past, "that stuff is harder than woodpecker lips!" I too have ruined a few blades and bits cutting that stuff. Why does a bed frame need to be made from hardened steel anyway?

 

[driftpin]

I made the mistake of trying it for a pair of table brackets for a radial arm saw (RAS), and it was way-too-hard to work with. Cutting it was no problem, but drilling holes was ridiculous. I said, "I'm not gonna stop now," and finished the brackets. I used the RAS for awhile, the motor crapped-out, so I sent it back to Emerson for the rebate.

I do have some other stock of it around, I think I'll practice using it to weld with my HFT flux wire welder I got for $36 at an open-box countertop sale. Grind that surface first!

As someone has said here on GJ in the past, "that stuff is harder than woodpecker lips!" I too have ruined a few blades and bits cutting that stuff. Why does a bed frame need to be made from hardened steel anyway?

 

[F451]

I do have some other stock of it around, I think I'll practice using it to weld with my HFT flux wire welder I got for $36 at an open-box countertop sale. Grind that surface first!

Too funny. I'm getting ready to sell my MIG welder and was going to dig out an old bed frame to use as my test material for any prospective buyers who might want to try it out before buying. And yes, I was planning on grinding the surface clean.

 

[driftpin]

I'm no welder of great proficiency, but I have the HFT flux wire feed, a Craftsman 120 V buzz-box stick welder, and what I like best my oxy/acetylene rig for brazing. One of the first things I was taught was work with everything shiny and clean, and a good ground if it's that type of system.

My friend has a big Miller TIG system, he's self-taught, but he does a good job and has helped me much. I have another friend who's good at it, I just pay him his price, it's worth it, he welds up motorcycle wheels for me to widen them or to make them a different diameter.

A project I want to do is to make a locking gate/door for the foundation crawl space. Pretty-simple, but I'm thinking I don't want to drill those holes, and I do have a Ramset.

Too funny. I'm getting ready to sell my MIG welder and was going to dig out an old bed frame to use as my test material for any prospective buyers who might want to try it out before buying. And yes, I was planning on grinding the surface clean.

 

[evintho]

OK, this isn't a traditional bedframe. It's a custom made kingsized bedframe w/headboard made of 2"x3" rec tubing. My friend bought it off CL. He took it home and found it wouldn't fit inside his small apartment. In frustration, he called me and asked if I wanted it. Free steel?...........sure!
Made a couple of mods and turned it into a frame table.
Built my whole roadster frame on it!

 

[Mr_fixit]

Things you can make with old metal bed frames.

What can you make with them?

Let's see your projects..........!

Bill

I want to know, too. People always throw them away.

 

[Kenstone1]

OK, hi my name is Ken, and I make stuff out of bed frames
I buy frames at thrift stores for cheap, with overhead/ceiling storage racks for my garage being the most recent bed frame build.

I grind off the rivets/knock them out/move the cross rails to the ends of the long rails, weld the corners to form a rectangle, and rattle can it white.

Knowing bed frame steel is a drill eater, I weld on mild steel tabs and drill the needed holes in them...not the bed frame

I cut a piece of 7/16 OSB to fit (it's now $18.95/sheet ) and hang it from the ceiling framing with perforated angle.

Store bought ceiling storage racks are $100+, mine cost $30 even with the $19 OSB

Sorry no pics yet,


Edit: Oh, and I use a HF flux core welder that I converted to DC negative.

 

[Hephaestus29]

I made a material rack out of one. I have it
in two pieces and it’s lag bolted to the wall.
There’s already some pics on here somewhere.

 

[Hephaestus29]

You’re safe if you use a chop saw on the stuff.

 

[Kenstone1]

You’re safe if you use a chop saw on the stuff.

… or a cut off wheel on an angle grinder

 

[BMW Rider]

As someone has said here on GJ in the past, "that stuff is harder than woodpecker lips!" I too have ruined a few blades and bits cutting that stuff. Why does a bed frame need to be made from hardened steel anyway?

Just picture a couple of three hundred pounders having bedroom calisthenics on the poor thing.

 

[captain14]

Just picture a couple of three hundred pounders having bedroom calisthenics on the poor thing.

No thanks

 

[Cowsmith]

Knowing bed frame steel is a drill eater, I weld on mild steel tabs and drill the needed holes in them...not the bed frame

Great idea! Thank you! That idea opens up a lot of possibilities for us cheapskates who can’t bear to throw the stuff away...

I used bed frame material to make a hitch for a DIY dump cart once. Was a terror to drill.

