Uses for bedframes

[Hybridss]

I am new to metalwork and welding and have quickly learned that acquiring scrap metal is mandatory. Purchasing steel is expensive. Anyways my neighbor knows I will take anything steel and he said he had some bedframes. I took them and used some for the mini loader I made on my little John Deere. The rest I planned on using to make a cart for my plasma cutter. Well I finally got around to that today. I even used the wheels from the bedframe.

Anyways...I have learned what I bet most back yard welders know. Bed frames are a damn good source for angle. Its the perfect size for many projects yet decent quality steel. Anyways...here is my bedframe Plasma cart. Much better than a Harbor Freight cart. Its about 70% bedframe.












I am beginning to get the hang of the welding. And I have the bug. My project list is LOOONG and I cant wait to get back at it.

I need to add two hooks on the opposite side for the plug and maybe a few other fancy things here and there but you get the idea.

My little $279 plasma cutter has officially paid for its self.

And yes I know the wood is not a great idea. Its just there until I can find some scrap sheet.

 

[PelicanPines]

Dang, that's nice.

LOVE it when people show all the steps... Awesome job.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Nothing wrong with a little recycling,bed frames are made out of pretty tough stuff.

 

[nine4gmc]

Great job, I'd only replace the wood with expanded metal once I found some cheap/free, otherwise rock it til the wheels fell off!!

 

[Riverside]

I have used numerous bed frames too (in fact there are bed frame parts in MY plasma cart). I have always thrown the wheel sections in the recycling bin. I like the way you put those to use with minimal alteration.

 

[Hybridss]

Great job, I'd only replace the wood with expanded metal once I found some cheap/free, otherwise rock it til the wheels fell off!!

Expanded metal is tough to come buy for free. And down here is pretty expensive. I may have to spring for a 4x8 sheet though. Lots of future projects will need it.

 

[Hybridss]

I have used numerous bed frames too (in fact there are bed frame parts in MY plasma cart). I have always thrown the wheel sections in the recycling bin. I like the way you put those to use with minimal alteration.

They actually roll fairly decent. But not good enough that it wants to wander on its own. I think the plastic inserts will accept other wheels too. Seems to be fine especially considering the cost of wheels.

 

[nine4gmc]

Get to know a scrap guy. I have a buddy that brings me good metal all the time in exchange for my scraps that I can't or don't want to use. It works out well, I get things I can use and he gets extra cash since I give him slightly more weight in exchange. We are both happy and the circle continues.

 

[Hybridss]

Get to know a scrap guy. I have a buddy that brings me good metal all the time in exchange for my scraps that I can't or don't want to use. It works out well, I get things I can use and he gets extra cash since I give him slightly more weight in exchange. We are both happy and the circle continues.

Great idea. I was at the metal mart last week. Half the facility is new steel. The other half is recycling. I was standing there waiting for my metal to be cut and people were just bringing is TONS of great stuff.

You think the recycling business would kick me off the property if I hung out and bought all the good stuff as it came in?

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Heres one of my projects built from scrap,the lower 1/4 on each side of this 29 ford was built from scrap shelves pulled out of a dumpster.
The ribs were made with a home made bead roller.
oops,wrong end of car .lets try again!
The visor over windshield was hand made also/roof was chopped 3" and filled,body has since been blasted and primed.

 

[vintagespeed1956]

slow your wire speed down and/or turn up the heat. good use for a bedframe.

edit:

might widen your puddle a little bit too. hard to see all your beads, but you have some skinny ones there, sitting on top.

 

[gayler]

Is the plasma cutter working good for you?

 

[jives]

I've used bedframes for a number of projects, but don't have a welder. The steel is incredibly difficult to drill and have gone through a number of regular HSS bits. But, good stuff.

 

[Hybridss]

slow your wire speed down and/or turn up the heat. good use for a bedframe.

edit:

might widen your puddle a little bit too. hard to see all your beads, but you have some skinny ones there, sitting on top.

