0:00:03 > 0:00:05Throwing out the whole three-piece suite, are you?
0:00:07 > 0:00:09How do you make money for nothing?
0:00:09 > 0:00:11What have you been smashing up?!
0:00:11 > 0:00:16The answer could be hiding in over 20 million tonnes of household waste
0:00:16 > 0:00:18thrown out by us every year.
0:00:18 > 0:00:22- Can I have them? - You're welcome to them, they're only going in the skip.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26That's why entrepreneur Sarah Moore wants to get her hands on things
0:00:26 > 0:00:28before they hit the skip.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34I'm a passionate maker, buyer, and user of old stuff,
0:00:34 > 0:00:37and I've turned that passion into a money-making business.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40I make new stuff out of old stuff, and I sell it for a profit.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45And with some of the country's elite designers and makers...
0:00:45 > 0:00:47I think we can really be quite playful with this.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50I could make several mankinis out of this, couldn't I?
0:00:50 > 0:00:53She can transform her finds into desirable...
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Oh, that's such a relief.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57Valuable...
0:00:57 > 0:00:59It looks all shiny!
0:00:59 > 0:01:02And, hopefully, saleable items.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04I love them, you are a gem.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06If Sarah is successful,
0:01:06 > 0:01:11then she can hand the profits back to the very people who had no idea
0:01:11 > 0:01:13there was cash to be made from their trash.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16I really can't believe that, that's amazing.
0:01:27 > 0:01:34Each month, Witley recycling centre in Surrey becomes home to over 600 tonnes of trash.
0:01:34 > 0:01:39This makes it totally plunder-ful for eagle-eyed Sarah.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41Well, I'm back in the office - well, the recycling centre -
0:01:41 > 0:01:46but I've already been scanning for items that might be my next potential project.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52Sarah's on the hunt for three items she can salvage and sell on for a profit.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54What's that?
0:01:54 > 0:01:57Before Sarah started her tip searching quest,
0:01:57 > 0:02:00she got special permission to be here.
0:02:00 > 0:02:05So if you're thinking of coming to raid the skips, hold your horses.
0:02:05 > 0:02:06I love horsing around at the tip.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09Come on, giddy-up. Actually, enough horsing around,
0:02:09 > 0:02:11time to find some real rubbish.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15You could be in luck.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Robert might have just what you're looking for.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20Now, I recognise those legs.
0:02:20 > 0:02:21That's not going in there, is it?
0:02:21 > 0:02:23I was planning on doing so.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27- Really? Is that yours?- It was my grandmother's but, yeah, it's mine.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29- Do you know what that is? - Yes, Ercol.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31- Ercol?- Yeah. - Not your bag, then, Ercol?
0:02:31 > 0:02:33I've still got the dining table and chairs.
0:02:33 > 0:02:38I love it, my uncle worked for them and my nan bought this brand-new.
0:02:38 > 0:02:39- Really?- Yeah.
0:02:39 > 0:02:45Since the 1920s, Ercol furniture has exuded elegant simplicity.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47Early pieces are sought-after.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50Well, the ones without big cracks in them.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53Just before it goes in there, any chance I could take it away?
0:02:54 > 0:02:55Yeah, course, yeah, why not?
0:02:55 > 0:02:59Seeing that pitch up has absolutely made my day and I like it because it's not that heavy, either, is it?
0:02:59 > 0:03:03- No, it's not.- I'm going to take that and say thank you so much,
0:03:03 > 0:03:07- and I shall come and see you soon, hopefully.- OK.- Thanks a lot, bye.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09That's our first item ready to renovate.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11What would Robert like done to it?
0:03:11 > 0:03:14I'd like to think Sarah could restore it back to its former glory,
0:03:14 > 0:03:18but I'm sure she's got every intention of doing something great with it.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22What a fantastic thing to end up at the tip.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26It's not in perfect condition but this is iconic English furniture.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30But this table should be restored, it will look amazing.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32And there's definitely money to be made here.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35Sarah knows exactly who she wants to take this on.
0:03:38 > 0:03:43Meet the 3 Restorers, Johnny, Rosie and Tom.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47They love taking old furniture and making it like new again.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50A lot of antique stuff is nice because you know
0:03:50 > 0:03:53it's got a nice history to it and most of them are family heirlooms,
0:03:53 > 0:03:57so they've been through people's families for centuries and it's just nice
0:03:57 > 0:04:01to give something back to someone who can then enjoy it again for a lot longer.
