Office Table Made From Old Wrenches
Eric Stern wasn't thrilled with the powder blue particleboard conference table his new employers offered to put in his office. So he made his own out of a pile of old wrenches. Stern works at an automotive tool distributor so the table fits right in. Years ago, the company sold some of the wrenches that can be seen under the glass top.
"I do metal sculpture on the side," Stern explains. "I like to use tools to create functional art." His business card holder is made of wrenches, and his home is filled with funky tool art. An old crank drill rolls out toilet paper. An air horn blasts when someone rings the doorbell. A bowl of welded washers holds fruit. Gears, wrenches and other odd parts become decorative sunflowers after Stern finishes with them.
The table started with a bunch of wrenches he bought on eBay. A friend gave him an old engine block.
"I spent two weeks taking it apart," Stern says. "It was rusted together, and I'd go home and pound on it in the evening." He used the crankshaft for the table's central column and the six pistons to support the table's glass top.
After cleaning the wrenches with a wire brush, he welded a 42-in. ring of wrenches around the outside. He used three large striking wrenches for the legs. The first time he set it upright, one of the legs broke off. He had to level the legs again after he softened the hard steel of the crankshaft with an acetylene torch and got a better weld. Stern used steel angle stock, shims and bottle jacks to level everything up and tried to place the wrench names up so they could be read.
"There's nothing valuable," Stern says. "I like wrenches that have curves and interesting shapes."
He sprayed the finished piece with several coats of clear coat, which makes it shiny and provides almost a cushion between the pistons and the glass top.
The 150-lb. table was a hit as soon as he rolled it into the office on wheels he had wisely attached.
"It definitely can be a distraction," he admits. "People tell stories about working on cars, and one guy knew right away what engine the pistons are from."
He enjoys the memories and stories his wrench table inspires.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Eric Stern, 3201 S. 76th St., Philadelphia, Penn. 19153 (ph 215 586-3493; estern@cirenet.com).
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Office Table Made From Old Wrenches FARM HOME Furniture Eric Stern wasn t thrilled with the powder blue particleboard conference table his new employers offered to put in his office So he made his own out of a pile of old wrenches Stern works at an automotive tool distributor so the table fits right in Years ago the company sold some of the wrenches that can be seen under the glass top I do metal sculpture on the side Stern explains I like to use tools to create functional art His business card holder is made of wrenches and his home is filled with funky tool art An old crank drill rolls out toilet paper An air horn blasts when someone rings the doorbell A bowl of welded washers holds fruit Gears wrenches and other odd parts become decorative sunflowers after Stern finishes with them The table started with a bunch of wrenches he bought on eBay A friend gave him an old engine block I spent two weeks taking it apart Stern says It was rusted together and I d go home and pound on it in the evening He used the crankshaft for the table s central column and the six pistons to support the table s glass top After cleaning the wrenches with a wire brush he welded a 42-in ring of wrenches around the outside He used three large striking wrenches for the legs The first time he set it upright one of the legs broke off He had to level the legs again after he softened the hard steel of the crankshaft with an acetylene torch and got a better weld Stern used steel angle stock shims and bottle jacks to level everything up and tried to place the wrench names up so they could be read There s nothing valuable Stern says I like wrenches that have curves and interesting shapes He sprayed the finished piece with several coats of clear coat which makes it shiny and provides almost a cushion between the pistons and the glass top The 150-lb table was a hit as soon as he rolled it into the office on wheels he had wisely attached It definitely can be a distraction he admits People tell stories about working on cars and one guy knew right away what engine the pistons are from He enjoys the memories and stories his wrench table inspires Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Eric Stern 3201 S 76th St Philadelphia Penn 19153 ph 215 586-3493; estern@cirenet com
