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One of the most important elements in bedrooms is the bed. The most common are beds made of wood or chipboard panels. Metal beds are not so popular, since the choice of models is not very wide and many of them require a soft metal mesh instead of a mattress (sleeping on such a bed is very harmful and even dangerous for the spine). But you can still make a good metal bed with your own hands. It will be much cheaper than a custom product. But making a metal bed takes a lot of time, especially if there is no experience in carrying out such work. By preparing for work and purchasing the necessary tools, you can master the production much faster.
How to make a bed from a profile pipe
Unlike factory furniture, assembling it yourself has many advantages:
- Manufacturing according to your own drawings allows you to make a bed of any size and shape, taking into account the interior of the room.
- The author's design allows us to produce unique furniture, the analogues of which simply do not exist.
- The final cost, even with all the costs, will be much cheaper, as opposed to purchasing the same item in a store.
- The choice of high-quality materials and a careful approach to the assembly process significantly increase the reliability and service life of finished furniture.
What does that require
Before you start assembling the product yourself, you need to get acquainted with the different models. Determine your own capabilities and likely difficulties in production. Many designs are simple and accessible even to novice craftsmen.
Preparatory stages:
- Creating a drawing.
- Preparation of materials.
- Measurements of the dimensions of the mattress, which is best to buy before starting assembly. This way it can be compared with the product during manufacture.
- To assemble a metal bed, welding will be required.
Additional tools:
- Bulgarian;
- ruler;
- electric drill;
- natfel;
- square;
- sandpaper;
- brush;
- primer;
- brush;
- dye.
How to prepare a profile pipe
After creating drawings, calculating overall dimensions, purchasing the required materials, we begin preparation.
Pipes of the required size are cut (taking into account the drawing), they are processed, and additional holes are made. Cutting is done with a grinder, after which all cuts are polished to level the surfaces.
The profile is degreased with acetone. This is required for further painting. The holes are necessary for fixing the pipes using self-tapping screws. Most often, welding and fastening with self-tapping screws are combined.
Possible difficulties during work
The actual process of making a bed is simple. You will need skills in working with an angle grinder and a welding machine. If you don’t have these skills, you can first practice on separate scraps, rehearsing cutting and welding joints.
It’s just that a bed is a three-dimensional structure; assembling its individual elements is not difficult, but connecting them together sometimes creates certain problems. For example, the most difficult stage in the manufacture of a frame is welding the last corner. Moreover, three corners are already fixed, and the frame is quite heavy and bulky.
It may also be difficult to paint the bed. All sides of the product must look aesthetically pleasing. Why is it necessary to either paint each piece of furniture separately, which takes a lot of time, and then dry all the parts and only then assemble them. Or you can paint an already assembled structure, but in this case you will need to protect the slats from paint.
Manufacturing process
Before you begin assembling the individual parts of a homemade metal bed, you need to prepare consumables for connecting them. To do this, you need to cut metal parts according to the dimensions indicated in the drawing. Sand the ends with sandpaper. After this, you can begin assembly.
Frame and base
When the details of the future structure are ready, you can begin assembling the base and frame. Assembly steps:
- Lay out the cut channels, angles, profiled pipes, and fasteners.
- Align the parts relative to each other so that the angles between them are 90°. In this case, you need to use a special corner. After alignment, the parts must be welded together.
- Drill holes in the frame for attaching the brackets.
- Weld the legs to the base. They can be made from large diameter fittings or sections of pipes. To prevent the metal from scratching the flooring, you need to attach rubber pads to the ends of the legs.
The assembly of the frame is completed, you can proceed to making the headboard.
Double bed frame (Photo: Instagram / industrialloftspb)
Headboard
Manufacturing process:
- To create a headboard you will need a solid pipe. Several separate cross members need to be welded to it at an angle of 90°.
- When the crossbars are ready, side posts are welded to the end of the upper pipe, which are attached to the bed frame from below.
Cross members must ensure the reliability of the structure. They can be patterned, giving them an unusual shape.
Assembly
When the headboard and frame are ready, you can begin the general assembly of the bed:
- Weld the bases with the headboard.
- Weld the legs to the bottom of the frame.
- Install the inner part of the frame. It will consist of metal jumpers on which the mattress will later rest. The more jumpers, the better.
After completing the assembly, you need to process the joints of the individual parts of the structure. To do this, you can use a file, sandpaper, or sanding machine. It is important to go through all joints to get rid of irregularities and metal burrs.
Bed with forging elements (Photo: Instagram / industrialloftspb)
Types of structures
Iron beds were widespread during the Soviet era, when quality and durability were always in the foreground, and the appearance did not always satisfy consumers. Therefore, many users still have a stereotype about unsightly headboards and creaky springs.