0:04:01 > 0:04:06Even when it's broken, these three can make stuff beautiful.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10I really love it when we get a project in that needs so much work,
0:04:10 > 0:04:13so literally from being in bits, like a chair in bits,
0:04:13 > 0:04:17you strip it right back to the start, maybe take it apart,
0:04:17 > 0:04:18build it back together again.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20Basically a full-on restoration.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25They're game for a challenge,
0:04:25 > 0:04:28but is this cracked coffee table a challenge too far?
0:04:39 > 0:04:42That's one item down, two more to find,
0:04:42 > 0:04:46and, with the day getting on, Sarah needs to strike while the iron's hot.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Any old iron? Any old iron?
0:04:50 > 0:04:51Time to press ahead.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56There's plenty to choose from out of Julian's trailer.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00Sarah's picked from Julian in the past.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02What's in store this time?
0:05:02 > 0:05:04There's a lot going on round here.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06- Whose is that? - That apparently was my dad's.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08I don't know from what decade,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11but it certainly hasn't seen the light of day for quite a few.
0:05:11 > 0:05:16Julian is helping his mum clear her house after the death of his dad.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18- Would it be all right to have a quick look at it?- Yeah.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22The bike belonged to Julian's dad, who used it to commute to
0:05:22 > 0:05:25the train station as part of his journey to work.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28I think it's got a bit of style. I mean, I'd have loved to have seen that when it was...
0:05:28 > 0:05:30Yeah, in its day I can see it must have been probably a nice bike.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34It's got a nice lamp on front, all pretty furred up now, isn't it?
0:05:34 > 0:05:38- Yeah.- No, that's probably not leather, it's pro plastic, but, yes,
0:05:38 > 0:05:40I'm sure it had a look to it in its day.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43I really like the fact that it's a bit tatty.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45That's lucky!
0:05:45 > 0:05:46It's amazing what I find appealing.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49But there's something about it, it's got a bit of style.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53I'd love to see if there's something that could be done with it, but I'm not sure what.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56Well, it looks like it could, it's got a bit of nice colour underneath.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59The paintwork's quite a nice colour, so maybe you can turn it into something.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02- If I can take it away...- Please do. - ..and do something with it.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04If it saves me lifting it into a skip, that's absolutely fine by me.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08I'm going to come and find you. I don't think I'll be riding to see you but I will keep in touch
0:06:08 > 0:06:11to see if there's something I can make out of it.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Yeah, I'll be fascinated to see if you can manage to turn that into something useful!
0:06:14 > 0:06:16- It's a challenge, isn't it? - It is a challenge, yeah.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20- Brilliant, thank you very for letting me have it, I'll keep in touch.- No worries, good luck.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22- Thanks.- Cheers.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25Just when you think you've seen it all, Sarah takes a rusty,
0:06:25 > 0:06:27seized old bike.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30What could she possibly do with that? Julian?
0:06:30 > 0:06:34I'm having a real struggle to see anything that's going to be salvaged worthwhile off that,
0:06:34 > 0:06:38but, I mean, there is the nice red paintwork on it and hopefully she's got a good team of magicians
0:06:38 > 0:06:40who are going to turn it into something interesting.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44Well, it's a sweet old bike, isn't it, but it is in terrible condition.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46I was hoping that the chrome, on closer inspection,
0:06:46 > 0:06:50might be a bit better than it is, but it's got a solid frame,
0:06:50 > 0:06:51it's got a sweet light on the front,
0:06:51 > 0:06:54it's got a bit of a bell on it and a basket on the back.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57I'm sure something can be made out of it but at the moment
0:06:57 > 0:07:00I'm not quite sure what that might be.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03If you think a bike is a surprising save,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06just wait till you see who Sarah's picked to take it on.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13Are you looking for luggage made from thrown away threads?
0:07:13 > 0:07:15Then Neil Wragg is your man.
0:07:15 > 0:07:20Neil's had just about everything beneath his sewing machine needle,
0:07:20 > 0:07:24as he takes rugged materials destined for the dump and turns them into
0:07:24 > 0:07:30bespoke bags and high-end holdalls, each one lasting a lifetime.
0:07:30 > 0:07:36I've sewn out of necessity to begin with, I've sown to repair,
0:07:36 > 0:07:40and then you end up just keep sewing until somebody says,
0:07:40 > 0:07:42"You should sell those."
0:07:43 > 0:07:45I love the creative side to it,
0:07:45 > 0:07:49the fact that you can take a fabric and then work from there,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52so instead of working from a template, a design,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55you actually get the fabric, you start from there and then decide,
0:07:55 > 0:07:57actually, what can this be made into?
0:07:57 > 0:08:02Well, Neil, what if I was to tell you there is no fabric,
0:08:02 > 0:08:04and that it's actually a bike?
0:08:10 > 0:08:14With two items found, the hunt is on for a third.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16One Sarah can work on at home.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21Who knows where this junk might lead?
