Introduction: Adjustable Modular Furniture
This is a piece of furniture that can be bent like a snake and is screwed solid with nuts. You can create lots of different tables and chairs. I will make 8 sections but you can choose to make as many sections as you want. You can always add sections later.
Step 1: Materials to Make 8 Sections
- 32 - 1 foot sections of 2x4
- 9 - 15" sections of threaded rod ( I used 5/16" rod )
- 18 - grade 8 nuts (size of rod)
- 100 - 1 1/4" outer size fender washers (size of rod)
- 300 in2 - 60gt sandpaper
- Wood Stain
- Glue
Step 2: Cut the Boards Into 8 Peices
I cut my 8' 2x4s into 11 3/4" pieces with a chop saw. Just try and pick a length that you want that uses your wood efficiently.
Step 3: Cut 3" in on Each Side
There's probably a better way to do this (like a band saw), but I set up a jig on my chop saw. You SHOULD cut slightly to one side to compensate for the blade thickness, but I will just fill in this gap with washers.
Note that the chop saw will not cut 3" straight all the way down, I had to flip the boards over and even then, there was a "V" shape left inside.
Step 4: Cut Off the Blocks (or Try)
I clamped 8 together at a time and ran them through the table saw at the right height to cut out the blocks. Notice they still stay in because of my faulty technique in the previous step.
Step 5: Pop Em Out and Sand Smooth
They snap out with a hammer easily and left less of a problem than I thought. I just sanded the "V" smooth with a circular sander.
Step 6: Drill Holes
A drill press and quick jig would make simple work of this but I was without one. Marked the spot and just eyeballed what's straight. Make sure to use a bit that is quite larger than the threaded rod, don't use the same thickness, it'll be too tight!
Step 7: Make Sandpaper Washers
The friction of wood against wood alone will not support much weight so washers covered with sandpaper are put in between all the cracks; 63 needed, I made 70. View picture comments for instructions.
Step 8: Sand and Stain
I sanded with a random orbit sander and stained them with black walnut danish oil.
Step 9: Cut Your Rods and Bolt Your Peices Together
Cut the rods to 15" or however short you feel conferable (the width of 4 2x4s is 14"). Screw the nut on the end, slip two washers on and push the rod though the pieces, adding sandpaper washers in between each piece. Finish the end off with 2 fender washers and another grade 8 nut.
Tighten the nuts at least a quarter inch in on each side and It will be rock solid. To change the shape, unscrew the nuts until they're loose and at will move around easily.
Step 10: Imagine the Possibilities, All Infinity of Them.
Please rate and comment.
61 Comments
4 years ago
So many more ways to get your fingers pinched off
xD
7 years ago
What a wonderful
idea very neat
13 years ago on Step 5
A chisel would probably be faster and give you more accurate results. A nice sharp blade would cut through that pine like butter without over-rounding the right angle there.
Reply 13 years ago on Step 5
I tried a chisel first, this way was about 10 times faster, and I was in a rush.
Reply 7 years ago
I Believe your Correct fspatz!. You Should at least put a Patient. It's not Expensive to do. They will make a lot of Money off of your Genius Artistic Work. Please do this. It's really cool!. Alot of ppl will buy it & think of all that Money?. If you don't need the money. You should at least do it & make Donate it to whomsoever or what ever place you wish please. Like you said you can make it to Customize it. 2 Together & 2 Table side's or in the Middle or both. If you don't Someone else will & Take the Credit for you Genius Artistic Work think about that ? By the RIAA
12 years ago on Step 10
really great idea! i think IKEA (swedish furniture factory) will copy this ;-)
Reply 7 years ago
I Believe your Correct fspatz!. You Should at least put a Patient. It's not Expensive to do. They will make a lot of Money off of your Genius Artistic Work. Please do this. It's really cool!. Alot of ppl will buy it & think of all that Money?. If you don't need the money. You should at least do it & make Donate it to whomsoever or what ever place you wish please. Like you said you can make it to Customize it. 2 Together & 2 Table side's or in the Middle or both. If you don't Someone else will & Take the Credit for you Genius Artistic Work think about that ? By the RIAA
7 years ago
very useful
7 years ago
This furniture is pure genious!!!
I'll try to build it as soon as possible
10 years ago on Introduction
This is amazing!
11 years ago on Introduction
This is actually an excellent idea. And it also gives you inspiration to create more variations of this, hmmm!!
11 years ago on Step 10
its not hex its a octogon
12 years ago on Introduction
Might try this idea with cardboard instead of lumber.
12 years ago on Introduction
if you were making a box or a chair or a table with this, how would i support its self? it looks like it would sag at the bend points (not the corners, the're fine)
13 years ago on Introduction
By grade 8,do you mean M8 nuts?
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
http://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-information/materials-and-grades/bolt-grade-chart.aspx
12 years ago on Introduction
ok, now THAT is effing amazing
13 years ago on Step 10
This is awesome!! 5 stars
Reply 13 years ago on Step 10
Yeah, and IMO it looks nice enough to sit in the house as well, like he has it in his room. Great idea!
13 years ago on Introduction
i like it :) but me not have the patience for it