suggestions for holes in bed frame.

[SPYDERLK]

Here's something interesting. It's punching small holes in a stainless strip in this pic that I used for holding the plastic fender skirts on my cab. Pretty sure the guy in the shop said it'll do 1" holes in 1/2" steel. Other parts of the machine can chomp off large angle and flatbar. There's even a jaw at the other end that can act like a big nibbler.

View attachment 299899

1/4" holes in 1/8" semihard stock is a bit more difficult. Should be still doable, but at even lower diameter it gets iffy.
larry

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have drilled bed frames using self tapping screws without difficulty and those aren't the best quality drill bits and then even the screws went in without any problem. Maybe my bedframes are better quality, softer material or something than what you guys are getting. I sure wouldn't think they have had an expensive heat treatment and for sure not a Chromium alloy which would have to have some Cr and manganese to be hardenable. Regular carbon just hardens by cold working not heat treating and I suspect the only working that they get is in the forming and that should be hot formed. As someone mentioned, maybe there are hard spots and soft spots due to higher carbon and manganese content in areas because the ladle was not well blended before the ingot was poured at the steel mill. According to a documentary I saw, Most steel now is made from recycled materials as most of the iron ore deposits have been depleted world wide and its cheaper to recycle than make from virgin ore whether making steel or aluminum. On good steel products, the ladle contents would be analyzed and trace elements added to make the proper mixture where as cheaper products like perhaps bed frame material, might be made from the raw melt of what ever scrap that they put in.

 

[9fingers]

I use a propane torch where I want to cut or drill. 30 seconds each side does it for me.

 

[sparc]

It's curious to me how there are so many cheap, fabricated metal gizmos that come out of China when I can't even buy the raw steel at the same cost to make the same thing. And where do the Chinese get the same orange paint for everything?

When you buy decommissioned warships at a dollar a ton its easy to save money on raw materials.

The paint color comes from mixing all their waste products into the paint, giving it that universal orange color that they recognize in their country as containing waste products. nothing sold in China has this orange color, only export products.

These are both purely guess answers and for entertainment purposes only, but in reality may not be far from the truth.

Remember reading about the toys coming out of China with toxic paint on them?

Remember Uncle Sam selling decommissioned warships some years ago for pennies on the dollar? I remember them being towed out of the Inner Basin at the Philly Navy Yard where the Navy had a number of ships mothballed down the Delaware River heading overseas to Korea or China, don't know which.

See the basin below labeled Philadelphia Navy Yard? It used to be full (over 60) of ships 15 years ago, now you see only about 16.

 

[the old grind]

There's lots of good advice above, tips scattered here & there. Bed rail is typically hot rolled and the rough surface is from cooling in air as it comes off the rollers. It work-hardens easily when heated (as by drilling or sawing). Heating both sides to red before (and a bit outside of) the drilling area does work to draw down the temper, as mentioned. If 'burning' with a 60xx rod, DC and neg polarity on it seems to work best.

Things to note from previous mention about drilling: High pressure, low RPM, and a dab of coolant in general, esp if minimal tools/ergonomics are at hand, ... or working literally in your lap as some small jobs can go. Piloting with a 1/8" helps with thicker drill bits (> 3/8") due to the 'web' of a bit having to 'push' vs the cutting that the lips do. btw: Use bits 1/32" - 1/16" larger than the bolts to be used.

Metal cutting depends on proper 'feeds & speeds'. In the trade we rely on the chip to tell us if a drill/tool is cutting properly. An old rule of thumb is 500 rpm for 1/2" drill bit or milling cutter on steel with HSS. Go proportionally slower as tool diameter increases and higher when drilling smaller. (12-1500 rpm with that 1/8" & the right pressure.) Double the rpm for aluminum, or with carbide on steel in the drill press. Double again for CBD on aluminum.

A power drill does not know the right speed/rpm to work at, we have to learn the ropes as we go. Use extra pressure to slow the motor if/as needed and keep the tip wet. Chip quality will let you know you when hit that sweet spot. That said, carbide in a hand-held drill is often a tough call, as a bit of wobble can easily chip a drill's corners or snap it off. No prob on a DP even at the higher speeds carbide likes to work at.

 

[okclumberjack]

WOW this whole post is over my head ???

 

[senecak19]

WOW this whole post is over my head ???

I'm with this guy. Like the OP, I use this stuff all the time. As a matter a fact coworkers religiously bring the frames in for me. I probably have 20 or so frames stacked for random use. I don't use them for anything of great importance, but when some light duty angle fits, free is best. I have not had a problem drilling holes with the Harbor Freight step bits.

 

[jimgerken]

Plasma cutter. Plasma doesn't care what it is, if it is conductive, it will be melted instantly.