0:08:21 > 0:08:23If you go walkies over to Colin's van,
0:08:23 > 0:08:27there might be something very sweet indeed.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29- Hi, there.- Hello.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32- Hi, I'm Sarah. - Hello, Sarah, I'm Colin.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34- Lovely to see you. - That's not going in there, is it?
0:08:34 > 0:08:36It is, unfortunately, yes.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39It looks like somebody's spent hours making it look like that, it's really beautiful.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42My mother embroidered that, yes, my late mother.
0:08:42 > 0:08:43My late father was doing it up,
0:08:43 > 0:08:46- hence the difference in colour between this and this.- Right.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48And then the dressing table to go with it?
0:08:48 > 0:08:50Yes, that's the top over there.
0:08:52 > 0:08:53Wow.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Shall we carry it out to the front?
0:08:56 > 0:09:01Kidney-shaped table tops are a French design popular in the late 1600s
0:09:01 > 0:09:03during Louis XIV's reign.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08I think we're looking at a sort of mock Regency look.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12Later, the design was copied by European furniture makers,
0:09:12 > 0:09:15especially in the early 20th century.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19It's great to see that it's all there, including the key, isn't it?
0:09:19 > 0:09:20And that works, too, that lock.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23It probably needs a bit of reimagining and a new look to it,
0:09:23 > 0:09:27but is this something that, rather than sending off for re-use,
0:09:27 > 0:09:30- we might be able to take away? - Absolutely, yes.- Brilliant.
0:09:30 > 0:09:31You're more than welcome to it.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35I might have to ask you to help me, because I think it's going to be heavy!
0:09:35 > 0:09:37- Would you be all right just to carry it across with me?- Yes.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39That would be fantastic, thank you so much.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42Sarah's got herself a dated dressing table and stool.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46What do you think she'll do with them, Colin?
0:09:46 > 0:09:48It needs a little bit of care and attention.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51I hope it goes to a nice home, a really good home,
0:09:51 > 0:09:53because it's been a good friend to us.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57So, look at it, it's just not desirable.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59If this is going to sell for money,
0:09:59 > 0:10:03it's going to need a really clever idea to bring it bang up to date,
0:10:03 > 0:10:04and a lot of hard work.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Sarah has her three items.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13Johnny, Rosie and Tom will crack on with the coffee table.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Neil... I don't know what he'll do with that bike.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20And Sarah will try to bring the dressing table and stool bang up to date.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25Well, the recycling centre has definitely delivered again.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28It's time to take away the goodies and hopefully turn a tasty profit.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39Deep in London's Crystal Palace, love is in the air.
0:10:39 > 0:10:44Sarah's hoping her cracked coffee table will be a labour of love for
0:10:44 > 0:10:47restorers Johnny, Rosie and Tom.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49We're really looking forward to Sarah arriving,
0:10:49 > 0:10:53really hoping that she brings us something classic in its design,
0:10:53 > 0:10:56we don't have to add anything or embellish it too much.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01I'm here in south London with my fantastic bit of Ercol tip-find furniture.
0:11:01 > 0:11:06I've brought it to Tom, Johnny and Rosie and I'm hoping they're going to love its style.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08But I think they're going to hate its condition.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11Really, Sarah? I can't imagine why.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13- Hiya.- Oh, hi.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15Are you going to take that end?
0:11:15 > 0:11:17Thank you.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Look what I've got for you.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Ercol. What do you think? Something you can work on?
0:11:22 > 0:11:25At the moment, it's got cracks all the way through it.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29It's got some really nasty movement going on here.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31That's why it ended up at the tip.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34It is a sweet, iconic piece of their design.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38They do have a very strong market appeal, don't they?
0:11:38 > 0:11:40This one obviously is in really bad condition.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43I have seen people paint them,
0:11:43 > 0:11:46I've seen them given a spruce-up in different ways.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50- I was wondering if you fancied doing something more sympathetic with this one?- Yeah, definitely.
0:11:50 > 0:11:55I think being solid, we can really take off all this old finish,
0:11:55 > 0:11:57get it sanded and make the top look like new again.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00Obviously once we've repaired the cracks.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04Brilliant. Well, I think it's got some value to it once restored.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08Can you give me a rough idea about how much it's going to cost to make it saleable at a high price?
0:12:09 > 0:12:14- I think it's probably going to be 120 to 160.- That sort of price.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18It really depends on whether these joins want to go back properly.
0:12:18 > 0:12:23If they don't, then we might have to think of doing something slightly different.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25It sounds like you've got a fair bit of work to do.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29I think on that basis, if we're around about 150, maybe a bit lower,
0:12:29 > 0:12:32that's perfect. There's money to be made on that.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34I don't envy you trying to sort these out,
0:12:34 > 0:12:37because I know wood can have a mind of its own. So, thanks very much.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41- Tell me when it's done. I'll come and get it.- Cheers.- Bye!
