Ace Cafe Tyre Tables & Wheel Hub Coffee Table
Overview
Transforming discarded automotive parts into refined furniture that honors cafe racer culture and tells the story of Ace Cafe’s significant history in motorcycle culture. This set—tyre tables and an Ace Cafe London-themed wheel hub coffee table—was designed to complement the restored motorcycle I gave my uncle for his new house, merging my automotive interest with my passion for hands-on craft and woodworking.
Concept & Design Ideology
Why salvaged automotive parts?
As both an automotive enthusiast and furniture maker, I saw an opportunity where others saw waste. Regular car maintenance generates tyres and components destined for junkyards—perfectly functional materials that tell a story of their own.
Design principles:
- Material selection: Trying to salvage most of the discarded material (tyres, no use of plastic, sustainable materials like cane)
- Design language: Polished wood against matte rubber, woven texture against smooth steel
- Form factor: Storage designed into negative space between tyres, not added as an afterthought
The Ace Cafe connection:
Ace Cafe London birthed cafe racer culture in the 1960s—where “ton-up boys” raced between cafes at 100+ mph, creating a subculture around speed, style, and rebellion. The branding connects this furniture to that heritage, making it more than seating—it’s a cultural reference point.
Materials
Automotive salvage:
- Used tyres (cleaned, degreased, painted matte black)
- Wheel hub (sanded, branded with Ace Cafe logo)
Woodworking:
- Teak wood (durability, weather resistance, warm tone)
- Cane netting (traditional weaving for breathable seats)
- Marine-grade epoxy (flexible bonding for mixed materials)
Finish:
- Progressive sanding: 80 → 120 → 180 → 240 grit
- Teak oil and hand polish for natural grain enhancement
Build Process
1. Design & Dimensioning
- Took measurements of an average person and accordingly sized the seat height for optimum comfort
- Tried top to keep the footprint of the table legs to a minimum for a sleek and compact look
2. Cutting & Shaping
- Compass jig for circular cuts
- Band saw for rough cuts, router for final dimensions
- Hand planes for chamfering and details
3. Joinery
- Mortise and tenon for wooden frames
- Marine epoxy for wood-to-rubber bonds
- Hidden brackets for wheel hub attachment
4. Cane Integration
- Routed grooves in teak to receive cane
- Pre-soaked cane for flexibility
- Wedged and glued for permanent attachment
5. Finishing
- Hand-sanded with progressive grits
- Multiple coats of teak oil with light denib between
- Hand-buffed to satin sheen
6. Painting & Branding
- Degreased tyres, multiple thin paint coats
- Stenciled and hand-painted Ace Cafe logo
- Clear coat for protection
Design Challenges Solved
Weight distribution: Designed wider base than top; placed 3 legs by evenly spacing them for minimum wood using and optimum stability
Material compatibility: Marine-grade flexible adhesives allow for different expansion rates
Maintenance: Separated finishes—teak re-oils independently, tyres touch up without disturbing wood
Technical Outcomes
- Stable seating with ergonomic proportions
- ~15L hidden storage per tyre table
- Comfortable cane seating with ventilation
- Easy-to-clean surfaces for practical daily use
- Modular arrangement adapts to space
Skills Learned
Woodworking techniques:
- Curved cutting and circular jig fabrication
- Traditional mortise and tenon joinery
- Progressive sanding and surface preparation
- Oil finishing and hand polishing
- Cane work integration
Design capabilities:
- Working with diffent materials such as teak wood, metal, cane
- Salvage material assessment and integration
- Functional storage design within structural constraints
- Cultural authenticity in aesthetic choices
Craft philosophy:
- Material history informs design decisions
- Contrast highlights each component’s character
- Finish enhanced to suit the aesthetic of motorcycles
Final Product Gallery
Legacy
This furniture set surrounds my uncle’s motorcycle, creating a space where cafe racer culture and woodworking craftsmanship intersect. Every joint, every sanded surface, every material choice honors both the source materials and the culture they serve.