Aluminum medical equipment as components??

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Aluminum medical equipment as components??

Postby Ratty » Mon Sep 10, 2012 7:34 pm

Has anyone ever built anything out of medical equipment? Aluminum crutches, walkers and chairs etc.. I just love the way they click together. I searched the web and only came up with, "How to make an easel from old wooden crutches". I used my painted shower chair this year and it was great. A light weigh table/chair that breaks down to a small pile yet supports 250 pounds when needed.

I'm working on a round shade structure assembled from walkers. It's starting to get the feel of an old fashioned circus tent. We'll see.

I wish I could just leave well enough alone but, but, these things were calling out to me in desperation to be saved from the landfill.
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Re: Aluminum medical equipment as components??

Postby Bob » Mon Sep 10, 2012 8:32 pm

Considered it myself, but I don't think that stuff stores or packs well. Could use crutches singly or doubled-up to prop up camo netting or shade mesh, I suppose.

I scored a few dozen ski poles sitting by the dumpster behind a store in Truckee one year, thinking they'd make great dome struts or shade props or something, but they sat around in the garden shed for years until a friend of mine needed them to make bike polo mallets.

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Re: Aluminum medical equipment as components??

Postby Ratty » Tue Sep 11, 2012 6:11 am

I'm approaching this as a sort of art project. Maybe I'll tire of it before I get to the sewing. I do love the image of "The little big top" circus tent.
'This is going on your Permanent Record'.
For 2013 change my Playa name to 'Schwag Hag'
Butt? Does this make my face look big?
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Re: Aluminum medical equipment as components??

Postby Ratty » Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:09 pm

I'm moving forward with my big-top project. It took no time at all to disassemble 4 walkers. I still need to remove the hand locks from them but that is just drilling out one rivet. It only takes 10 minutes to prepare one walker for clicking into the circle that will become my 'Big Top Tent". The frame will be the easiest part. Each section weighs just over a pound and I think I need about 24-26 sections. Still, it will be much lighter than my carport. I can't wait for the sewing.

I've often dreamt of what my front room would look like if I lived alone. As it turns out, it looks like a garage. I'll get it cleared away before my hubbie comes back from his trip.
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'This is going on your Permanent Record'.
For 2013 change my Playa name to 'Schwag Hag'
Butt? Does this make my face look big?
"I a recovering swagaholic. I have to resist my grabby nature." VultureChow
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Re: Aluminum medical equipment as components??

Postby Foxfur » Sat Nov 17, 2012 11:25 am

Ratty wrote:I'm working on a round shade structure assembled from walkers.

Hee hee!
I got a mental picture of a shade structure with baffled geezers hanging from the crossmembers...
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Re: Aluminum medical equipment as components??

Postby Ratty » Sat Nov 17, 2012 6:51 pm

God I hope not. I've put it on hold till the weather is nicer for working on it outside. I can picture it and that usually means I can build it. I may be the only geezer hanging.
'This is going on your Permanent Record'.
For 2013 change my Playa name to 'Schwag Hag'
Butt? Does this make my face look big?
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