0:12:43 > 0:12:46This is exactly the sort of thing we wanted to see today.
0:12:46 > 0:12:47It solid wood, solid elm.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50Maybe a bit of a challenge, but that's what we like, with these splits.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52But, yeah, really excited about it.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58Well, isn't it great to see so much enthusiasm for what might just be a simple restoration?
0:12:58 > 0:13:00With that table, it's all about the condition.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02If that crack gives them a problem,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05we are not going to come in on budget and I won't make any money.
0:13:06 > 0:13:11With the cost between £120 and £160 to restore this table
0:13:11 > 0:13:16to its former glory, Rosie, Johnny and Tom have their work cut out.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Next stop, Marlow in Buckinghamshire,
0:13:29 > 0:13:32home to bag virtuoso Neil Wragg.
0:13:32 > 0:13:38Neil makes bags from just about anything, old leather couches, tents.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Well, maybe not just about anything.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42Honestly, what is Sarah thinking?
0:13:42 > 0:13:44A bike into a bag?
0:13:44 > 0:13:46This is going to be interesting.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Well, if Neil was just an ordinary amazing bag maker,
0:13:50 > 0:13:52I'd be worried about bringing this old bike to him.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54But I know something about Neil that you don't.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56He is a Scout leader.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59So I'm hoping he'll be prepared to take on the bike challenge.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04Sarah's coming, it's always a challenge and always a pleasure.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07I think you might change your tune in a minute.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15- Hello.- Hi, Sarah.
0:14:15 > 0:14:16You've brought me a bicycle.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Bicycle. You can use bicycles, can't you?
0:14:19 > 0:14:22You'd better come in the back.
0:14:22 > 0:14:23Oh, dear. Not good.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25It's definitely seen better days.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Do you work with bikes often?
0:14:27 > 0:14:30- I ride them.- Right.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32But I haven't made a bag from one.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35Before you say no, let me talk you through the idea I've had.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37- Are you ready?- Ready.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41This has been dropped off by a guy whose father passed away last year.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44In the panniers here
0:14:44 > 0:14:46are his train tickets.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49I think it says 1982.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52So, this was his old commuter bike.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57I thought, how about using some really cool bits of the bike
0:14:57 > 0:15:00to turn it into some kind of commuter luggage?
0:15:00 > 0:15:02Commuter luggage, OK.
0:15:02 > 0:15:07We can make some really nice exquisite, designer panniers
0:15:07 > 0:15:11- for the bike.- Does that mean you're going to take it on?
0:15:11 > 0:15:13Of course he'll do it, Sarah.
0:15:13 > 0:15:18Neil's idea of bicycle panniers, bags you attach to your bike,
0:15:18 > 0:15:23aren't as out there as you might think, as almost a million of us now cycle to work.
0:15:23 > 0:15:28But just how a bike can be turned into bags is beyond me.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30Neil, over to you, mate.
0:15:30 > 0:15:35We could try and incorporate some of the bike into the bags,
0:15:35 > 0:15:39so that the bike carries on cycling.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43I thought some of these bits of bike, like here, the lovely logos,
0:15:43 > 0:15:45there's a great badge on the front.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48I was just hoping you could get a bit of that essence out of it.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51I was just thinking of using the reflector.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54- You want more than that? - I always want more.- You want more.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56This all sounds lovely.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59Two bike panniers made from bits of the bike.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05But Neil still has to source the bulk of the material to make them,
0:16:05 > 0:16:08so does all this come at a big cost?
0:16:08 > 0:16:11Maybe you're looking at £100 for each one.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Something like a couple of hundred pounds for the pair.
0:16:14 > 0:16:19So, when you're talking about it, £100 a bag was pretty much what I had in mind. 200 quid for the two?
0:16:20 > 0:16:22- Always a pleasure.- Oh, dear.
0:16:23 > 0:16:28Well, that is definitely one of the more obscure projects that I've come up with.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31I love the idea that Neil is going to recycle the cycle and it's
0:16:31 > 0:16:34definitely going to go on another journey.
0:16:34 > 0:16:35This wasn't what I expected.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39It's going to be tricky, but let's see what I can come up with.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41I'm going to need my thinking cap on for this one.
