This project was designed with Fu-Tung Cheng for a series of How-To videos for The Concrete Network demonstrating fiber-reinforced concrete techniques. At the World of Concrete 2013 in Las Vegas, I was a part live demonstrations throughout the week, showing how-to cast and finish this bench to a crowd of a hundred people. The bench was designed to be easy to build, the two end pieces can be cast in a single form that is just a box made of 3/4″ melamine. The wood bench top is built from common 2×4″s and requires only basic tools to assemble. It been added as the Advanced Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Training curriculum at CHENG Concrete and Instructional Drawings for this bench are for sale online. Berkeley, California 2011.
Date: 2011
Project Background: This project was intended use a fiber reinforced concrete mix called CHENG D-FRC. The mix is packed into the form by hand, and instead of weighing 200 lbs. each side weighs about 60 lbs. The bench is designed to be simple to construct with no special tools required. The bench top is made of standard 2×4″s which helps keep the cost down for the DIYer that this project is aimed toward.
My Role: Design the bench from sketches to 3D models, with input from Fu-Tung Cheng along the way. It was incorporated into the concrete training curriculum where I was an assistant. I’ve built, packed, and finished these bench ends, along with photography and creating Step-By-Step instructional drawings.
Metrics: People seem to like this bench wherever it goes. It’s been to World of Concrete two or three years, Maker Faire, West Edge Design Fair, and is currently somewhere on a pallet returning from the last trade show. It’s one of the most popular Instructional Drawings and projects on the CHENG How-To Center website.