Design and manufactured by foreman Jim Sibley and Ollie Lord. Jim, the initial designer is now studying Product and Furniture Design BA Hons at the University of Plymouth. We have worked super hard to make sure that we are as eco-friendly as possible, thankfully, we came up with the idea to manufacture our very own furniture by upcycling scaffolding boards, here’s how:
The initial ideas for tables and benches designed and made by the Cornish Tent Company were simple. They had to be strong, collapsible and sustainable. We set out to make good furniture that lasts. If our furniture lasts longer, we will leave less of a footprint as a company.
As the design progressed, we looked into ergonomics, wood types and finishes. We researched and experimented with the height of the table-tops and bench seats. This was time well spent in the workshop to maintain quality and usability. Instead of buying lots of new wood we decided to recycle scaffold boards. The boards were sourced from local scaffolding companies in Cornwall. Most scaffold boards are made from a soft wood which is very malleable. We could easily create and test ideas using hand tools. Our impact on our environment is important to us. Working with used wood and recycling materials to create something new is good. Starting the making process with damaged or dirty wood was daunting. We set aside many hours to clean and shape the wood. Only when we were totally satisfied with the regeneration of the boards could we begin to complete the furniture. Next we tested the quality and strength of our chosen wood joints. The half-lap worked well to join the table legs. Once joined, the legs can be folded underneath the table-top. We looked into many different hinge designs. The chosen hinge works well, it is strong and holds the legs at a steady ninety-degree angle to the table-top.
Having a large space to work in and the time throughout winter was beneficial. We turned the storage space into an efficient factory line. These were the five stages of production. 1. Wood cleaning and sanding 2. Cutting the boards to size 3. Joining table-tops/legs 4. Assembling tables and benches 5. Sanding and varnishing
Keeping all the components together is important to us. It enables anyone to create the ideal set up inside and outside our tents. It also helps us store and transport our furniture safely.