With reference to
Pipe Couch, the couch made out of pipes.
A-1: Frame Construction
Channel Lock Pliers
These were used to tighten down some pipe fittings, specifically the unions.
Pipe Bender
Due to my general lack of knowledge, I'll run into times where I have no idea how to proceed with some aspect of a problem. My general solution is to walk around a hardware store looking for inspiration. Sometimes I'll see something that I can make do what I want (even if that's not it's intended purpose) and sometimes I'll see a tool and say "ohhhhh, there's a tool to do that!"
I was running to problems with the back of the couch because none of the schemes I had for making with the general pipe fittings plan would provide the rigidity I wanted (also there was a real weight concern). Then I saw a pipe bender and it just clicked.
Pipe Cutter
I had the smaller cutter already, but for the 1/2 inch pipe I used I needed to upgrade. I bought the red one at Harbor Freight and it apparently was broken (or I was using it wrong? I'm not so bright) and the wheel was crooked. I would have taken it back, but I was impatient and found that if I started the cut with the smaller cutter than that groove would keep the bigger one on track (I didn't envision enough use for this to worry about the tool too much).
My original plan was to use all pre-cut lengths of pipe. When that didn't work I had to make my own.
Pipe Threader
I bought this to use as a monocle when I took this southern belle to the opera in an attempt to seduce her and get her to buy me a much nicer pipe threader. When that didn't work I just used this.
Of course for the pipe that I cut to do me any good, I had to thread it.
Pipe Wrenches
If you're gonna tighten pipe, you need pipe wrenches. I owned the small red one already, but the two eighteen inch kobalt ones were bought for this (that smaller blue one was also bought for this one a whim, but it's kind of for shit).
Vise Grips
I have this problem where when I shoot heroin my massive arms can't be clamped down with just a belt or some surgical tube, so I got this chain vise grip. The problem is that all the heroin makes me hate myself, so I put vise grips on my fingers to punish myself. Of course that hurts so bad that I have to do more heroin to numb the pain. It's a vicious cycle.
Also. In a proper set up, I'd clamp the pipe in a vise and have it held in place like that to use the pipe threader. Not having access to anything like that I came up with the solution of putting a bunch of vise grips on one end of the pipe and standing on it, which, while effective, was physically exhausting.
A-2: Arm Rest Construction
Allen Wrench
For tightening the bolts.
Auto Center Punch, Scratch Awl
The arm rests are rectangular Aluminum tubing that I drilled and tapped holes in so that I could screw down covers over the cushion. To mark the holes I marked them out with the scratch awl and then used the punch to mark the exact spot. This was the first time I'd used an auto center punch, having always assumed that it was worse than using a punch and hammer. I liked it, but going forward I think I'd buy a better one if I were to use it again (this was two bucks at harbor freight).
Drill
I used three different bits during this. A small one for pilot holes, a larger one to drill the holes for tapping and a stepper bit to drill the big holes that would allow me to bolt the rests to the frame.
Grommet Tool
If I had just bolted down cloth, it would have torn before I could ever get it as tight on the rest as I wanted. To solve that I put a grommet in each bolt hole.
Hole Punch
This was some crazy 16 in 1 scrapbooking tool I bought awhile back. It happened to make perfectly sized holes for the grommets I had.
Tap
Once, I was building something at work and there was a big bin of 1/4 20 bolts. Also 1/4 20 was one of the few taps I could find, so it became my bolt of choice. I have arbitrarily stuck with it since. (ps, tap is for cutting threads in the aluminum so I could screw into it).
A-3: Support Web
Tin Snips
The making of the support web consisted of tying rope and then cutting it off. For a neat trim I wrapped tape, then cut through the tape (to avoid fraying) I then fused the end of the rope. The horizontal ropes began with a double not, pulled through a pipe fitting until there was no give, then brought to the end, through another fitting, clove hitch and some lashings to finish it off. The vertical ones began with a bowline hitch, some lashing at the bend and then two half hitches to finish it off.
A-4: Cushions
Rotary Cutter
I mean, you could cut fabric with something else, I'm just not sure why you would.
Sewing Machine
Singer 4411 HEAVY DUTY (all caps makes it extreme). The cushion covers are five pieces of fabric, top and bottom large pieces and then the three side pieces. The side and top pieces are extra long and have velcro on them to seal tight.
Thread Snips
And this was funny to me because growing up my mom was always very particular about people using her quilting scissors for non-quilting things, which I never really got. Turns out it's cause scissors are like, crazy important and you want that shit to be sharp. Since I was really just using these to trim threads, I began by buying Hobby Lobby's cheapest pair. I then bought their most expensive pair (which weren't really thread snips, but it turns out they don't make thread snips for mike sized hands).
A-4: Miscellaneous and Multi-Use
Hot Glue Gun
The system I had for fixing stuff in life test at electrolux went like this:
Plan A: Put a jumpstart handle on it (don't think about that one, my brother is the only person who would get that).
Plan B: Warm up the hot glue gun. Most proof of concept prototypes I make there are 90% hot glue and duct tape (the ratios vary).
Plan C: Come up with a more effective plan.
Before ordering the foam for the cushions I wanted to make sure it would like how I wanted (size wise) so I made a dummy cushion out of cardboard. Cardboard held together with hot glue.
Metrology Equipment
The cutting mat, omni grid rulers and aluminum ruler by my left hand were used to measure cloth. The blue t and smaller t were used to mark the holes on the arm rests. The tape measure was used to get the big measurements on the couch. The steel ruler by the tape measure was used to verify the pipe fittings had been tightened enough.
FutuRelics Design Studio
The computer doesn't always get its due here. Something like the first stained glass window was done entirely offline. Something like this? Flat out not possible without the computer. I used it to source parts. I used it for research. I scanned pipe fittings in to organize in photoshop when I was having trouble visualizing things.