0:16:43 > 0:16:48Sarah's left Neil with £200 to create two upmarket bike panniers.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52Neil's staying positive, but this could be hell on wheels.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01Back home in West Sussex,
0:17:01 > 0:17:05Sarah has a little tin of something to help her work her magic.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09For now, she'll concentrate on the dressing table, rather than the stool.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Well, this sweet old dressing table ended up at the recycling centre for a reason.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19It's really dated, it's got a sad white coat on it
0:17:19 > 0:17:22that really needs refreshing. It just doesn't look appealing.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24But I've got high hopes for it.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27I think if I change the colour of it, strip it all back,
0:17:27 > 0:17:30remove the mirror, try and make it look more like a desk,
0:17:30 > 0:17:32then there's a chance I might make some money out of it.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35First job, ready, steady, strip.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37Steady on, Sarah.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39Ah, you meant paint stripper.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43Handling harsh chemicals means it's on with the protective gloves.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45Nice!
0:17:45 > 0:17:46And the safety glasses.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49This is a strong stuff, so you really need to be safe.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54This is the kind of stripping where you need to be wearing more clothes, rather than less.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57Sarah's removing the many layers of old paint from the
0:17:57 > 0:18:01dressing table by using a solvent-based paint stripper.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05She's working in a well ventilated area.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08However, with any paint thinner, or stripper,
0:18:08 > 0:18:13always read the product guidelines as it may advise that a respiratory
0:18:13 > 0:18:17mask should be worn at all times, or for prolonged use.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24This is going to be a real challenge, to turn into something that's saleable.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26It's so dated.
0:18:27 > 0:18:28I quite like a challenge.
0:18:28 > 0:18:29It's the moment of truth.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32What will Sarah find under that paint?
0:18:32 > 0:18:35Great, layers of paint.
0:18:35 > 0:18:36Oh, more paint.
0:18:36 > 0:18:41No exciting reveal of wood yet because there's another layer of paint under here.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43There's a little peek of wood down there.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45I think it might be beech and that's good,
0:18:45 > 0:18:48because it would be pale and interesting and quite hard wearing.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Fingers crossed it's all made of that.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55There are layers and layers of paint on this,
0:18:55 > 0:18:58where people have updated it and changed their room schemes.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03But I'm really committed, I want it to look lovely. I want to strip it.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08I've got a feeling this could take for ever.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12Sarah spent just £19.99 on the paint stripper,
0:19:12 > 0:19:17although at this rate she might need to go back to the shop to get another tin.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28In Crystal Palace, Johnny, Rosie and Tom
0:19:28 > 0:19:31are getting to grips with the classic, if a little shabby,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33coffee table.
0:19:33 > 0:19:34Look at that.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39It's coming apart. Shall we see what the base is like?
0:19:39 > 0:19:42First things first, get this frame off?
0:19:42 > 0:19:44- Yes, get this off.- Screwdriver?
0:19:44 > 0:19:48Johnny starts by removing the legs to get a better look at that
0:19:48 > 0:19:50problematic crack.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53The biggest problem with this table is going to be how well this glues
0:19:53 > 0:19:56back together and whether or not it's warped out of shape.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59Hopefully, if we can get it back together, flat,
0:19:59 > 0:20:01then that's sort of crisis averted.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04Ercol furniture definitely is well worth restoring it.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08At the moment it's very popular, particularly that 1950s blonde furniture look.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12Very popular. I definitely think what we're doing is the right thing.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14We don't want to be messing with it too much,
0:20:14 > 0:20:17because it's famous for the design, it's famous for the wood.
0:20:17 > 0:20:23So, I'd say, yeah, keep it to its original state.
0:20:23 > 0:20:28With the legs off, they can now see if there's any warping in the wood.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30So, is it warped?
0:20:30 > 0:20:31It's warped quite a lot, hasn't it?
0:20:31 > 0:20:33It's warped.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37Where it's been detached for a while, it's kind of gone like that.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41Over time, one side of the table top has curled up at the end,
0:20:41 > 0:20:44making the surface difficult to join back together.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47This looked like it was going to be straightforward to begin with.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49Just a case of squashing it back together.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51But we need to make sure everything's really flat
0:20:51 > 0:20:55otherwise it will either come apart or it won't be a clean join.
0:20:55 > 0:21:00So we have to figure out how to get it really nicely together.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04- Might need bigger blocks across the whole thing.- This is the thing.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08After much debate, our trio decides to support the troublesome warping
0:21:08 > 0:21:11with lengths of strong wood and clamps.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16These will level the two sides of the split
0:21:16 > 0:21:19and help to create a smooth join.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22We're just putting these batons on here to try to counter
0:21:22 > 0:21:25the way that the wood is trying to move.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27Once we've got everything looking pretty flat,
0:21:27 > 0:21:30then we can worry about pressure this way to close up the gap.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33- Shall we turn it back round again? - Yeah.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38Ercol has been making furniture since 1920.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41The beauty of their design is simplicity.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46Not a word that springs to mind when looking at that support structure.
