DiResta: Car Tables

In each bi-monthly episode of DiResta (every other Wednesday at 2pm PT), artist and master builder Jimmy DiResta (Dirty Money, Hammered, Against the Grain, Trash for Cash) lets us into his workshop, to look over his shoulder while he builds whatever strikes his fancy. On this episode of DiResta, Jimmy speaks! And builds a couple of very unique car tables for a retail store. – Gareth Branwyn

Materials/Supplies:

• Old car
• Plywood (for box and drawer)
• Steel (for glass frame)
• Bolts
• Drawer sliders
• Wired plate glass

Tools:

• Welder
• Bandsaw
• Sawsall
• Wrenches
• 20-ton compactor
• Sledgehammer

Jimmy’s Notes:

Twenty years ago, I was restoring a 58 caddy. It was a pile of rust, but still looked very sexy. I was determined to get it back looking like new. During the restoration, I thought it would make a great art piece if it was crushed flat and used as a giant table base under glass. But it was too big and I didn’t have a client to sell the idea to. Last year, the guys at Feltraiger Clothing contacted me. They wanted a conversation piece for their shop. The crushed car table was the first thing I mentioned and they loved it. We went to the junkyard and found a 1971 Dodge Dart. In the video, you can see the idea of the drawers come to life in real time. Ultimately, we had enough car to make two tables for the space, the top is wired glass to add to the industrial look of the piece. Cutting up the car was the best part, as you can see! The tables are a big hit at the store.