He Made A Stunningly Modern Chair Using Rocks And An Angle Grinder

Making your own furniture may sound like a major undertaking, but it needn't be. There are lots of affordable wood pallet ideas, for example. Making a modern chair from rocks might seem a particularly challenging project, but although it's hard work, it doesn't require any specialist skill. Over on YouTube, the HomeMadeModern channel shows us how it's done. If you can use an angle grinder, you can do the same.

If you don't currently own an angle grinder, you'll be pleased to hear that you can get a durable tool from a well-known brand without spending a fortune. The corded 4½-inch GWS-48, for example, is one of the Bosch tools currently under $100 worth adding to your collection. There are plenty of alternatives if you want to shop around. In the video, a break saw (also called a cut-and-break saw) is also used. These can easily top $1,000 dollars, although they can be hired for a day. Hammers and chisels are also used, but the entire project can be completed with an angle grinder if you don't want the extra expense.

The rock used for this chair is granite. While most is imported, it is possible to buy stone quarried in the U.S. However, American granite is usually gray. If you want something more vibrant, you could consider marble or soapstone. The latter is quite soft, so it's easier to work, but it can also get scratched relatively easily.

Most angle grinder discs for cutting natural stone have industrial diamonds around the edge, with the segmented type often recommended for granite. These start at under $20 each, although pro-grade versions can be close to $200. After initial rough shaping, a grinding cup wheel is used for smoothing. The demonstrator's preferred model is listed, though there are numerous alternatives. It's important to wear a mask and goggles or a face shield while working so you don't inhale the rock dust or get it in your eyes.

The carving process is time-consuming, but not complicated. A hammer drill with a wide chisel can speed things up, but as was mentioned earlier, the same can be achieved with the angle grinder alone. Once shaping is finished, he makes a linkage to keep the two pieces of the chair together. You could probably find metal eye screws and a nut and bolt at the hardware store to do the same job without quite so much effort.

Being granite, the chair could be used outdoors as well. The rock also makes a low-maintenance material for a fire pit, so you might want to consider combining the two.