Here in our rural Pennsylvania shop, TheSteelFork, we make tables from tractors. Ripping apart big horsepower machines from the 1970s makes one reflective of the times. Back in those glory days, it was all about the cheap fuel that made those oversized engines possible. There was prestige in big and fast — particularly in agriculture, it was “get big or get out.” The power of the tractor and that era is compelling — but I’m beginning to see something just as powerful emerge here and now.
My husband Ben and I have been selling metal sculptures using recycled farm machinery for about eight years. Ben quit college and bought a herd of dairy cows at age 19 and farmed organically. After earning a degree in Human Ecology I worked for a non-profit sustainable agriculture organization. Ben and I are both passionate about farming, food and design, and we share our musings over at our blog, The Steel Fork.
The process of turning a tractor into a table begins with a tractor that is too broken down, rusted out or expensive to fix. It is torn into pieces, parts are sold and the rest of it is usually thrown in the scrap dumpster (unless Ben Gatski comes around).
The steel in a tractor from the 1970s is high quality. By making a table from it we are saving the energy it would take to transport it (likely overseas), melting it down to a much lesser grade, transporting to a manufacturer and again to its retail destination. Aside from the energy savings, we are able to pay regional farmers and dealers a premium for what would otherwise be scrap. So, Ben heaves the hood into his pick-up truck and hauls it home.
The tractor hood is set out, measured and cut. As the process unfolds, we sometimes wonder, “How did we come to do this?” I don’t mean the obvious reasons, like Ben growing up on a farm, both of us being raised by moms in crafts businesses and lots “green” influences — I’m thinking about something bigger than us. I’m thinking about the collective power of designers and makers who are defining our time.
Even tucked up here on our hilltop where it’s a one mile walk to our mailbox and there’s not a neighbor in sight, we act on instincts shared by makers today. We crave things that are clever, zany, full of love and greatness, 
beautiful and super organic. There is a drive to recycle and repurpose and a yearning for simplicity. This desire doesn’t stop designing and creating: we want to blog about these ideas, tweet about them and shop for them. We do all these things, and we are creating a powerful culture of makers and designers. It is a new era — perhaps our slogan can be “get clever or get out.”
Slogan or not, it’s a thrilling time when you’re not alone in approaching the junkyard dealer about your “art” project or when there are scads of people scouting yard sales, flea markets and combing beaches and forests for raw materials. We’re looking for something that will give us layer upon layer of beauty and intrigue. We want more: we want a story.
Path Ring by dmdmetal, Portable Chicken Coop by ChickenCoops
There is a lot of power, not to mention fire, in the process of making a table from a tractor. I now realize that all my thoughts about power were coming from an unexpected place: the table in its completed form. I had the heady realization that as “crazy” as what we do seems sometimes, it is really is part of a remarkable evolution where makers and designers are coaxing something very powerful out of our time.
Thanks to Ben and Kate for sharing their creative process and inspirations. How do you repurpose the old?
Earth Tones Series | Search for Repurposed Items | Recycled Art on Etsy
87 comments
Sign in to add your ownAyca says:
Great find! Looks beautiful!
2 years ago
StudioZen says:
So cool, so creative!
2 years ago
RetroEyewear says:
oh..i love the idea!! so wonderful!
2 years ago
shopgoodgrace says:
This is AWEsome! Such unique and intuitive ways to repurpose ... I'm inspired. Thank you for sharing. :)
2 years ago
adrienneaudrey says:
Very cool. I love the moose head!
2 years ago
VerreDesign says:
What amazing tables and products! I love it!
2 years ago
polkadotmagpie says:
Brings me back to my college days of welding farm tools and tractor seats into people. That chicken coop is fabulous! Great piece thesteelfork!
2 years ago
breadandroses2 says:
A mile walk to the mailbox & a hilltop view....sounds like heaven to me. Congratulations & take care when welding!
2 years ago
laurelinsailor says:
Hey the coolest thing to do in the world is to repurpose old materials! I love it! If you want more, check my shop for the party animals! 100% repurposed!
2 years ago
HAREandDRUM says:
Very inspirational! I have that knack in me, too. Recently I saved the hood letters from my in-laws' old Ford that is about to be scrapped. Don't know what do do with them YET.
2 years ago
aemcdraw says:
LOVE! This is so incredible.
2 years ago
NeedSomeBling says:
Fantastic! What creativity you both have! Love the re-purposing!
2 years ago
worksofwhimsy says:
I love the look of your stuff. I want that deer or ram mount so badly!
2 years ago
MariesVintage says:
Very cool, I love that red table at the end!
2 years ago
YouAreYou says:
WOW! Those are awesome and look at that chicken coop!! Love it!
2 years ago
lovelygifts says:
Very creative!!
2 years ago
CharliesApt says:
Love the tractor hood!
2 years ago
birdie1 says:
Awesome tables!!!