 

[BukitCase]

I'm with you, Jim (PM45, love it) but you may have missed the opening statement by the OP - "I am a poor person" - although there are less expensive plaz's, I don't recall seeing just HOW poor we're talking here Steve

 

[jimgerken]

Yea, sorry. You never know about people though. I watch these shows about the "poor" people in Texas with $12M homes and $5M swimming pools and wonder how they feed their kids.

 

[Ed of all trades]

Chuck a piece if mild steel rod in your drill press with the end cut off square. Put the bed rail in the vice and ''drill'' it with the rod. It will heat up and soften the rail, replace rod with drill bit and drill in the same place, try it.

 

[chopped]

good idea I shall try it..thanks for the suggestion. As for what ''poor' is. well im probably just shy of a millionaire, but to me im poor. LOL I wouldnt care if i had 100 000 dollars sitting there in cash If I could do something on the cheap i would ,there is a certain good feeling of doing that.Some might say recycling. Well ive been recycling long before it was the 'hip' thing to do..LOlJust the other day i grabbed a frame from the roadside. Just to have in stock.I agree that I wouldnt use it for anthing that should have something more substantial but it fills the bill for most all my projects.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

good idea I shall try it..thanks for the suggestion. As for what ''poor' is. well im probably just shy of a millionaire, but to me im poor. LOL I wouldnt care if i had 100 000 dollars sitting there in cash If I could do something on the cheap i would ,there is a certain good feeling of doing that.Some might say recycling. Well ive been recycling long before it was the 'hip' thing to do..LOlJust the other day i grabbed a frame from the roadside. Just to have in stock.I agree that I wouldnt use it for anthing that should have something more substantial but it fills the bill for most all my projects.

I agree. There is something rewarding about creating value where there was little value before. I think the hipsters are calling it "upcycling" nowadays. I totally embrace the concept, but I'm a bit peeved that it's become a popular trend. I hate being part of a popular trend. Plus all the hipsters are grabbing up the good stuff now.

 

[Travelover]

........ I think the hipsters are calling it "upcycling" nowadays. .........

I've heard the word "re-purposing". :laughing:

 

[Baby Grand]

I've heard the word "re-purposing". :laughing:

That's the one I know, but the new crop of hipsters came after that word was coined.
So they had to make up a new word for an old idea.
It's like when you get a puppy you have to name it and that makes it yours.
So if you invent a new word for an old idea, it's like you invented the idea, so now you own it.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

That's the one I know, but the new crop of hipsters came after that word was coined.
So they had to make up a new word for an old idea.
It's like when you get a puppy you have to name it and that makes it yours.
So if you invent a new word for an old idea, it's like you invented the idea, so now you own it.

I must be old because I remember before it was called re-purposing I called it scrounging.

 

[Baby Grand]

I must be old because I remember before it was called re-purposing I called it scrounging.

Heh-heh - I think we called it scrimping.
What an outdated concept!

 

[Travelover]

Heh-heh - I think we called it scrimping.
What an outdated concept!

Yea, I get teased because I buy a lot of material at a metal recycler for pennies on the dollar. Of course, I have to leave my pride at the gate. :laughing:

 

[ron3520]

I DID SOME CONSULTING AT A PLACE THAT MADE THE ANGLE IRON USED FOR BED FRAMES. IT IS MADE FROM OLD RAIL FROM RAILROAD TRACK. IT IS HOT ROLLED AND QUENCHED. THAT IS WHY IT IS SO HARD.

 

[Kernopelli]

I'm with you, Jim (PM45, love it) but you may have missed the opening statement by the OP - "I am a poor person" - although there are less expensive plaz's, I don't recall seeing just HOW poor we're talking here Steve

I used to get the angle shipping "crates" that Chinese 4 wheelers came in for free from a local dealer. You could drill a hole easily in one piece and ruin a bit trying in the next. I have had the same experience with bed frames before as well. I was drilling holes in T posts a few weeks ago and you would get one that was no problem and the next one would ruin a bit. I finally got out a good carbide bit I use sparingly for just such purposes and when I dulled it within 6 holes I was fit to be tied!

That is when it occurred to me to use my Everlast 50 amp plasma cutter.......zapped nice little screw holes in about 1second. I am not "poor".......I am cheap. So cheap I cheated myself from buying an inexpensive plasma cutter for years. It is easily the most used piece of equipment in my shop now and probably the best money I have spent in years. Even the "cheap" ( inexpensive is a more accurate word) plasma cutters are amazing! Use a straight edge and you get FAST shear quality cuts and I have used mine on up to 5/8" so far so it handles 95% of what I cut.

I have quoted on TBN in the past what I paid but decided that might not be fair to Mark Lugo but I will now say it was OBVIOUSLY "cheap" :ashamed:......much cheaper than HF's 40 amp. It has worked flawlessly, has power arc and came with a nice torch and consumable package. I recommend one highly to anyone who thinks they can't afford a plasma cutter.