I'm looking into the possibility of DIYing the table in the picture below (taken from here):
I've found many great tutorials for a rough approximation of the legs (although mine will be four straight legs – I don't think I could DIY the curves in those legs, could I?) and the top. However, I am unsure whether I can replicate the wire mesh basket. What materials would I need for the mesh and the frame that lines the mesh? How would I connect the mesh and frame, the basket and the table? And if it isn't something I can easily DIY, would there be a kind of professional I could seek out who could build the basket? If so, who should I be looking for?
Best Answer
The commercial product is almost certainly spot welded at each wire of the grid. Not hard to automate commercially, but could you hand-weld that mesh, along the whole side of the grid, without making a fatal mistake (e.g., melting some of the grid)?
Regrettably, your or your friend would spend dozens of hours to copy the desk, sand the welds, sand everything and powder-coat or paint, and it would look like a mass-produced table. It might be an interesting learning experience, but I'd pick something less repetitive to weld, first.
That said, why not work on a similar table that is not an exact copy? You can find metal U-shaped edging that could be crimped shut onto metal mesh... but since it might be too thick to bend to the radius shown in the picture, you could change the design, e.g., by cutting edging corners at 45° and meeting at right angles. Find commercial furniture legs that please you, such as those from Rusty Designs or elsewhere. You'd have the satisfaction of using your own creativity, too!