2 years ago
LittleWrenPottery says:
Wow who'd of thought you could turn a tractor into so many useful things. These look great!
2 years ago
VelveteenHabbit says:
AHEM ETSY STAFFERS: there are so many eco thrifters making cool funky jewelry!!! I promise I will only do this once because I am tired of seeing the same shops listed two three four times over and I have AWESOME recycled upcycled repurposed very artsy stuff too. If I am disappointed, I'm sure there are many other really cool really different really quiet little shops out there that should get a lookover---eco jewelry greencrafts--earth day---PLEASE DIG A LITTLE DEEPER ----I am getting tired of the same eco shops--I am very happy for their success---also disappointed that repetition occurs so often---sorry to be whiny---frustrated in midwest usa.
2 years ago
CarryTheWord says:
Great stuff!
2 years ago
VelveteenHabbit says:
And metal objects d'art retro repurposed useful found objects etc. PS I'm sorry I forgot to say I LOVE STEEL FORK yay!!!!!
2 years ago
galstudio says:
I love what you do with old metal!
2 years ago
paramountvintage says:
what clever ideas. great way to recycle!!!
2 years ago
AmaliaVersaci says:
I love repurposed metal work! Great to discover this shop, thanks!
2 years ago
ginaregina says:
I love clever ideas. Great!
2 years ago
girltuesdayjewelry says:
Love the tables! So chic and industrial!
2 years ago
recycledwares says:
very nice pieces and i like that they still have the feel of their past life, with rust and scratches and not so perfect paint.
2 years ago
nowonder says:
Beuatiful! Both of you are so talented1
2 years ago
papercutworks says:
Brilliant! As a girl I spent all summers with grandparents & great grandparents with plenty of old tractor parts scattered in various places on their farm - this article and your creations reminded me of those sweet times! :-)
2 years ago
HighRidgeRockNbeads says:
What a great talent! Very unique and fun.
2 years ago
jewelrybyjackie says:
Wow! These are such cool, lovely, rustic pieces of art. So inspiring!
2 years ago
TheSteelFork says:
Thank you everyone for your kind and generous words. We truly appreciate it.
2 years ago
AvianInspirations says:
I really like that last table in the article! The Steel Fork Blog is fantastic and I love their shop.
2 years ago
ArtisticIntentions says:
Very cool!! Love all the tractor re-makes!! Thanks for sharing!!
2 years ago
schparkly says:
LOVE
2 years ago
pinkytoeclothing says:
Absolutely incredible! Thanks for the article.
2 years ago
KatsKube says:
That is amazing!! I really like the portable chicken coop.
2 years ago
pamwares says:
TheSteelFork simply amazing talent you have - love it!
2 years ago
mazedasastoat says:
Great to see someone actually clearing up after farmers... why is it so many farms are just thinly disguised scrap metal yards? LOL Love all the recycling here on Etsy, but like VelveteenHabbit above, I sometimes despair that we'll ever see anyone fresh or different in any of the treasuries or featured articles.
2 years ago
Emmamaha says:
I love how original the Etsy community is about recycling. I wish I was more original. I recycle all the plastic containers takeout and microwaveable food come in by cleaning it and using it to store my daughter's arts and crafts and crayons and pencils in. Egg cartons and toilet paper rolls make great arts and crafts mediums too. I have been known to take my daughter's old clothes and give them away to reuse by another child or make tablecloths out of the bits and pieces. If it weren't for Etsy and Etsy blogs and community, I probably wouldn't have come up with that on my own..so thank you:) and keep those recycle articles comin'!
2 years ago
littlemoandfriends says:
very funky! love what they've done!
2 years ago
JL67 says:
What a cool idea! :)
2 years ago
THINGMAJIG says:
Wow!!! What an idea. A wonderful way to reduce, reuse, recycle and upcycle.
2 years ago
HillTribeCulture says:
Wow....Good Idea Thank you for share it.
2 years ago
HillTribeCulture says:
Best time to see You Love them All!
2 years ago
GoodGriefGlass says:
So great that you pay local farmers for what would otherwise be scrap.
2 years ago
2TrickPony says:
the side steel table is awesome...as is the rest. I love the work:)
2 years ago
candacejean says:
WOW look at that stuff! So creative! I need to re-learn how to make new things out of old stuff... I used to do it all the time when I was little. It felt awesome.
2 years ago
pasin says:
great finds. love them
2 years ago
genisepark says:
I am loving those tables. Good creative work. Thanks for sharing.
2 years ago
ClementinesJewelry says:
Beautiful!!!
2 years ago
bialakura says:
metal moose head is wonderful! machines, machinery they could be so beautiful, thank for sharing your story and great picks:)
2 years ago
LavenderField says:
Fantastic! So creative! I love the recycled signs.
