reclaimed wood

Reclaimed Fir Hairpin Coffee Table and Footstool

by Prairie Bench1

A few years back, we received several fir floorboards recovered from demolition at the Riverview Hospital site. The institution was constructed around 1913 and the boards looked worn, scratched, and were full of old square head nails. The tongue and groove planks were in different thicknesses, but we were able to pair up some matching sizes.

In order to focus on the floorboards, we tried several table designs including wood frames and legs. In the end, we settled on steel hairpin legs from Rusty Garden (on Amazon) in 2 sizes: 12″ and 16″. The footstool would fit underneath the coffee table. Minimal sanding of the boards removed any burrs or slivers. A mix of 30% thinner plus 70% polyurethane was used to seal the wood in a thin layer without gloss, giving it a light sheen and a handworn look. The fitted boards were glued with PL polyurethane.

The sizes are: table, 40″x 20″x 18″tall; footstool, 22″x14″x14″tall.

Numbered 06-06-19 as a set. Check back, we have used the ends of the reclaimed boards from this project to make a small end table … reclaimed-reclaimed wood!

Table for One

by Prairie Bench0

We found an interesting steel rod chair. It’s rusty and the seat was missing, but there are no accidental bends and the ball bearing feet are intact. The welds are still good. Rather than paint the metal, we’ve weather treated it the way we found it. The seat was made from left over spruce slats tongue and grooved, glued and stained a deep burgundy—the inspiration was the evening sky, perfect for a quality cup of coffee and some quiet reflection.

There was more spruce than we knew what to do with, so we also made hallway shelves, a spice rack, a tea cupboard, and a little table for one. Same technique, glued to fit and the leg was cut from six slats and pressed together like a vertical jigsaw puzzle. We did two tables, one with a round top and one square…alas the round top was claimed by a friend. We hope to have a picture of the entire set together some time.

It was a fun side project using slightly warped, left over spruce.

Table: 13″ wide, 27″ tall, 10″ base. Chair: 18″ tall at seat, 34″ back, 13″ wide.

Finished in oil stain and polyurethane.

 

Cedar Barn Plank Card Table

by Prairie Bench0

An old collapsing barn furnished cedar planks for a card table. The project started with the discovery of a set of 4 folding table legs. The planks were cut to size, sanded, glued and clamped. The old nails, staples and defects were left in, sanded flush and coated with layers of finish. A blond spruce slat was added for dividing line between two competitors. We are still debating changing the original color of the legs to something more “rusty”. We’ll post photos of the final decision.

Polyurethane is the finish. No stain is used. The size is approx. 33″x33″ and 27″ tall. The piece weighs less than 20lbs (8 kgs). Click images to expand.

 

Low Back Sectional Chaise Combinations

by Prairie Bench0

Prairiebench_western sectional chaise 1

Combine two left hand, low back sectional chaises in our original design and you have lots of patio options.

Each chaise sits next to the other and creates nooks, corners, tete a tete lounges, adjoining or back to back. Rows of chaise lounges can create seating for outdoor entertaining.

The Low Back Western chaise is approx 28″ tall, 28″ deep and 70″ long  They are finished in our country rustic finish and polyurethane. The chaises pictured have 48″ long seats with open ends for easy access. Combine with coffee tables or fire pit. You can also combine them with double chaises (reclines on both sides). Click the images to enlarge.

Old Plank Cedar Chest

by Prairie Bench0

prairie bench cedar chest 2
Cedar trunk in progress. A 100 year old camel back trunk sits in the background.

prairie bench cedar chest 3 prairie bench cedar chest 1

A friend dropped off a few pieces of old growth cedar reclaimed from a demolition. These were 2×6″ used in the attic. Cut to size and planed, the planks are now an arch top cedar chest. The arch top and it’s relative, the camel back, prevented others from stacking luggage on top. Your luggage would be last on and first off at the steam ship dock.

There are still some iron fixtures and hinges to go on, but we thought you might like  to see some incredibly old cedar being put to reuse. The hardware will have to be old and worn, or we will make our own from steel flat bar.

The grain is very tight and the planks were heavy despite being cedar and completely dry. This one might be a keeper when it’s done, or maybe a traveling companion on display.

Approx size: 32″ wide x 22″ tall x 16″ deep
Approx weight: 30 lbs.

(Back with more pictures when it’s all shiny.)