Recycled Table #1
September 9th, 2008
I’m starting to build a all the furniture for my studio and for my apartment beginning with this (highly sustainable) rolling work table. All of the materials are found objects (reclaimed wood, metal scrap, and an old hospital I.V. stand) plus some hemp rope (hemp is extremely durable and easy to grow without fertilizers or pesticides).
After lots of experimenting, I was finally able to construct the table top without using any glues, nails, or screws by weaving all the planks together with a thin hemp rope (see the drawing for details). The frame for the table top was a piece of scrap metal found in an empty lot. It took about an hour to find the rest of the materials I needed by browsing through a scrap yard downtown.
While it looks light, the base of the table leg weighs 35 pounds, rolls smoothly, and comes from an old hospital I.V. stand. The leg is offset from the center of the table top because it makes it easier for me to push the table like a shopping cart (loaded with materials and tools on the way to the woodshop) without hitting my legs on the base. Plus, it looks neat without making the table top unstable. And since I’m 6′4″, the table is 3′6″ tall so that I can work at it while standing without hunching over.
Up next I’m going to build another table, a couple of chairs, and a few lights. All made with various green materials, of course.
tags: furniture