Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - refurbishing brass bed
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09-05-00, 04:09 PM
Have a turn of the century brass bed in good shape but very wobbly. How do I tighten it up?
09-05-00, 05:56 PM
Ginnie:
If you don't see any obvious nuts and bolts to try, the piece was probablly made as (my terminology here) a 'force fit'. That is it was originally machined to tight tolerances - time has simply worn the connecting parts down to where the whole thing wobbles.
You might want to post this on the furniture forum at this web site:
http://www.antiquerestorers.com
Jim Cole (moderator) and James Lane (webmaster) are both quite knowledgable. As a matter of fact (now that I think of it) there's a search engine for that site on the main page - use 'brass bed' in that and you just may come up with the solution.
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George T.
If you don't see any obvious nuts and bolts to try, the piece was probablly made as (my terminology here) a 'force fit'. That is it was originally machined to tight tolerances - time has simply worn the connecting parts down to where the whole thing wobbles.
You might want to post this on the furniture forum at this web site:
http://www.antiquerestorers.com
Jim Cole (moderator) and James Lane (webmaster) are both quite knowledgable. As a matter of fact (now that I think of it) there's a search engine for that site on the main page - use 'brass bed' in that and you just may come up with the solution.
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George T.
09-06-00, 05:50 PM
there appears to be little covered ends (I don't know
what you call them) and when I try to turn them to tighten nothing
happens. They appear to be attached to rods that run thru the brass
tubes that make the head & foot board. It is a very old bed.
what you call them) and when I try to turn them to tighten nothing
happens. They appear to be attached to rods that run thru the brass
tubes that make the head & foot board. It is a very old bed.
09-08-00, 05:57 PM
Ginnie:
It sounds like yours is one that should be able to be tightened but the mechanism has either worn out or come apart. I'd consult an antique store or a furniture repair shop.
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George T.
It sounds like yours is one that should be able to be tightened but the mechanism has either worn out or come apart. I'd consult an antique store or a furniture repair shop.
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George T.
09-09-00, 08:51 AM
I have asked around to different dealers but no one seem to know how to fix it. Could you give me some instructions and maybe I can find someone to do it. Thanks for your help.
09-09-00, 07:56 PM
Ginnie:
Can't give you anything more than general advice without actually seeing the bed, but here goes.
Most of those beds concealed the tightening mechanism with what is called an 'acorn' nut. If you can imagine a regular hexagonal nut with half a marble where the hole in the nut is, you've got a pretty good idea what I'm talking about.
If this is what you're turning with no effect something is obviously broken inside the brass. You have to take this nut (and possibly whatever is attached to it) out so you can see what's broken.
The nut is most likely attached to a short rod (which may be broken). The rod (threaded) attaches to a nut inside the brass rod that was brazed/welded in place. It may be the threaded end inside the rod has just come out of the nut and can be put back. More likely, the nut has broken loose. To repair this, you'll have to take the bed to a metal shop.
Regardless, even if you have to pry it apart, the bed has to come apart before it can be fixed.
Let me know what you find.
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George T.
Can't give you anything more than general advice without actually seeing the bed, but here goes.
Most of those beds concealed the tightening mechanism with what is called an 'acorn' nut. If you can imagine a regular hexagonal nut with half a marble where the hole in the nut is, you've got a pretty good idea what I'm talking about.
If this is what you're turning with no effect something is obviously broken inside the brass. You have to take this nut (and possibly whatever is attached to it) out so you can see what's broken.
The nut is most likely attached to a short rod (which may be broken). The rod (threaded) attaches to a nut inside the brass rod that was brazed/welded in place. It may be the threaded end inside the rod has just come out of the nut and can be put back. More likely, the nut has broken loose. To repair this, you'll have to take the bed to a metal shop.
Regardless, even if you have to pry it apart, the bed has to come apart before it can be fixed.
Let me know what you find.
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George T.
09-12-00, 03:05 PM
I'll try to get someone to help me take it apart and let you know. Thanks for your help.