Recycled 55 Gallon Barrel Chair

Step 7 Epilogue

We can now turn these out fairly quickly, with reasonably consistent results, the bending of the plastic using a torch is still something of an art, but I prefer the unique results to standardization anyway. The chairs are very durable and surprisingly comfortable, so we are using them everywhere, plus we have made several small tables from half barrels, so they are a useful set. I brought one of the first chairs to work and placed it in the break room, just to see if anyone would use it, and have since had to make more for the indoor break room, the outdoor picnic porch and I even have one in my office as a guest chair, with request for more piling up everyday.

So there you go, instead of an ever-growing pile of blue barrels we have cheap, useful chairs and small tables that our staff loves, we are harvesting our own rainwater runoff to irrigate on the property and we have a healthy composting program, all because we chose to find a way to reuse the waste of our industrial process. Although, the rain and compost projects are no doubt "greener" I am particularly fond of these chairs. Beyond the quirkiness of the design and the pride that goes into creating something new these chairs have opened the eyes of our staff and clients who visit our business and turned them on to the idea of reusing the things we already have and of looking at everything as a source material. It is a different way of seeing the world and this new world view has our people approaching problems in a new way, looking for innovative answers beyond what is offered off the shelf, plus we got these cool chairs in the bargain. What else could you ask for?

Comments

[Mike Harbin]

Love the idea, as well as the intelligent commentary that went along with it as we were walked through the project. Now I just have to find a source for barrels on the cheap or better yet free. Then I get to listen to the wife on starting another project that she won't see the value in until she sits on the finished project! Thanks.

[Lorax98]

WOW! Now give us some mods so that we can turn this into a comfortable toilet seat for use in wilderness camping. It should have an option for open pit or disposable bags. No, I'm not kidding. Sitting on a 5 gallon barrel or toilet seat on a rickety steel tube frame is nerve racking at best. Why shouldn't campers have the luxury of a 10 or 15 minute meditation in comfort just like at home.

[super_aceX]

This is a great idea! Maybe you could post that barrel table idea as well!

[Annalea]

Great idea, excellent presentation, and made me smile. Awesome. :o) Just watch . . . these are going to become your biggest best-seller.

[SmokeySibe]

My neighbor is having a cookout next weekend, I hope to have a couple ready by then. Great read! and and even better idea!!

[noozer42]

Bravo... and if I may say, "super-GENIUS!"

[hal_e_tosis]

excellent Instructable and an entertaining read to boot.

[iliatodorov]

It is a really good idea! And you can store some stuff under the seat!