Thread: Antique Cast Iron/Steel Bed for my Daughter

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As some of you saw in my build thread, I am rebuilding a foot board for an antique bed for my daughter. We picked it up at an auction for her 4-5 years ago. I took it and had it sand blasted and it has been in storage ever since. We dug it back out a couple of months ago because Izzabelle has outgrown her toddler bed. She did a while ago but she doesn't want to leave Mom and Dad's room.

I assembled the bed in the yard and I noticed that the foot board looked odd. Yep, sure enough! Some one hacked off the top to allow for a bigger mattress to be put on the frame I'm guessing. I searched online to find a replacement foot board or another bed. My wife said we could use another one we have, and sell this one. I told her no way. This one is way more cool. I haven't seen pics of another like it online any where. I told her I would fix it. I finally got the metal work done and now I have to get it painted.

The head board is curved on the to rail. I assumed the foot board would be too. So I cam up with a way to bend the 1" conduit I got at Menards. Then after looking at other antique steel beds, I came to the conclusion that the foot board is supposed to be straight. Luckily I didn't weld on my 1" 90s I got off ebay. I did some measuring, and fit the upper rail on the foot board. I did this after work and had a friend hold things while I tacked them together.

Once that was done I had to add the upright bars. Once again I went to Menards and got some 5/16 rod. It was the same size as the lower bar and the bars they cut off. I drilled holes in the bottom of the upper rail and slid the rod up into the upper tube for ease of fitment. A couple were not straight so I simply cut a notch in the rod to allow me to get it square. I welded them all in place, and ground the welds.

Next was to try to add something to the upper tube to tie in the upright bars to try and match the head board. Well, I struck out there. I couldn't find anything close. I studied and looked at several different places that cast cast iron items. No one had any thing close. I finally found some brass lamp rosettes that had 6 pedals and were similar to the flower/design on the lower bar of this foot board. I used the vice and crimped the upper tube at the center of each upright. Then I riveted the brass rosettes on to the tube. I put them on the front and the back so it looks better. Now I just have to finish cleaning everything up and get it painted. Then I have to find something to stick in the bottom of the feet because I think they cut the wheels off of it. I'm thinking a dowel rod sanded and beat up in there will level it and keep it from rocking. Once again, this 5 minute fix turned into weeks of working on it when I could find free time.

Nice job, Dad! That should get you a hug, and grease the skids for the move to her own room!

Thanks, it'll be nice for us all!

That came out very nice Ryan. Clever thinking on all the little bits!

I got some more done to the bed frame. I didn't really like the high areas from my tube crimping I did to give a place for the rosettes to mount to. I just used a small ball peen hammer and hammered them flat with little force to not dent the tube. I also forgot about some pinholes on the RH lower portion of the main tube near the bottom. I welded them up and ground/sanded them smooth. I then wire wheeled all the cast pieces and surface rusted areas, and scuffed it with green scotch brite. I had thoughts of body working it and then decided to use some filler primer and run with it. I sprayed sealer/acid etch primer on first, then the filler primer in the areas I did welding/grinding on, and then painted it the marigold yellow the wife and daughter picked out. I let it dry and took it home and put the 2 done pieces in Izzy's bed room. Mom and Izzy love it. I'm just waiting on the rest of the paint to get in so I can finish it for them. Then it'll be time to cut some boards for the mattress and go buy a mattress for it. Then I can check this one off the list.

The only down side is, my wife has been wanting a steel bed frame now. She can't find one she likes so she wants me to build one after seeing how this one turned out. What have I done?

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

The only down side is, my wife has been wanting a steel bed frame now. She can't find one she likes so she wants me to build one after seeing how this one turned out. What have I done?

Sounds like an episode of the Honeymooners..

You are old enough to know about the Honeymooners... aren't you???

It brings a new meaning to making your own bed.

My little brother came down for a summer, with the clear understanding that he would " have to make his own bed".

As soon as we got him to the house, he had a torch in his hand, welding some old tube steel into a custom bed frame. We topped it with plywood and foam.

At the end, I was starting to worry he was going to drop out, running the oxy torch in the Georgia summer heat.

Anytime there is a request for more, must be nice results! Good job!

Originally Posted by 34_40

Sounds like an episode of the Honeymooners..

You are old enough to know about the Honeymooners... aren't you???

I watched that at my grandparent's house when we went there. It was probably re runs as that was the mid 80's.

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

I watched that at my grandparent's house when we went there. It was probably re runs as that was the mid 80's.

It was, the originals ran in the 50's. When I was in high school we had an Art Carney day in my senior year that I remember well. I did the t shirt, vest, fedora thing like Art while tech came as a gangster.

Here are some pics of Izzy's new room. I still have to add the half round trim on the floor, and we purchased a mattress this morning. Now some new blinds that maybe the dog won't eat, some more rearranging to put her dresser in the closet, and maybe we can call one project done.

The night stand and desk/chair were redone my my wife's mother. She did a really nice job on them. She also did an old rocking chair for her. She'll have quite the set up.

That came out nice Ryan!


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Yes, it did! Good work Ryan!

That floor came up brilliant too but one little girl will be extremely happy growing up in there.

You got that thing done fast, or at least it seems like it when we're watching. It looks nice, that's a very "girly" room