Unique Outdoor Bench Design

Unique Outdoor Bench Design

I designed this out of old cedar from a prior picnic bench. The cedar was sound. When designing weight bearing structures it is important to have lateral supports that prevent sway and add greatly to long term stability of said structure. This is a key component of my designs. I just don’t understand those tables’ people make with the skinny legs that sway leading to a toppy center of gravity. Despite their prized mortise and tenon joints. They make no sense to me in terms of utilization. You can see that in the triangular pieces that support the vertical uprights. The “feet” on this bench are made from treated lumber, because they contact the ground soil and would be prone to rot. All outdoor furniture should bear this aspect in terms of practicality. It is coated with purple paints and is designed to be a “shrine” to my boat. In addition to being Catholic I am a Noahist, a self named religion that believes in keeping your boat nearby. Not that I think there will be a flood but because it is the proper thing to do in terms of Noahism.

Copyright 2010 Thomas Paul Murphy

The Green Utility Bench

The Green Utility Bench

I patterned this one after one the industrial arts (shop) teacher “John Buttenhoff” at my father’s school gave him. It was in need of repair. I redesigned it with the slat in the center that also functions as a handle and reinforced this design with more wood. It serves as a stable step stool. When designing things it is important to take into account proportions of various components. The proportions are the basis of form. The coating is Rustoleum John Deer Green a favorite of mine.

Copyright 2010 Thomas Paul Murphy

The Footstool

The Footstool

I made this footstool for my father. It has 6 legs giving it the abstract representation of a California fishing pier. As you look at it from the top it looks to have more than six legs, I call this the “Picaso effect.” Where you think you see the legs from looking at it from the top does not correspond to where they are on the bottom. This is another one of my favorite designs. The legs were made from an old wooden garden/yard tool handle. Thereby allowing me to categorize it in this blog and not my AmericanIngenuity-ThomasMurphy.blogspot.com sit, which deals with more unique industrial engineered items.

The Desk

The Desk

I designed and created this desk top for my room. I feel it is nicer than any desk I have ever seen. The top is made from 2x4 construction and darkly stained. Once again threaded rods hold it together and prevent separation. It is finished with bar top epoxy for a hard durable finish capable of being written on top of without indenting through the paper. It is finished with oak sides.

Copyright 2010 Thomas Paul Murphy

Utility Cart

Utility Cart

This upright’s of this cart were made from bed frame angle iron that was being thrown out, it is very strong. The bottom “Bucket Part” was made from an army surplus metal bin purchased at National Ace Hardware for about $5. Castors were added to this. The table top is threaded rod laminated 2x4’s with inlaid cedar chess board. A little too nice for a shop utility cart but that’s ok. I made it level with my workbench so that I could balance longer “works” between the two of them. The bottom of the drawer was made from sheet metal cut from the side of our discarded and dismantled stove. This cart is very sturdy and a nice addition to my work shop.

Copyright 2010 Thomas Paul Murphy

PRIMARY COFFEE TABLE

This coffee table was built from repurposed wood from my father’s antique desk that was in ill repair, as a tribute to him and his teachings to me but also with the Milwaukee Public School system.
The contrasting cross sectionals of this old growth oak and poplar make this one of the most beautiful pieces in our house.
The legs of the structure came from wood bought at the Habitat for Humanity Resale shop.

HARDWOOD COFFEE TABLE

The wood in the top of this table made from oak, cherry and poplar, which contribute to the piano key effect of this table.
The wood was cast away when a neighbor moved. The cherry headboard some of the piece being derived from, was a real catch.
The legs are of 2x4 and 2x6 design. The contrast is meant to be an abstract comparison to modern industry versus antique craftsmanship in terms of materials and design of structure.

The Trough

The Trough
This is meant to be a side table to a chair. The reservoir top was designed and inspired in favor of pragmatism. How often do little parts fall of a table top and lose themselves on a dark carpet. The border created through the “carved out” center prevents this. I don’t see tables like these for sale; it follows the “If you want it done right, do it yourself” principle.
The solid block of wood was reclaimed and purposed from an old bench.
Symbolism of a carved our Indian canoe was well as farmland motif inspired by the way some younger girls are prone to dress today as influenced by our culture.

COPYRIGHT 2009 THOMAS PAUL MURPHY

END TABLE

This end table was made from poplar bedposts a resident discarded when a heavy rain deluged the village and “waterlogged” many basement.
The legs of the table are skinny buy solid and stained red.

Rough structure with plane shavings

This picture shows a series of boards that have been roughly cut to length, height and laminated together with threaded rods. These shavings planed off had a warm feel to them and looked kind of artistic so I took this picture. The table top structure will be a dining room table. It is about 6ft by 3ft and 2.5 inches thick. The 3/4" boards were part of mock beams on a ceiling structure of my neighbors house. The rough boards were around 14ft long and I could not resist re purposing them. The knots in the edge grain, often seen as imperfections by others, are placed somewhat like a florist would arrange a bouquet, with symmetry in mind.

INTRODUCTION

Hello I started this blog to share some of the beautiful and creative things that can be made from recycling wood.

I intend to post pictures of some of the many beautiful things that can be made from wood that no one wants anymore.

I hope I can inspire you to initiate similar endeavors.

Best of luck.

Thomas Murphy

Freeware Like Donation

This art gallery of furniture is sponsored by me for your viewing pleasure and enjoyment. If you were inspired or saw something you could relate to artistically please consider making a donation for the written and graphic freeware. If you were so inspired to create one like these also consider making an ever so small non tax deductible contribution to my PayPal account. How much does a movie cost today and what do we get out of them? Just click'ums that donate button a few spaces below this paragraph and it will take you to my authentic PayPal account.