0:21:46 > 0:21:51And the more complex it becomes, the more confusing it gets.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53- I don't know if we're overcomplicating it.- Yeah.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56Basically, we're just trying to put all our heads together and figure
0:21:56 > 0:22:02out the best way of clamping it, without causing too much more damage to the piece already.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05Once we've got this right, it's a case of putting some glue in and clamping.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08It's really straightforward, but it's just this bit,
0:22:08 > 0:22:11it's the sort of bit that takes time and effort to figure out.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13You take all the time you need, Johnny.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17Although you've taken up quite a bit just trying to fix that crack.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20Plus, you don't even know if it's going to work.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Back we go to Marlow,
0:22:27 > 0:22:30where Neil is working out how to incorporate
0:22:30 > 0:22:34bits of that rusty old bike into a design for panniers.
0:22:36 > 0:22:41OK. So, I locked myself in the local brewery overnight to give me time to think.
0:22:41 > 0:22:46The ideas I've come up with will be two leather bags,
0:22:46 > 0:22:48leather for the outside and possibly
0:22:48 > 0:22:51see if the inner tubes from the bike are usable.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53Inner tubes will be the lining.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57I'm going to use the brake cables for piping and lining.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01I'm going to use some of the fluorescent strips to add high-vis.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04I'm going to use the grips for handles.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07Anything else I can find from the bike that is going to help to make
0:23:07 > 0:23:10this cycle luggage quite unique.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13I don't think you have to worry about it being unique.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15Neil starts by removing the brake cables,
0:23:15 > 0:23:18followed by the wheel spokes.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21He hopes to use these to make the bags more rigid.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24So far, so good. I think I've got possibly enough spokes.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27I'm not sure how many I'm going to need
0:23:27 > 0:23:30to reinforce the bag, but not many.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33The main body of the bags will be made up of leather
0:23:33 > 0:23:35from an old couch.
0:23:35 > 0:23:40For the lining, though, there's another part of the bike he can re-use.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42The tyres are obviously no good at all.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45They're completely perished and gone.
0:23:45 > 0:23:50I'm hoping the inner tubes have some use in them.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53Oh, yeah. They're good.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55They will be fine.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58Rubber inner tubes are an ideal lining, as they're strong,
0:23:58 > 0:24:01bendy and waterproof. A bit like myself.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08Next, Neil breaks out the angle grinder.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11And, yes, those are swimming goggles.
0:24:11 > 0:24:16If you're trying this at home, please use proper safety goggles.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19Neil's cutting off the straight lengths of tubing.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22These, he hopes, will also work as part of the design.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30So far, this is what I've reclaimed from the bike.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33So, the outside of the bag is going to be leather.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35Some black leather.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38From an old sofa.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41And then for the lining for the bag,
0:24:41 > 0:24:45I'm now going to cut the inner tubes up and get them into
0:24:45 > 0:24:47as flat a piece as I can.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52He cuts the inner tubes into sections and lays them out flat
0:24:52 > 0:24:54ready to sew.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58Before he adds the rubber lining,
0:24:58 > 0:25:02Neil constructs the leather body of the bag.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06And the metal bars have indeed nabbed a place in the design.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09Right, so it goes in...
0:25:09 > 0:25:13So, the rack of the bike is going to go along here and you just get a
0:25:13 > 0:25:17buckle, a leather buckle and we're going to hold it to the rack
0:25:17 > 0:25:18there and there.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22And that keeps the structure of the bag, the rigidity, the strength,
0:25:22 > 0:25:25it's not going to flap about and when you want to take
0:25:25 > 0:25:28the bag away, you just do that.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31Neil is on a roll.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34But there's still an awful lot to get put into this design.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36We'll just leave him to it.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45In Sussex, Sarah's finally got the layers of paint
0:25:45 > 0:25:47off the dressing table.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49As time is ticking on,
0:25:49 > 0:25:53she's leaving the stool out of the makeover and sticking to the job in
0:25:53 > 0:25:56hand. What time is it, Sarah?
0:25:56 > 0:25:59Time to lime. But I've never limed before.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02Can't be that hard, can it?
0:26:03 > 0:26:05Oh, that's quite white.
0:26:05 > 0:26:06God, I hope it comes off.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12So the theory behind the liming is that you brush on this lovely white wax
0:26:12 > 0:26:15and it soaks into some of the grain of the wood and then you buff it off,
0:26:15 > 0:26:18but you still get all that lovely wood pattern coming through.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21I know what you're thinking.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24I've spent hours stripping it and now she's painting it white again.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28But I'm hoping it should buff off,
0:26:28 > 0:26:30should be beautiful, waxed,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33slightly limed and well worth the effort.
