old bed frame

[jimbo1962]

Hi all
the long black thing in the pic is one of the two rails for an old bed that Im restoring.
Ive to buy and fit a new mattress support of some sort.
what are the the stud shaped things on the rail? are they simply for locating the angle iron frame for the old style flat mesh springs ?

Looks like I ll have to drill a load of holes in the rails to fit the plastic sleeves for timber slats, but is there any other way?

 

[Bsmith]

Dunno what the raised lumps are on the bed angles. Why not screw your slats to longer pieces of wood to make it like a frame, make it a suitable size so it wont move inside the angles and drop it in. Save drilling holes and screwing.

 

[Cobbler]

Try to avoid drilling bed angle if you can, it’s quite hard & tough as old boots, it will quickly blunt your drill if you have many holes to drill.

 

[Earlyrover]

Fix the slats to 2 lengths of webbing (seatbelt), close to the sides of the bed and then you only need to secure the 2 end slats to the angle.

 

[tom2207]

Try to avoid drilling bed angle if you can, it’s quite hard & tough as old boots, it will quickly blunt your drill if you have many holes to drill.

it was an old favorite for diy trailer builders back in the day.

 

[Jack Ryan]

It might have had a wire frame held to the rails with springs. I've used a lot of bed frame iron to make stuff and I think they all used wire frames.

Jack

 

[Stupoty]

Hi all
the long black thing in the pic is one of the two rails for an old bed that Im restoring.
Ive to buy and fit a new mattress support of some sort.
what are the the stud shaped things on the rail? are they simply for locating the angle iron frame for the old style flat mesh springs ?

Looks like I ll have to drill a load of holes in the rails to fit the plastic sleeves for timber slats, but is there any other way?

View attachment 381160

It would have had a spring mesh type thing clipped over the protrusions.

A bit like this style.

https://mysweetcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/128/2018/08/bedspring.jpg

Stu

 

[Cobbler]

it was an old favorite for diy trailer builders back in the day.

Yes Tom, I collected loads for various projects, we had a local lad that picked up scrap & peoples rubbish, he used to drop the bed frames off, I used to cut them up for the angle & he would pick up all the bits. Can’t remember how much he wanted, but it was pence as he found them difficult to deal with, a win win situation. I never made a trailer with it though.

 

[Dee J]

When I've fitted slats to that sort of frame I've simply used plain wood 20x100mm slats screwed to two lengthwise battens that fit snugly between the angle itons. The end of the slats rest on the steel, and the battens hold everything aligned. Hth.

 

[knighty]

what's the name of that old bed angle iron?

it's bloody good stuff, I've run out now.... I remember an old engineer telling me the name for it but we'd had a few drinks so I forgot straight away :-o

 

[Porkypine]

what's the name of that old bed angle iron?

it's bloody good stuff, I've run out now.... I remember an old engineer telling me the name for it but we'd had a few drinks so I forgot straight away :-o

Were they "Zed" beds by any chance?

 

[knighty]

Were they "Zed" beds by any chance?

no idea... by dad gave it to me, it came from my great aunts beds after she died when I was a kid

quick google of a zed bed they look like some sort of fold out bed? these were all standard beds, must have been 30+ years ago we dismantled them and they were pretty old then

 

[nickk]

I’ve welded to adapt a fair few ,was told the reason they’re so springy and tough is due to being re-rolled from old tram rails.

 

[Seadog]

That's what I understand. High content of manganese for strength and durability, so it work hardens quickly.

 

[mcostello]

Well if We would get pounded on frequently we would be work hardened also.

 

[jimbo1962]

13 and 14 I never heard such ****e
thanks for the pic Stupo

 

[Seadog]

You clearly don't read many threads, then

 

[Morrisman]

I have exactly the same rails on my old bed, but I've made a wood frame that supports the mattress rather than have stretchy wire. Those old beds used to sag in the middle something awful, from what I remember.

I found the bed a few inches short for comfort, even with me only 5'9" long, so I welded an extra 4" into each frame rail. I did it near the end so less leverage on the welds.

 

[MattF]

what are the the stud shaped things on the rail? are they simply for locating the angle iron frame for the old style flat mesh springs ?

The original mattresses were also the base. Those lugs located & retained the wooden mattress frame. Four little cast clips, screwed to the outer edge of the base, which dropped over the rails, then prevented any sideways movement.

 

[MattF]

These are clips which screwed to the base/mattress to prevent sideways movement on the frame. 2 either side.