Here in the Salvage Department we find ourselves continually amazed at the beauty of old industrial pieces. It breaks our hearts to think of these giants of the industrial world just sitting around, unused and unloved. So we don’t let them — we give them a second life by turning them into one-of-a-kind furniture pieces: kitchen islands; console, cocktail, and side tables; desks; and dining tables.

We start with the bases. First we choose a heavy-duty vintage industrial piece from our collection of dozens. With options like  optician’s machines, I-beam trestles, and stitching machines from a textile factory available to us, this is a really cool part of the process. Once we have a base that feels just right, we begin scouring our selection of reclaimed wood slabs and vintage glass panels to find a top with the right proportions, look, and feel to match the base. For pieces made with reclaimed wood we cut the slab to fit the base, sand it until it’s silky smooth, and attach it to the base with heavy-duty screws. They’re sturdy and wobble-free, and they make us really happy. Customers seem to love them, too, and can be often found crouching down to get a better look at the mechanical bases or running their hands over their smooth, touchable tops. Best of all, these titans of an earlier industrial age get a chance to serve a purpose once again.

For our creations we have found a new use for an I-beam trestle,

cut apart and re-used a bandsaw,

topped a shoe stitcher,

and transformed a knurling* machine.

But that’s only the beginning. We have so many more components to put together, from streetlights and work benches for bases…

…to end-cut maple, black walnut, elm, Doug fir, live-edge slabs, and glass for tops.

These don’t tend to hang around the store for long. To check availability or to order, call customer service at 888.401.1900. For questions or to find out what’s in the works, call the Portland store at 503.238.1900, and ask to speak with someone in the salvage department.

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*Knurling, for those of you who are interested, refers to the diamond pattern often seen on metal tools, which allows you to get a better grip.