I bought a new bedframe about 2 months ago, and just bought a headboard for it. The screws for the headboard are way too big for the metal bed frame. If I used small enough screws, the holes in the headboard would be way too big. Any suggestions? I don't have another bed frame that would work. I don't really want to go out and buy another frame when this one is nearly new!
M.,
Our headboard does not match our bed either. What we did was attach the headboard to the wall. Then we just lined up the bed in front of the headboard. It works just fine for us.
A.
I would suggest washers and butterfly bolts. Those are the kind that are spring-loaded and are normally used through dry-wall. So the pressure of the clips won't damage the headboard, I would use washers that are wide enough to protect the wood.
I'd completely fill in the headboard holes with wood filler and then redrill the holes to fit the frame.
Dear M.:
You have several options:
1) See whether you can drill holes in a slightly different spot (a bit higher or lower) and fill the old ones with woodfiller.
2) Get a drill bit for metal and make the holes in the metal frame big enough (check whether you have enough 'substance' for bigger holes in the frame, so it does not break).
3) A bit tricky: If the holes are radically different in size, you could get a round rod of wood that fits the big hole and drill a smaller one into it. Glue the wood into the big holes and use screws that fit the metal frame (check whether smaller screws can hold the weight).
4) Also a bit tricky: Get a sturdy metal plate you can screw onto the headboard and drill a small hole for the frame screw into it (about where the original holes are in the size of the frame screw). Again, check that the weight is supported.
5) A different kind of tricky: Get a big piece of wood and attach it to the headboard, then attach the frame to it - or perhaps you can even make it rest on it for support. Note: This will show a little from the side, so it may not look as good.
You did not mention whether the screws go all the way through from the other side or whether they drill into the wood only from the frame side.
Regards,
W.
Woodfiller and redrilling holes is one option, or you could do the following:
Secure the bedframe to the headboard using bolts that fit through the holes in the bedframe, then use washers on either side of the headboard. The washers inner hole should fit the bolts and the outer diameter should be a bit larger than the headboard holes. Tighten the nut securely on the bolt, or better yet, use a lock washer with the entire combination.
