Furniture Components Ltd is not liable for any damage caused when you are modifying your bed or removing bed slat holders.
Furniture Component’s Slat Tensioners are designed to strengthen 38mm wide slats by enabling the combination of an existing flexible bed slat with a tensioner slat on your bed or futon.
To work with the supplied plastic tension adjusters, the combined thickness of existing slats and tensioner slats must not exceed 17mm. Following are the accepted combined thicknesses:
✔6mm tensioner slat & 8mm standard slat
✔6mm tensioner slat & 9mm standard slat
✔6mm tensioner slat & 10mm standard slat
✔6mm tensioner slat & 11mm standard slat
1. Remove one end of an existing slat from its holder. Choosing a slat-end near the bed’s centre rail is best.
a. Carefully release the slat, depending on the holder type, to avoid damage to the pins of the slat holder (wood or metal frame):
i. Wooden Frame, Twin-pin slat holders where the pin protrudes from the base of the slat holder, can usually be wriggled upwards to allow the slat to be released, or where they are merely fitted snuggly into their pin drill holes, they should simply pop out when gently prised.
ii. Metal Frame, twin-pin slat holders must be removed gently to avoid tearing the pin end. Be mindful of the plastic flange on the end of the pin, as it can be torn off if removed roughly.
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What to Avoid- Pulling hard without loosening first
- Using pliers directly on the plastic (can crush it)
- Twisting aggressively (can shear the flange off)
Warm the plastic (game changer)
• Use a hair dryer for ~20–30 seconds
• Focus on the plastic holder, not the metal frame
✔ Warm plastic becomes flexible
✔ Reduces the chance of the flange snapping off OR/AND (optional but effective)
Add lubrication
• Tiny drop of:
o Dish soap
o Silicone spray
• Apply around the pin entry point
✔ Helps the pin slide instead of tearing
2. Relieve the pressure first
• Slightly bend the slat upward to take tension off the pins
• Or push the slat toward the centre rail to loosen the grip
! This is critical — most damage happens when the pin is under load.
Use a rocking motion (not straight pulling)
• Grip the holder close to the frame
• Gently wiggle side-to-side while pulling outward
! Don’t yank straight out — that’s what tears the flange
✔ Think: loosen → wiggle → release
Push from the back if possible. If the frame allows access:
• Use a flat screwdriver or blunt tool
• Push the pin outward from inside the metal tube
✔ This is the safest method because:
• You’re not stressing the flange
• You’re pushing it in the direction it was inserted
Pro Tip
If a pin feels stuck:
Stop, reheat, and try again — forcing it will almost always damage it.
iii. Side Fitting, slat holders on wooden frames are usually made of softer plastic, and the slat may be removed by applying an upward wriggling motion. If removing the slat holder is required, and the pins aren’t glued in place, the pins may be able to be easily prised out with a screwdriver
2. Slide one plastic tensioner onto the slat.
3. Insert the new tensioner slat beneath the existing slat.
4. Fit the second tensioner and return the slat to its holder.
5. Repeat for required rows.