Bed bolts hold your bed frame together.Depending on the frame you have, the way you secure your bed bolts may be different.Some bed frames have circular holes, while others only use washers and nuts to hold the bolt in place.The bed frame will be sturdy once the bolts are installed.
Step 1: Align the bedposts.
Stand the end post of your bed frame up and find the side rail.You can attach the different pieces of a bed frame with a wooden joint on the side rail.The pieces are held together by pushing the wooden joint into the end post.If you have an instruction manual, you can check which pieces attach to each other.You can use the bolt as a guide for attaching the side rail if you slide it through the hole on the bedpost.You can put the barrel nut in place if you remove it.
Step 2: The side rail has a barrel nut on it.
There is a threaded hole in the middle of a barrel nut.Look for a circular hole in the side rail near the end post.The hole in the middle of the barrel nut should line up with the bolt hole on the end post.The wooden bed frames are usually made with barrel nuts.Some bed frames have slots for the barrel nut on the end post.The manual for your bed frame should tell you where to put the nut.
Step 3: Put the bolt through the hole and into the nut.
Feed the threaded end of the bolt into the end post of your bed.The bolt has to go into the nut's threading.The bolt needs to be turned by hand until it is tight.If you strip the barrel nut, you can make the bolts loose.If the bolt doesn't go into the nut right away, try rotating it.
Step 4: The bolt needs to be turned clockwise until it is fully tightened.
Put a wrench on the end of the bolt and hold the nut with a screwdriver.The bolt needs to be tightened further into the nut by rotating the wrench clockwise.Make sure the barrel nut doesn't move while you install the bolt.The bed frame needs to be tightened against the barrel nut to hold the bolt in place.
Step 5: The frame pieces need to be lined up with the bolt holes.
While guiding the side rail with your other hand, hold the end post of the bed upright.To feed the bolt through the premade holes in the side rail and end post, line them up with one another.You can easily line up the holes if you hold the other end of the side rail straight.Some bed frames have metal brackets with holes while others have holes through the side rail.To find out where the bolts are fed into, check the frame's manual.
Step 6: The bolt needs to be moved through the holes.
Once the holes are lined up, guide the bolt through the hole in the end post and push it through to the other side.Try adjusting the side rail if the bolt doesn't go all the way through.Once the bolt is in place, keep holding onto the end post.
Step 7: On the threaded side of the bolt, put a washer and nut.
Push the washer against the frame with the threaded end of the bolt.Place a nut on the threaded end of the bolt next to the washer.Hold your bolt in place by rotating the nut until it touches the washer.If a barrel nut won't fit on a metal bed frame, washers and nuts should be used.
Step 8: Use a screwdriver and pliers to tighten the bolt.
Use a pair of pliers to hold the nut in place.To spin the bolt clockwise, use a screwdriver with your other hand.As you screw in the bolt, the nut will move up the threading, making the connection secure.If you can't turn it easily, keep the bolt in it's place.If you want to hide the hole where the bolt is inserted, buy a bed bolt cover.Pick a bed bolt cover that works best for your space.