Also have built a couple tool wall tape measure holders for welding practice. Ended up creating holes by welding together two pieces with opposing notches. Worked ok.

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

I use em for lots of stuff.

Wanna make accurate holes in em?



Cuts like buttah.
I will never NEVER again be without Blair Rotabroaches.

 

[MarkG]

I used bed frames for the angle iron pieces of both of these projects. The 2 front legs of the cart and the angled pieces and cross piece (front) of the bike work stand. Wasn't a big deal. A little harder to cut, maybe. I wouldn't build a car frame or a skyscraper out of them, but more than sufficient for many projects.

 

[billian]

for drilling holes in bedframe angle iron use cheap carbide tipped masonry drill bits,
sharpen them on a green silicon carbide grinding wheel or a diamond lap. use some oil or water and they cut through like butter.
I used to make masonry drill bits and other carbide tipped tools many years ago. in UK.
These things will drill through some pretty tough stuff.

 

[raddksn]

Jack stand storage!

 

[McFarmer]

Frames ? Hell I used the whole bed :



I felt the bed I had in collage needed to be imoralized so I made this.

 

[Bad Eye Bill]

I built this years ago out of a bed frame, a sign post found along the road, worn out lawnmower blades, a K car rear axle and salvaged 2x4's. Not pretty but cheap and has hauled a lot of stuff.

 

[PugetDude]

"Hi, I'm pugetdude and I'm a bedframeaholic" (aka cheap *******)

When we moved into our current house the previous owners left a dozen bed frames in the garage. Couldn't see throwing them away, so I chopped them up and over the last few years have have used them on several projects- base for my bandsaw, embedded rebar frames for a porch foundation, workbench base, trailer ramps, etc. Cheap and dirty projects.
They are hard to cut with a bandsaw, easy to cut with a chop saw, difficult to drill with a hand drill, easier with a drill press. Welding isn't bad.

As part of my 12-step recovery program, I've whittled the pile down to almost nothing left, but when they're gone I'm committed to making the switch to A36 angle from a minimill that recycles the bedframes everyone else threw away...

 

[Bretny]

I build everything i can out of bed angle iron. Trailer loading gate, guard for my bandsaw sawmill, racks to hold my grinders and many other things i cant think of at the moment.

I get them all for free...if i was going to pay for them i would just buy full lengths of new steel. They are great for small projects.

 

[jeffer949]

A flower bed!!!

 

[Dave in Mass]

I built this years ago out of a bed frame, a sign post found along the road, worn out lawnmower blades, a K car rear axle and salvaged 2x4's. Not pretty but cheap and has hauled a lot of stuff.

That thing is ugly and beautiful at the same time. Nice work on it.

 

[jblnut]

Oh boy a bed-frame thread. 3/4 of the small angle iron I use is from bed frames. I gots a buddy that owns a salvage yard and he throws some iron/useful junk my way once in a while when I help him out.

I mostly use them for braces and such, rarely drill holes in them as they're tougher than a steak from a dried up cull cow.

 

[nonhog]

I took an old homebuilt box trailer and made it my utility trailer using some old bed rails. But looking back I should have bought material. It's ok.

 

[KMinAF]

I built this years ago out of a bed frame, a sign post found along the road, worn out lawnmower blades, a K car rear axle and salvaged 2x4's. Not pretty but cheap and has hauled a lot of stuff.

I would be interested in seeing how you mounted the axle. Possible for you to post a pic or two?

 

[Bad Eye Bill]

I would be interested in seeing how you mounted the axle. Possible for you to post a pic or two?

Sure, I'll take some when I get a chance in the next day or so. Just welded together wherever they made contact if I remember right. It's just used around the yard, not roadworthy.

 

[Bad Eye Bill]

I would be interested in seeing how you mounted the axle. Possible for you to post a pic or two?

Some pics. Hope they're clear enough.

 

[driftpin]

I was curious about the bedframe steel, so I did a bit of research. The process of making (I'm going to call it) culled steel is interesting, and is probably worthy of being in the 'post your GIF's' thread. Interesting that one of the main ingredients is RR rails.

https://www.jssteel.com/

I also looked-up the Blair Rotabroach Tools website, mentioned by another poster, I wasn't familiar with them, but I'm gonna buy a set of their holesaws, they look like good stuff, and reasonably-priced.

https://www.blairequipment.com/rotabroach-cutters

I was also intrigued by the poster here who said to work a masonry carbide drillbit and you can use it to cut holes in the bedframe steel. The only project I tried, the steel was a *^&%!* to drill, and I used a 17" drillpress, a new bit, and the slowest speed I had, and plenty of oil, while feeding the drillbit slowly. I wasn't using the steel for anything structural or moving over the road, so it wasn't going to be in-danger of causing any damage if something happened.

