How to Make a Student Chair From Recycled Plastics and Steel
Most of the worlds plastic bags end up in 1 of 3 places…in a land fill (UGH), an incinerator (UGH) or blowing around the country side or in the ocean (UGH UGH) Here is an alternative! While it is not the best looking chair – it is one you can make yourself – or anyone can anywhere – from the trash plastic bags.
Because this chair can be made from recycled materials – where the materials ARE – eliminates the need to truck or process the plastic. Just pick it up..put it in a heat press you can build your self – instructions on instructables too.
Also consider that there are millions of students who do not have a decent chair to sit in. OR the chair they do have is made from wood which likely means a tree was cut down to make the chair. OR the chair they are sitting in was made in China from plastic and shipped thousands of miles to the school.
It makes sense to pick up the trash near the school and make a chair for the students at the school. Better for everyone.
Supplies
- 20 feet of 3/8″ diameter rebar or steel rod or tube. This chair was made with 3/8 tube with .060″ wall that was being sold for scrap:) for this chair the steel frame cost $3 USD!
- 10 pounds of plastic bags, wrappers..pretty much any soft plastic. DO NOT USE PVC. PVC when heat gives off toxic gases and is not safe to use.
- A heat press – build your self for about $300 USD or buy one.
- Teflon sheets to keep the hot plastic from sticking to the heat press or your hand iron
- A hand iron
- Gloves – the plastic needs to be heated to 160c or 350F to stick together. It is hot and it cools very slowly so it stays hot!
Step 1:
Wire the frame together. I made the two sides – starting from the top of the seat back then down to the floor, forward then up to the seat and back to the seat back.. then across to the other upright. screw together or spot weld or wire
Step 2:
Place the teflon sheets inside the heat press..then place about 2 pounds of plastic bags ontop of the teflon, place more teflon and close the press. Wait about 6 minutes for the plastic to get to 160c. When hot and sticky, open the press, remove the top teflon and then fold plastic in half length wise to get a thicker panel that is about 12″ wide and 24″ long
Step 3:
Place hot plastic panel with top Teflon removed on a work table. Place frame upside down so that about 3″ of the panel on both sides of seat extends beyond frame. Fold those extension over frame so they lay on top of bottom of seat. Place Teflon on top of joint and press firmly with a clothes iron for a minute or two to bond the plastic to itself and seal in the frame.
Repeat 4 times. I started at the front of seat. I am not sure if it matters where you start.
Step 4:
And the chair is done. I used dimensions of 16″ tall, 16″ deep and 17″ wide. It seems about right for a secondary school student.
Got questions?