I now have a room with a load bearing wall with a 6x6 support post in the middle of it. The ceiling is supported with 2 beams meeting over the 6x6 post. The beams are a 13 foot laminated double 2x12 and a 12 foot laminated double 2x12. The 2 ceining beams are anchored into the walls on the ends and are sitting on the post just about in the middle. I would like to remove the post, only after attaching 2 steele angle irons. They would be say 18 feet long, 4" on the short flange, 12 inches on the long flange. Drilled out for bolts. Put one on the top of the beam and one on the bottom of the beam and bolt them together with the double 2x12 in the canter so as to box in the wood with the 1/2 in steel. What do you think? Any thoughts?

First thought is to retain the services of an architect who knows what he is doing, or a structural engineer, to advise you, and to design the beam that will be needed.

Second thought is that we are given too little information about the loads that the beam will be required to carry to be able to comment.

Third thought is that there is absolutely NO substitute for on-site examination of all conditions that may affect the design of the beam, and therefore, structural design on a forum such as this is improper and unethical.

Let me rephrase the question.

I have a live load of 50 lbs per sq foot maximum over a 24 ' expanse.

I am using a double 2x12 header butted up to another double 2 x 12 header sitting on a 6x6 post where the headers meet at about 12 feet

Would 2 full length steel plates on each side of the beam spread the load and eliminate the need for a center post?

If I further use a 10 x 4 or 12 x 4 angle iron to further strengthen and spread the weight, can I remove the post?

Let me rephrase the answer: it is not proper nor ethical to give structural advice in a forum such as this, without a thorough on-site examination of ALL conditions which may affect the design of the beam.

Let me give you a short answer: NO. It will not work. And there is a lot more to consider than just the beam, because the loads at the end of the beam will now be doublöe what they were, at least. The information provided is still inadequate to competently comment.

Let me rephrase my advice: retain the services of a local design professional to examine the existing conditions and advise you as to what kind of beam will be required, and how it must be supported.

Thank You.