Free angle iron

[Jeff t-boss]

Been doing this for years and just got done tearing one down, so I figured I pass this on as a FYI thing. Old bed frames are being thrown out every day. If you take them and drill out the approximately 20 rivets in them and remove the flanges for wheels and headboard, you end up with some nice 1 1/2 x 1 3/4 or 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 1/16th angle iron. Great for light fabrication or reinforcments. Takes about 45 minutes to strip. 1 kingsize frame with a center cross brace gives you 30 ft of good steel. And as I said, it's free.

[liflod]

I've used pieces in the past, but found the steel to be very hard to cut and very hard to drill. I guess they use a different alloy than just cold rolled or hot rolled steel.

[Jeff t-boss]

Never had any problems, but what you say is a plus in itself.

[thebuggyman1]

The ones I've used were a strange alloy.....Wierd when welded. I wonder if they are a spring steel. Anyway, be careful of trusting the welds to be strong.

[mark m.]

Bed frame angle iron is a mix of different steels. When the steel maker produces it they don't bother being selective with the mix. Thats why it can be terrible to machine and possibly weld. Because the mix is not controlled it can be made cheap and thats why it ends up in bedframes. Many years ago I have used it but don't bother now.