0:26:34 > 0:26:39When Sarah spotted the dressing table, it was dated and out of favour.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Now it's totally transformed.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47Gone are the old-fashioned mirror and fixings,
0:26:47 > 0:26:49as are the layers of white gloss.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54Sarah's hard work reveals a beautiful beech finish.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58She's applied a subtle lime wax to give the wood a delicate
0:26:58 > 0:27:01whitewash effect.
0:27:01 > 0:27:06On the top, a contrasting chestnut paint creates a stunning leather inlay look.
0:27:06 > 0:27:11Overall, the feel is no longer fussy but simple and elegant.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15Stripped back, it's gone from wedding cake
0:27:15 > 0:27:17to wonderful shabby chic bake.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Well, I think I've certainly achieved what I set out to do,
0:27:20 > 0:27:23which is reposition that dated-looking dressing table into a piece of furniture
0:27:23 > 0:27:25that can go into any room in the house.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28I've given it a lovely, scruffy looking top,
0:27:28 > 0:27:32hopefully so it looks like it's been made years ago rather than just finished.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35And I think it should make a bit of money.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38Do you like the desk? What do you think? Your cup of tea?
0:27:38 > 0:27:40She's my biggest fan.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42Do you like it?
0:27:42 > 0:27:45Bramble certainly likes the smell of it.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49All that's left is for Sarah to grab some snaps to show off online.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54When Sarah saw Colin with his dressing table at the tip,
0:27:54 > 0:27:57there was certainly a sentimental attachment.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59My mother embroidered that.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Yes, my late mother. And my late father was doing it up,
0:28:02 > 0:28:04hence the difference in colour.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07And Sarah was happy to see that it was still in one piece.
0:28:08 > 0:28:12It's great to see that it's all there, including the key, isn't it?
0:28:12 > 0:28:14And that works too, that lock.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19The table was bought by an interior shop in Marlow,
0:28:19 > 0:28:20run by a different Sarah.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24Sarah's done a fantastic job with this.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26And she's stripped it back and look at the grain on here.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29It feels lovely.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31And I think once we dressed it up and put a mirror on it,
0:28:31 > 0:28:35it will be lovely as a dressing table, or it could even be a little writing desk.
0:28:35 > 0:28:40Meanwhile, our Sarah has returned to Haslemere to show Colin how his old
0:28:40 > 0:28:41dressing table has changed.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45- Hi, there.- Hello, Sarah. Very nice to see you again.- Yes, and you, too.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48- I said I'd come and find you. - Absolutely, yeah. I'm very excited about that, actually.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51- What have you done? - What did you think I would do?
0:28:51 > 0:28:54Because it was a lovely old dressing table and a sweet stool,
0:28:54 > 0:28:55but what did you think...?
0:28:55 > 0:28:58Lovely piece of furniture, I don't know, perhaps stripped it down,
0:28:58 > 0:29:01take the white paint off, or maybe paint it white again, I don't know.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04But it certainly needed some refreshment, that's for sure.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06- I have some pictures here to show you.- OK.
0:29:06 > 0:29:08Here is your dressing table.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11- And it has been... - My goodness, look at that.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13That's totally transformed, isn't it?
0:29:13 > 0:29:15I love the distressed look, actually.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17It's a favourite style of mine, actually.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20- It's really lovely.- Really? You think that's all right?- Yes, yes.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22Can I have it back?
0:29:22 > 0:29:25You can, but you'll have to travel to a shop to get it,
0:29:25 > 0:29:27so I have managed to sell it.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29I've got some money here for you, actually.
0:29:29 > 0:29:31- Oh, wonderful.- I have got...
0:29:32 > 0:29:36£142.50.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38That's tremendous.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41Well done. Oh, that's tremendous.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43I wouldn't have room for it here anyway, so that's...
0:29:43 > 0:29:45I'm glad it's gone to a good home.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48What might you do with £142.50?
0:29:48 > 0:29:51Well, that's pretty easy. My late wife died of cancer,
0:29:51 > 0:29:54so it'll go to a cancer research charity, most definitely.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56I loved working on it.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58I'm so pleased that you're going to do that with it.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01It's hopefully a happy ending for a lovely piece of furniture.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04Oh, absolutely. My wife would be happy, too.
0:30:04 > 0:30:08- That's wonderful. Thank you very much.- It's been so nice to catch up, thank you so much.
0:30:08 > 0:30:11I don't often get a kiss! How lovely.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14- Bye-bye.- Well done, that's tremendous.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18You might not get kisses often, Sarah, but I think you should.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21It's a great result for the dressing table.