With his newly-developed welding skills, I bet the O.P. (Detroit! Arsenal of scrappers!) can tame the unruly characteristics of bedframe steel. Just-imagine the pounding your salvaged bedframe took under two, three-hundred pound chubbies, 'work-hardening' the material.

Now, time for the mental-picture eye-bleach.

 

[Jazz1]

I made plenty of shelf brackets with old bedframes.

 

[sberry]

I took an old homebuilt box trailer and made it my utility trailer using some old bed rails. But looking back I should have bought material. It's ok.

This, don't use b them, don't collect them.

 

[shorty75]

Things you can make with old metal bed frames.

What can you make with them?

Let's see your projects..........!

Bill

I've made several things with them . The reason I use them is because I can usually get them cheap or for free and steel cost so much right now I wouldn't be able to afford to do anything. I just have a small mig ,and use Flux wire . I know that it is a pretty simple and low grade way of welding but I've gotten pretty good with it . I've made a cage , or fence for the back if our suv to keep the dog in rhe back with bed frames . Measured and cut the pieces to fit the car , welded it all up and tacked some heavier Guage wire fencing to the upper portion that I left fairly open for visibility. Then painted I all up and it looks and works great in there. Right now I'm working on making a set of ramps for driving the car onto so its a bit higher off the floor for me to work on it . Making it about 10" high . Anyhow long reply , sorry but here's some pics of the dog fence thing for the car and a gate that I made and the beginnings of my car ramp lol .

 

[RJMadigan]

I've made several things with them . The reason I use them is because I can usually get them cheap or for free and steel cost so much right now I wouldn't be able to afford to do anything. I just have a small mig ,and use Flux wire . I know that it is a pretty simple and low grade way of welding but I've gotten pretty good with it . I've made a cage , or fence for the back if our suv to keep the dog in rhe back with bed frames . Measured and cut the pieces to fit the car , welded it all up and tacked some heavier Guage wire fencing to the upper portion that I left fairly open for visibility. Then painted I all up and it looks and works great in there. Right now I'm working on making a set of ramps for driving the car onto so its a bit higher off the floor for me to work on it . Making it about 10" high . Anyhow long reply , sorry but here's some pics of the dog fence thing for the car and a gate that I made and the beginnings of my car ramp lol .

since this thread started the price of steel has skyrocketed. I needed a piece of 2" angle and, for once, I had no old bedframes around the shop. Called my local steel house. Nearly $80 for an 8' piece. I'll be watching on trash day for some stock.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I just today bought some 1.5"x1.5"x.25" angle for $4.13/ft and some 2"x3"x.188" angle for $7.47/ft. It ***** when you don't buy enough to get any kind of break.

.....I'm still not about to waste any time screwing with bed frames!

 

[shorty75]

since this thread started the price of steel has skyrocketed. I needed a piece of 2" angle and, for once, I had no old bedframes around the shop. Called my local steel house. Nearly $80 for an 8' piece. I'll be watching on trash day for some stock.

It's absolutely ridiculous, even wood is nuts to buy . I like to build things ,whether it's metal or wood or whatever , but it's awfully hard to do these days,especially if you're on a limited budget . I've reclaimed pallet wood and old fence materials to build shelving and whatnot . And reclaimed stuff seems to be all the rage these days anyhow but thats kinda scary too because reclaiming materials is becoming more and more expensive and or hard to find lol

 

[Riverrat]

I am retired so free is in my budget. I get most of my bedframe material at the county landfill. Another source are dumpsters by apartment complexes. Some people pitch the frames when they move or get evicted. I have made material storage racks, and a tire rack for my rally car tires. I have found that using the double ended Harbor Freight drill bits and cutting oil will make a good pilot hole. Slow the speed down on your drill and it will cut better. If worse comes to worse I use a carbide end mill in my Bridgeport. The price of steel where I live is out of sight.

 

[mark-NJ]

I don't get the hate for bedframes. I cut it, I drill it, I weld it, I grind it, I flap it....and I make stuff with it. I don't find it to be too hard to work with.

Added bonus: no mill scale to clean off! Just flap off the powder coat & it's off to the races!!

 

[Jim greengo]

Drill your holes with a torch,no big deal! Hahaha