Today, metal beds have become works of art. Some models have superior aesthetic characteristics to luxurious wooden beds.
According to the method of creation, metal structures are:
- Forged, for the manufacture of which pipes with sections of various diameters are used. Forging can be cold (all processes of changing the shape of workpieces are carried out using a special stamping-type apparatus) and hot (before forming, the metal is heated to 600°C and the work is done manually using a hammer).
- Welded - involves joining parts by welding, but the workpieces are produced by forging.
Regardless of the method of creation, the main elements of the bed are: the frame (the support of the entire product) and the frame (the base on which the mattress is located), the legs and the back (headboard). The last component has an aesthetic function, and its creation is given the most attention and time. In addition, the headboard can be purchased in a retail chain separately from the bed itself.
Materials and tools
To make a bed you will need:
- metal sheets;
- profile metal pipes of different diameters and cross-section configurations;
- fastening elements (screws, staples, corners, etc.);
- particle boards;
- putty;
- primer;
- construction adhesive;
- varnish, paint, etc.
Necessary tools for work:
- welding machine;
- Bulgarian;
- drill with attachments for working on metal;
- building level;
- measuring tape, square;
- file;
- sheets of sandpaper;
- brushes;
- brushes.
When making forged beds, you will need blacksmithing devices (sledgehammer, anvil, handbrake, forge, hammer, etc.).
Step-by-step technology for creating a metal bed
Creating an iron bed includes preparatory work, installation and processing of the finished product.
The process starts with the backs. For this purpose, blanks are prepared from profile pipes according to the drawing. They are laid out on a flat surface, fastened and secured by welding. It is necessary to monitor the degree of angles to obtain an even structure.
Next, footrests and plugs for the open parts of the pipes are installed on the backrests.
At the next stage you will need to use a grinder and a channel. Brackets are made for fastening the frame - 2 central and 4 side, with a slope of 5 degrees. Fasteners connect the back to the frame with a continuous weld. The optimal distance from the floor is 0.35 m.
To give the bed sophistication, all seams and protruding elements are cut off with a grinder, processed with a special brush and a grinding machine to the base of the metal.
- Preparation of material for frames.
Steel channels are cut into blanks. The size is determined by the calculation: frame length plus 5-6 cm. The channels are connected by corners. For better quality of joining, protruding areas in the horizontal flange of the angle are cut off. The joints, as in the previous version, are welded with a continuous seam.
When performing work deviating from established standards, it should be taken into account that it will have to be made to order.
- Frame installation.
The backs are set to a strictly vertical position, the frames are adjusted and the grooves are marked on the lower channel. Holes are made with a drill no more than 9 mm in diameter. The drilled holes are adjusted to the shape of the tenon using a file.
Another important factor is the choice of mattress.
Assembly of the main part is complete. The next step is to weld the grid under the mattress. It is welded onto the finished frame.
Next, footrests and plugs for the open parts of the pipes are installed on the backrests. They are usually covered with steel circles.
Therefore, before starting work, it is necessary to measure the space in the room allocated for the bed.
To give the bed sophistication, all seams and protruding elements are cut off with a grinder, processed with a special brush and a grinding machine to the base of the metal.
Finishing is done on a well-prepared surface: a primer is applied, then varnish and paint.
Sizing
Before starting work, you need to decide on the future dimensions. To do this, you need a clear understanding of where the sleeping place will be placed and who will sleep on it. In the case of modernizing an apartment or room, you can move away from the usual stereotypes and choose a new place for it.
Making an iron bed is a responsible, labor-intensive and complex process.
There are standard types of beds: single, double, single. It should be remembered that the place to sleep should be 30 cm longer than the height of the person who is going to sleep on it. Typically the length is 2 m, but can vary from 191 cm to 213 cm.
Some knowledge is required.
It is also worth deciding on the width. So, depending on the type, the width will have the following value:
- single – 91 cm;
- double – 137 cm;
- one and a half – 99 cm.
You need to start small - get lessons from an experienced blacksmith, or ask for help from someone knowledgeable in this matter.
Larger settings are designed for two people. However, they take up quite a lot of space in the room. Therefore, before starting work, it is necessary to measure the space in the room allocated for the bed. And also take into account such parameters as space for a bedside table and simply a place for free movement.
The main difficulty lies in the preparation of components and their processing.
Another important factor is the choice of mattress. When performing work deviating from established standards, it should be taken into account that it will have to be made to order.
The main thing is a little patience and self-confidence.
