GARDEN CHAIR WEAVING (PARACHORD OR PLASTIC WIRE NETTING)

This was the chair to be salvaged. 

The old netting was stripped out. It was cleaned and and painted with a coat of black paint.  

A para chord was bought (it comes by weight and cheap - around 200 rs per kg). It is wound on a make shift bobbin. This bobbin is important so that it can be meshed back and forth with ease. 

Before the meshing, a black parachord was wound at four courners of the base and back to make the area a rectangle so as to make meshing easy. Every where a constriction knot was used to have a firm long lasting knot.  

Once the corners done, the white parachord was meshed in a manner to have the chord running over the back base pipe and under the back base pipe evenly so as to get a tight base. 

The bobbin came handy to work swiftly without parachord getting entangled while going over and under the base and back pipes. 

The scale was used to separate the over and under para chords. so that the cross black para chord could be woven back and forth easily.

The result is here!! 

Cost of new chair - 3000 - 3500 rs

Cost of old chair given to refurbish (for weaving only!!)  - 2500 rs

Cost of old chair if refurbished at home (as hobby)  - 250 rs.

You have to decide how you are going to spend your time. 

I prefer the third option (critics will always roast me for not contributing to the nations economy though !!!!!)

GARDEN TABLE

Here is a story of an old rejected chariot wheel of a mandir. The chariot wheel was thrown in front of the mandir as they fabricated a new set of chariot wheels. The rejected chariot wheel was left in the open for almost two years weathering the rains and sun. The wood quality was good and I decided to give it a new form and fit.

Mandir authorities kindly permitted and the wheels were then shifted to my place for restoration / other use.

The wheel was cleaned, sprayed with anti termite solution. The arcs and the wooden spokes were matched and assembled. The spokes and arcs were strengthened by fixing aluminum strips.

The gaps were filled by mixing saw dust - fevicol and finished by wood filler. 

The wheel was painted with primer. It was decided to paint it with oil paint instead of polishing it to give a garden table look. 

The stand was made up of solid steel ms rods to give rigidity and ease of mounting. It was painted white. 

The top was covered by a concentric cut glass to give a plain surface. 

The table has natural axle hole which can be used to place and anchor a suitable umbrella or the place can be used to place a flower vase to decorate and make it look more elegant. 

WALL MOUNTED FLOWER POT BASE

The wall mounted flower pot base was made from the left over wood pieces typically 3 cm by 18 cm. 10 such pieces were taken and nailed crisscross keeping 5 cm in between each piece. The ends of wood pieces were cut at an angle. After the pieces were joined (or nailed), one coat of polish was applied. 

The base was mounted on the wall and the flowerpot was tied to it by a ms wire. 

Idea contribution - Better half. 

TREE TRUNK COFFEE TABLE

The wood has become tough due to seasoning. This can be used in several ways and one is to make a coffee table for two persons. 

The trunk was cut by a chain saw into the required slice of thickness 2 to 3 inch as per need. Very thin slice or very thick slice would not look elegant. Proper use of eye protecting goggles, mask and gloves where required were used. 

Here a slice of 2 inches was taken. Treated it with anti termite spray and left it to dry for a day. 

The saw dust could be used in the plants in lieu of cocopeat. It is leveled by a planer. Proper precautions to protect eyes were taken during the activity. 

After leveling it was sanded by a sander, to bring out the grains of the tree trunk. 

After sanding it was further hand sanded to make it smooth by a 150 sandpaper. 

The irregularities of the wood were filled by wood filler or by mixture of sawdust and fevicol. Some irregularities were purposefully left to give it a natural touch.

Gave a coat of lacquer + thinner to further smoothen the cracks. 

Sanded the surface by a 350 sand paper and gave 2 more coats of Lacquer. Left if to dry before applying another coat. 

Made a hairpin tripod of ms bar. Painted it with redoxide. It acts as a primer and protects from getting corroded. 

Gave two coats of enamel or mat finish black oil paint. Any colour is suitable but black is universal.

Mounted the tree trunk slice on the tripod and secured it by screwing it at the base. Sanded the lacquer by 350 sander and wiped it clean with a muslin cloth. Polished it with a suitable wood polish. Applied wood polish by a muslin cloth. Use hand gloves otherwise it becomes a very sticky affair. 

Applied two coats to get the required glaze and polish thickness. Left it to dry for a day. 

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The coffee table for two.