2 years ago
tigersanddragons says:
Wow! Love the Steel Fork creations. I've seen quite a few chairs and stools made out of tractor seats, but nothing made out of the rest of the tractor. We upcycle old Mah jongg tiles from incomplete sets into jewellery. Also any extra odds and ends - toilet rolls, eggcartons, crayons, and beads are donated to two local art programs for kids.
2 years ago
TipsyTimeMachine says:
Wish we lived closer to Pennsylvania, some of our family are farmers who would love Steel Fork's work.
2 years ago
clevergirl says:
I may need to pass the "clever" moniker on to these folks! Very cool art!
2 years ago
BlackStar says:
Very cool shop! I love old tractors.
2 years ago
hankietankie says:
love their industrial repurposing...i repurpose something a bit softer...vintage hankies & french lace!
2 years ago
aaapothecary says:
When I was younger I got the chance to go spend six months in Pennsylvania. I stayed in the Jewish suburb of Jenkintown, which is outside of Philidelphia. When we think of "The East" here is Missouri we've been conditioned to think of the East Coast and the states therein to nothing but giant cities. I was in love with Philly, but I found more and more that on my days off of work when I would take long drives in the country everything seemed so green and lush. Tiny farms and little towns and folk art were what ended up defining Pennsylvania for me (well....that and Hershey's!)and the unique sculptures and practical, useful art in this shop make me wish I was back in the green, rolling hills of the East Coast country!
2 years ago
Yayahandicraft says:
Wow this is great, wonderful Folks creations
2 years ago
TheSame says:
Chicken coops and repurposed side tables are pretty awesome. Maybe someday we will own chickens on our homestead.
2 years ago
greenandpretty says:
These are so awesome guys! Also it is always a pleasure to run into other Pennsylvania people.
2 years ago
Furiousdreams says:
Ben and Kate- what a great story and I love your repurposed tractor bits. You might want to contact Shane LaBrake in MD- he's a master at fixing old tractors, probably knows where a bunch of spare parts can be found. sjlabrake(at) verizon.net I worked with Maysie's Farm in Glenmoore, on their sustainable farming internship program. Great blog, good to find you here!
2 years ago
nonpareilstyle says:
love love love the steel fork!
2 years ago
hingedjewelry says:
INCREDIBLY inspired and inspiring! Thanks for sharing!
2 years ago
artofjane says:
This is so cool!! I grew up visiting my grandparent's farm in the summer and there was fantastic really old farm machinery all over the place. I thought it was beautiful in all its rustiness then and I miss it now!
2 years ago
elemegibere says:
I really like the design of special items.
2 years ago
bijouXstudio says:
your work is an inspiration to me. i love restoring items, especially metal that has been discarded. i've learned to appreciate the natural process of oxidation and rust and find it beautiful. thanks!
2 years ago
woolybaby says:
Beautiful work... yay PA!
2 years ago
bedbuggs says:
These are awesome! What creativity!
2 years ago
Iammie says:
Great work.
2 years ago
vintagemaison says:
love the tables
2 years ago
friedasophie says:
fantastic article
2 years ago
diannek says:
OOO I love rusty bits and pieces. I use them in my Fiber Art and also the decorate my garden, use them for dyeing fabric and love what has been done to make them into furniture.
2 years ago
visart says:
Awesome idea, Thank you!
2 years ago
MsPremiseConclusion says:
These are super creative! How amazing that you can take something whose usefulnesses has run out (like a broken tractor) and turn it into something so artistic. What a great conversation piece for your room!
2 years ago
SimpleJoysPaperie says:
A repurposing article always gets my attention! I really like your creative style!
2 years ago
studiorickrack says:
One of my hearted faves..Love your work!
2 years ago
KatyScudieri says:
Great article. (And I always love oggling dmdmetal.)
2 years ago
helenapuck says:
Those furniture designs are amazing! Etsy, thanks again for introducing me to a new shop that I wouldn't have found in the search engine on my own.
2 years ago
sassycrafter says:
I've been in love with Steel Fork for awhile now. Loooove their designs, and it was great to get a glimpse into their process. It's always nice to see where other recycling artists draw inspiration. I tend to work with a lot of soft goods (felted wool sweaters), so it's nice to see something with a harder edge.
2 years ago
RedBarnGarden says:
great creativity!! thank you!
2 years ago
JeansVintageCloset says:
Portable chicken coop looks safe for the poultry, my sis kept her pet hens in her yard, They have some land so that the birds can roam around. She would love the little roosting place to keep her chickens safe, I also like heading home, the creatures seen to instinctively know where to shelter from harm
2 years ago
ZZsROCKnRECYCLABLES says:
AWESOME! It is so much fun to recycle!
2 years ago
lizzywear says:
your stuff is awesome!! love the moose head!
2 years ago
PoetryofObjects says:
I am in love with your work! I am a flower essence practitioner and my work is all about "story"...I love that you also surround your work with and in story.
1 year ago