If you’re preparing for a move or renovating, you may want to take your bed frame apart before moving it. This will make the process easier and safer for everyone involved.
Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to disassemble a bed frame without any screws. You just need to know a few tips and tricks.
Remove the Headboard and Footboard
Most bed frames have a headboard and footboard, which can be removed to make it easier to move them out of the way when moving a bed. Depending on the type of bed you have, this may require removing screws from the headboard and footboard and then dismantling them.
Some beds have a slot system that makes it possible to take the headboard and footboard out without needing to remove the screws from them. To check this, try lifting the headboard and footboard away from the bed frame and see if the rails on one side of the bed give a hint that they can be lifted from the other side without needing to loosen the bolts or pins that hold them together.
Other beds are held together by thin metal brackets that connect the rails of the headboard and footboard to each other, which can be a bit tricky to remove. It’s usually best to use a hammer, though, to knock the brackets out if necessary.
You’ll want to find four locations on the rail that have small, pin-like holes sticking out of them. These pins are holding the two sections of the rail together and should be easy to spot by the lines of pin holes that line up with each of them.
The most important thing to remember is that each of these sections of the rail will have a different number of pins, so they will need to be taken apart by pulling them in length-wise and then separating them from each other. This might require a little bit of firm pressure and wiggling, but it should be simple to do once you know the correct procedure.
Lastly, before you remove the pieces of the headboard and footboard from the bed frame, it’s important to wrap them with bubble wrap to protect them from dings and scratches during transportation. This is especially crucial if you’re planning to move the bed out of your house.
After completing the disassembly, store the various bits of hardware in a bag and label it so that they will be easily accessible when reassembling the frame. This will prevent the nuts and bolts from falling out during transportation and making it difficult to reassemble your bed frame once you arrive at your new home.
Unscrew the Side Rails
If you have a bed frame without screws, it can be difficult to take apart. However, there are a few proven ways that will help you do it easily. These methods will work with most bed frames, including metal and wooden ones.
First, locate the pins sticking out of the side rails on the bed frame. These will be located in four locations. These pins are used to hold the two sections of the rail together. You can tell which section is pinned by the lines of pin holes next to the pins.
Then, push the pins in and pull length-wise to separate the rails. This may require firm pressure and a little wiggling, as the pins must be pressed far enough that they stop engaging the holes and let you pull the rails free.
Once the sides of the bed rails are separated, move to the headboard and remove the screws or bolts that attach it to the rails. This is the last step before you can remove the rails from the headboard and footboard.
Most headboards are attached to the side rails with a traditional screw and bolt connection, but some have slots or brackets that allow you to slide them out of the way. Some beds may even have hooks that hold the headboard to the rails.
These hooks can be tricky to dislodge, so you might have to give the rail a sharp upward hammer blow near the connection point to loosen it up. Once the hooks are gone, the rail should come off the pins easily.
Some beds also use mortise and tenon joints to connect the headboard to the rails. If the tenons have become stripped or are broken, you can repair them by drilling new holes through the back of the headboard above or below the old screw or bolts.
Once the tenons are repaired, the bed rails should reconnect to the headboard and footboard. If they don’t, a new ledger should be added on top of the rails to hold them in place. This is typically a piece of oak hardwood, and it will need to be cut to the same dimensions as the original ledger.
Remove the Slats
If you have a wooden or metal bed frame, the first step in taking it apart is to remove the slats. This may sound like an inconvenient task, but it is actually fairly easy.
Most beds have a series of slats between the rails on either side, which provide support for the mattress and help keep it in place. These can be joined together in a number of ways, or they may just sit on the rails unfastened.
However, these slats are often noisy and make it hard to sleep comfortably on the bed. If this is the case, removing them and replacing them with new ones will reduce noise and improve the quality of your sleep.
Before you begin, measure the length of your bed and determine how many slats you need to replace. Cut the new slats to fit the space between the existing ones and use wood screws or nails to secure them to the frame. Be sure to space the new slats evenly so that they support the mattress properly.
You can use a carpenter’s level to check if your bed frame is balanced. If it isn’t, you can try adjusting the feet until it is.
Some frames have slats that don’t sit on the rails tightly and therefore don’t stop them from shifting. If this is the case, you can put spacers between each slat on the rails to stop them from moving.
Another option is to reinforce the slats by reinforcing the joints where they join the rails. This will strengthen the bed frame and prevent the slats from moving and making loud noises.
Alternatively, you can replace the slats altogether. This can be a great way to increase the support of your bed and help combat problems with mattress sagging.
It is also an easy way to fix a broken frame. If you have a split in your slats, apply wood glue down the length of the split and spread it around the crack. Afterwards, place cloth over each side of the joint and hammer it together.
Wrap the Frame
If you’re moving into a new home or just want to disassemble an old bed frame, there are a few steps you can follow. The first thing to do is remove the mattress and box springs from the bed. Once you’ve removed these items, you can disassemble the bed frame with ease.
To make this process easier, place the mattress in a protective plastic bag before you start disassembling the frame. This will help you protect it from dust and moisture while on the move.
Next, remove the headboard and footboard from the frame by removing the screws that hold them in place. You can use a hammer to knock the screws out, or if you’re careful, you can use a screwdriver to pry them loose.
After removing the screws, take your time and carefully unscrew each of the side rails from the head and foot boards, if they’re attached by hooks. If they’re screwed to the sides, you can use a screwdriver or a power drill to unscrew each one.
When you have all of the side rails removed, it’s time to wrap them up and prepare them for shipping or storage. You can pack them in sturdy moving boxes, custom designed and built for this purpose, or in plastic tubs with clip-on lids.
Once all of the parts have been wrapped up, it’s important to label them so you can find them again later. We recommend using masking or painter’s tape and a Sharpie to mark where each part goes.
If you’re storing your frame, you might also want to place all of the screws, nuts and bolts in a clearly marked zip lock bag. This will prevent any of them from being lost or mixed up during reassembly.
When you’re ready to reassemble your frame, it’s a good idea to make a template out of brown wrapping paper. This will help you determine the exact dimensions of your frame and ensure it’s sized correctly for your new home.