Antique Replacement Bolts for Wood Bed Frames
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7" Steel Bed Bolts provide a tight, secure joint between bed-rails and head / footboards. Use on wood and rope beds where tendon end of bed rail slips into mortise cut into bed post.
These well made bed bolts are strong, being made of steel. They have a 3/8"- 16 thread. This is a standard thread size however some vintage and antique beds have unusual or custom thread sizes. If the thread size is different than 3/8-16 it is necessary to replace the nut in the bed rail. For additional information please go to: replacing bed bolts.
How to Measure
- Overall Length includes head and flange
- Length less head & flange: 5-3/8"
- Measure depth of Head- channel. must-be deep enough to contain 5/8" head including flange.
- Measure channel less Head-channel: must-be long enough to accommodate bolt length less head & flange.
- Historically thread-size of old/antique nuts varied. Our bolts screw into a 3/8"- 16 nut, 3/8 refers to bolt diameter, 16 refers to the number of threads per inch. If your bed has existing nuts It will be necessary to determine nut thread size. Nuts must be replaced if size is different than 3/8"- 16.
Installing Bed Bolts
Originally bed bolts were used on rope beds in the 1700's - 1800's. Beds from this time frame had rails with short wooden pegs, These pegs were placed in a row along the top length of each rail. A rope was wound in and out around pegs. The rope created a mesh-like support for a feather "tick", the forerunner of the mattress.
- It is easiest to tighten bed bolts with a bed bolt wrench.
- If the mattress needs to be lowered: attach spring supports to inside of rails. The spring supports will hold modern spring and mattresses.
- Once installed: decorative brass bed bolt covers conceal head of bed bolt.
Please goto replacing bed bolts for more in depth information