Mark Builds Steel Table Project for Turner Studios

August 25, 2008

Mark took on a challenging table project for Turner Studios that involved bending a 1-inch square steel bar into a tight ellipse, and "sewing" with 3/8 steel rod a slanted base for the table support.

The project was quite a challenge. Mark bent steel 1" x 3/16 strap into an ellipse of the required size and welded it securely to a steel table to provide a template for bending the one inch steel. The steel was heated in a fire-brick oven with propane assisted by oxyacetylene until it was cherry-red. Then it was pulled out and bent around the template.

For the table support he welded together the six rods that were to be "woven" together and used Phil's press to make the bends necessary for the weaving process. The table is shown with vertical supports made from MDF, but these are to be clear plexiglas in the final table, along with the top.