Will do. All of the welds are strong enough for the cart. But some are less than desirable. The **** welds were not prepped properly. After reading up on joining two ends it seems its desirable to grind an angle on each end so there is a valley. I noticed the beads on some were skinny so I decided to weld both sides. I had some pieces that had a slight gap when they were welded and those came out great...including the weld in the picture. My first welds were ****. Now only about 50% are ****...lol.

Now that I have welded about 25 feet or so I am going back to the videos I have seen online and they are making much more sense.

 

[Hybridss]

Is the plasma cutter working good for you?

Plasma cutter is working GREAT!! I have used it in some free hand lately notching things and doing irregular cuts. Its a magic wand

 

[Hybridss]

slow your wire speed down and/or turn up the heat. good use for a bedframe.

edit:

might widen your puddle a little bit too. hard to see all your beads, but you have some skinny ones there, sitting on top.

Actually...after looking at some of the welds in the pictures...I am reminded of one particular difficulty I had. I was welding directly under some very bright lights and I noticed that during welding I could barely see the puddle. Too much light coming in the back of the helmet I suppose. I either need to turn off that light or get some kind of hood? A couple times I was welding off the seam

I need to also practice patience a bit.

 

[Kevin54]

16 replies and not one person mentioned using a bedframe for banging the neighbors wife. What is this place turning into

 

[Gator-J]

16 replies and not one person mentioned using a bedframe for banging the neighbors wife. What is this place turning into

The stuff is a PITA to drill, but good for the drilling mentioned above.

 

[tractordude]

I am new to metalwork and welding and have quickly learned that acquiring scrap metal is mandatory. Purchasing steel is expensive. Anyways my neighbor knows I will take anything steel and he said he had some bedframes.

Another source for steel is home gym weight machine's lots of nice square tubing in them things.
Me and a friend picked up 3 of them last summer with free signs taped to them.

 

[creativecars]

I use bed frames to make drill bits turn blue...

Actually I have used them for a workbench shelf unit across the front of the garage. Good angle is good angle and usually free.

 

[Hybridss]

16 replies and not one person mentioned using a bedframe for banging the neighbors wife. What is this place turning into

 

[rburke65]

Kevin you're not right!

 

[bartz32tt]

I love my wall-mounted, foldable tire/wheel rack. Total investment: about $20

 

[Outlander]

16 replies and not one person mentioned using a bedframe for banging the neighbors wife. What is this place turning into

I was going to reply to the comment about bed frames being strong, they would have to be here at the Casa Outlander

Oh - cool project OP, and nice to see you improving your welds. An art I was not able to master in school.

 

[OctoMan]

Those are available at the thrift store all day long. Maybe I should start stock pilling them.

 

[benjamintmiller]

I'm going to disagree with the majority opinion here.

Bed frames have way too much carbon to successfully weld with an arc welder. Every weld I have made has eventually cracked because the heat hardens the steel and makes it brittle. They also **** to machine because of the hardness.

Angle iron is really cheap if you buy it from a steel supplier. A full 24' stick is less than $20 here.

 

[Catadj78]

I love my wall-mounted, foldable tire/wheel rack. Total investment: about $20

 

[Jere]

I am new to metalwork and welding and have quickly learned that acquiring scrap metal is mandatory. Purchasing steel is expensive. Anyways my neighbor knows I will take anything steel and he said he had some bedframes. I took them and used some for the mini loader I made on my little John Deere. The rest I planned on using to make a cart for my plasma cutter. Well I finally got around to that today. I even used the wheels from the bedframe.

Anyways...I have learned what I bet most back yard welders know. Bed frames are a damn good source for angle. Its the perfect size for many projects yet decent quality steel. Anyways...here is my bedframe Plasma cart. Much better than a Harbor Freight cart. Its about 70% bedframe.



I am beginning to get the hang of the welding. And I have the bug. My project list is LOOONG and I cant wait to get back at it.

I need to add two hooks on the opposite side for the plug and maybe a few other fancy things here and there but you get the idea.

My little $279 plasma cutter has officially paid for its self.

And yes I know the wood is not a great idea. Its just there until I can find some scrap sheet.

