Bed frame fix

Nothing worse than a rickety bed frame that attaches a headboard and footboard.

I got this bed frame on eBay as a European antique. I doubt it is that old, but it came with the set, an armoire, dresser, vanity, and two end-tables.

In my old house, The Domicile of the Future, the bed was pretty stable, since I could shove the headboard against the wall. No so here at Tranquility Base here in Florida. The wall behind the headboard is shared with the neighbor's unit, its a duplex.

So without the stability provided by the headboard pushed against the wall, the bed was pretty rickety. I would not feel secure leaning against the headboard while I read in bed.

I needed a radical solution, that would add as much structure as possible. I decided to add these heavy L-brackets to the corners. On the footboard shown above, I used hex wood screws so it would not show on the outside.

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That is a American Queen-sized bed but the frame I got from Europe via eBay. So I took the sides and made a tongue with a jigsaw. That way I can extend the length of the frame. The frame does not support the bed, you can see the little legs under the box spring, another "Euro" type setup.

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The headboard was where I wanted the strongest structure. Thankfully, the headboard was where I could use through-bolts. Here you can see eight 1/4-20 bolts securing the L-bracket. I intended to have fender washers under all the bolt heads, but I am unable to count past the number of fingers I have. You can see the washers pulling in from crushing.

Here is the frame secured with the L-brackets. Its rock solid. I bought these wimpy brackets and screws and returned them when it was obvious they were not going to be stiff enough. This the Home Depot receipt with the strong L-brackets, screws and bolts.

Bed frame fix

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