Last Updated on July 6, 2023 by teamobn
Don’t get rid of your old steel bathtub just yet – there’s still plenty of life left in it! With a little bit of creativity, you can turn it into a unique and stylish bathtub chair.
A friend of mine wanted to open a resto-bar with an antique/vintage theme. As much as possible, he wants most of his furniture and decor to come from recycled or re-purposed materials. He had the brilliant idea of sourcing old doors, windows, and other architectural salvage from local demolition sites and using them to create one-of-a-kind wall treatments and furnishings for his business. I think it’s a fantastic idea and I can’t wait to see the finished product!
Re-purposing is a great way to keep things out of the dump and to give your home or business a little décor boost. The task is often relatively quick and easy. Best of all, re-purposing old junk allows you to turn what could have otherwise been junk into something useful. Re-purposing can take many forms.
For example, an old dresser can be re-purposed into a bathroom vanity. An old door can be re-purposed into a table. Even old shipping pallets can be re-purposed into beautiful pieces of furniture.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to re-purposing.
It was with this in mind that we spent most of our time jumping from one junk shop to another. Although we had already purchased a few items, there were still a couple more missing. My friend wanted tabletops and chairs that would fit his theme.
In every junk shop, the most commonly disregarded item is the steel bathtub. Thank goodness for the internet, we knew what to do. We found these discarded steel bathtubs can be converted into bathtub chairs. Let me tell you, it saved us a lot of bucks!
Transforming an old steel bathtub into a chair may seem like a daunting task, but with a little elbow grease, it can be a rewarding project. While it’s not easy, the end result will be a unique and stylish piece of furniture for your home.
What you’ll need to build a bathtub chair…
Materials:
- Old steel bathtub
- Spray-on metal primer
- Metal gloss paint
- Bolts and nuts
- Steel bars
Tools:
- Measuring tape
- Ruler
- Mini circular saw
- Grinder
- Welding machine
- Vise grip
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Steps:
First, cut the tub down to the desired size and shape of the chair using a grinder. Be sure to wear protective gear, such as gloves and a dust mask, while doing this. This will help to protect you from fumes and flying debris.
Next, use a sander to smooth out the edges of the tub. Again, be sure to wear protective gear to avoid inhaling the fumes. Once the tub is in the desired shape and size, you can begin working on the stand or legs of the chair.
If you are planning on adding legs to the chair, you will need to measure and cut the steel bars to the desired length. Be sure to use a level when cutting the legs so that they are even. Once the legs are cut, you can attach them to the bottom of the tub using screws.
To prevent your projects from rusting, always apply an anti-rust primer before painting. This will help ensure that your paint job lasts longer and protects your investment from the elements.
Would you like to have this upcycling project? Then start scouting for an old metal bathtub now!
You can get step-by-step instructions here…
