Photo: Esperance Men’s Shed.
Esperance Men’s Shed member John Polkinghorne recently built this “tensegrity” table.
While it appears float in the air, it is not really defying gravity.
Mr Polkinghorne said it utilised the principle of “tensional integrity” — components do not touch each other but are held in place by chains under tension.
“There is a little chain in the middle and I think that is the key to it,” he said.
“You only have to touch it and it falls over.
“I put a flower pot in it, that made it more steady.”
The table with flower pot featured at last month’s Salmon Gums centenary day.
Mr Polkinghorne said he did not use a printed plan.
“I had a picture,” he said.
“My partner found a picture in a magazine and I did it from that.
“Quite often I do get plans from America to make things and it makes things easier.”
Mr Polkinghorne said he was unable to do any lifting, so he spent his time at the Men’s Shed sitting at the bench making wooden models.
“I just sit there and mind my own business and get abused by everybody and abuse everybody else,” he said with a grin.
“I get up to all sorts of mischief.
“I made a big B12 grader, it was at the Show last year. I have also made a D10 Caterpillar tractor and a Monster truck.”
Mr Polkinghorne said he had been a member of Esperance Men in Sheds for four years since moving from Kalbarri, where he had also been a member of the Men’s Shed for four years.
“It’s a good thing to belong to, we have a lot of fun and we get to talk to men our own age,” he said.
“We get up to all sorts of mischief in there.
“You are always helping everyone else and not doing your own work.”
Esperance Men in Sheds welcomes new membership enquiries by phoning 9072 0012
at 10am or 3pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday, or call into their stall at the Esperance Show.