Jon you should keep the wood it looks good with the angle iron. Furniture with the combo it pretty "in" right now. I doubt it will be a fire hazard if you just keep some distance.

When those plastic wheels break or get on your nerves harbor freight sells a threaded end caster that fits in that same hole. They roll much more smoothly that way.

I have been framing flimsy old usa made tool boxes with the stuff. I re enforce all the corners and attach those pieces to a angle dolly with heavier casters. They are good for turning file cabinets into tool boxes/ machine stands also.

 

[Hybridss]

I'm going to disagree with the majority opinion here.

Bed frames have way too much carbon to successfully weld with an arc welder. Every weld I have made has eventually cracked because the heat hardens the steel and makes it brittle. They also **** to machine because of the hardness.

Angle iron is really cheap if you buy it from a steel supplier. A full 24' stick is less than $20 here.

Thanks for this post. I did some more research and I have found many people that agree with you. It seems a general consensus seems to be that quite a few people use bedframes...but not for critical projects.

I think that may be how I approach their use in the future. But for my cart I think it will be fine.

I have used both scrap and new steel from a supplier. The new steel is SOO much easier to weld since there is less prep and its clean.

I appreciate all the tips. They are coming in very handy.

 

[Hybridss]

Jon you should keep the wood it looks good with the angle iron. Furniture with the combo it pretty "in" right now. I doubt it will be a fire hazard if you just keep some distance.

When those plastic wheels break or get on your nerves harbor freight sells a threaded end caster that fits in that same hole. They roll much more smoothly that way.

I have been framing flimsy old usa made tool boxes with the stuff. I re enforce all the corners and attach those pieces to a angle dolly with heavier casters. They are good for turning file cabinets into tool boxes/ machine stands also.

I do like the look as well. My next project will be a long table that will mimic that style. It will be all new steel, but old wood. After that a plasma table I think. After that a rear drag blade for my little John Deere. Then fire pit.

 

[metalmagpie]

That bed frame cart goes very well with that welder.

metalmagpie

 

[smedly]

Jon you should keep the wood it looks good with the angle iron. Furniture with the combo it pretty "in" right now. I doubt it will be a fire hazard if you just keep some

Yes. Put that on Craig's list as a "vintage industrial side table" and you can pay for your welder.

 

[MarkG]

I'm not above garbage-picking a bed frame---not everything you build needs to be the best steel. My own cart used select pieces from a bed frame as well. (the front two legs on this cart as well as the back braces and front brace on my bike work stand) Obviously, you need to consider the load and the use of the project. Often, 'junk' steel is more than adequate.

 

[chillrich]

I love that high carbon steel for it's resistance to bend and twist. My first "go to" material if available.

 

[XxToolAholicxX]

Wow excellent idea and great build. I wont be throwing bed frames away anymore and will be on the lookout for some from now on. Thanks for sharing.
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I am a ToolAholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the Toolman wont give me no credit

 

[goldenfirebird]

Actually, he is right and that's not bad.

 

[shortykorte]

Another source for steel is home gym weight machine's lots of nice square tubing in them things.
Me and a friend picked up 3 of them last summer with free signs taped to them.

A friend ended up with Nautilus equipment, a great source. I made a small crane out of a piece.

 

[skulldrinker]

I've been using bedframes for over 25 years. Stuff is strong.

 

[Will S.]

Re bedframe metal, has anyone here annealed the area to be welded first, by heating the metal cherry red, then letting it cool, then welding?

I'm thinking that should remove some of the hardness/temper, enough to make it weld better, and be a stronger weld.

 

[benjamintmiller]

Re bedframe metal, has anyone here annealed the area to be welded first, by heating the metal cherry red, then letting it cool, then welding?

I'm thinking that should remove some of the hardness/temper, enough to make it weld better, and be a stronger weld.

That won't do anything, because the welder will still heat up the area around the weld and harden it.

You might be able to anneal after welding by heating to 1500-1650 degrees Fahrenheit and slowly cooling, over many hours. How much is your time worth?