0:30:22 > 0:30:27Sarah spent £22.50 on paint stripper and wax.
0:30:27 > 0:30:31She sold it for an impressive £165,
0:30:31 > 0:30:36giving Colin a fabulous £142.50 profit.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43That's our first item selling for a profit.
0:30:43 > 0:30:48Sarah's back in Crystal Palace to see how our three restoration whizzes
0:30:48 > 0:30:50have got on with the coffee table.
0:30:50 > 0:30:55Were they able to solve the clamp conundrum and close those gaps?
0:30:55 > 0:31:00I'm here to pick up my coffee table and I'm expecting to be wowed by its transformation,
0:31:00 > 0:31:02not because it's had a massive overhaul,
0:31:02 > 0:31:06but because it's had a delicate, subtle, lovely restoration.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12- It's gone well, hasn't it?- Yeah. - Yeah, it's gone really well.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15It looks great. It's gone back together pretty much perfect.
0:31:15 > 0:31:16It's not warped any more.
0:31:16 > 0:31:20I think we've returned it back to what it would look like originally if it was looked after.
0:31:20 > 0:31:21It's still got signs of age, which is nice,
0:31:21 > 0:31:24because it's an old table, but it looks, you know, neat,
0:31:24 > 0:31:27tidy and the finish has come up nicely, you can see all the grain,
0:31:27 > 0:31:29so really pleased with how it's turned out.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32When Sarah salvaged the coffee table at the tip,
0:31:32 > 0:31:34it was beaten and broken.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40Now it has risen from the ashes.
0:31:40 > 0:31:45The top is glued into one piece and the warping is gone,
0:31:45 > 0:31:47clamped straight to create a crisp,
0:31:47 > 0:31:50smooth surface with perfectly matched joins.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55Underneath, the legs have being given a gentle, thorough clean.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58And to finish, the whole table has been stripped,
0:31:58 > 0:32:01with the varnish replaced by a wax finish.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03Goes to show a bit of head scratching,
0:32:03 > 0:32:06a lot of patience and plenty of TLC
0:32:06 > 0:32:10can restore a table to its former glory.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15- Hiya.- Hey. - Hello, are you all right?
0:32:15 > 0:32:17I'm all right.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19- That's not my one.- Yes. That's your one, yes.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21Well, of course, I know it's my one, but...
0:32:21 > 0:32:23That looks fantastic, it looks...
0:32:23 > 0:32:26Well, I was going to say brand-new, but not quite brand-new.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29How did it go? Because it looks just unreal.
0:32:29 > 0:32:30It was good, it was fine.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34There was a few issues with the clamping it back together.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37I think we had to do a few, like test runs before we got there,
0:32:37 > 0:32:39but, yeah, it's gone back really nicely.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42It's a proper restoration job, isn't it?
0:32:42 > 0:32:45It looks like it was never damaged and that was something that was
0:32:45 > 0:32:48worrying me, that I'd come in here and it'd be, you know,
0:32:48 > 0:32:50a little bit off and not quite right,
0:32:50 > 0:32:53but that looks like it's been looked after all its life.
0:32:53 > 0:32:57Did it come in on budget? Because I know that clamping and sorting out
0:32:57 > 0:33:00all the top is quite tricky. Was it a difficult process?
0:33:00 > 0:33:02Yeah, it was a little bit difficult.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05Because we had to trial a few different ways of clamping.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07Because it was warped, you clamped it one way and it would bend one way
0:33:07 > 0:33:11and you clamped another way it would bend another, so we had to do a lot of sort of,
0:33:11 > 0:33:13just took a bit more time figuring out the method.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16Then once we figured it out, it went back quite well.
0:33:16 > 0:33:18- Cool.- But it came in on budget,
0:33:18 > 0:33:21but kind of more the higher end of what we sort of quoted.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23So where did that leave us on the money?
0:33:23 > 0:33:26We quoted about 120-160 and because of the time and how long it took,
0:33:26 > 0:33:30especially with the sanding as well, because we didn't realise how deep the stains were in it,
0:33:30 > 0:33:32it came to about 160 in total, which is what we quoted,
0:33:32 > 0:33:34but sort of the upper end.
0:33:34 > 0:33:38What you've done to it, I couldn't have hoped for anything better than that.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41It looks fresh, but vintage.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44It's got everything going for it, so that is a great job.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47- Thanks so much. See you soon, guys. - See you later.- Bye.
0:33:48 > 0:33:52Well, I was after a perfect restoration and that's just what they delivered.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56That Ercol is now beautiful, saleable and really desirable.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59It was a really nice response, I think.
0:33:59 > 0:34:01It's exactly what we were hoping for.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04I mean, we were proud of it anyway, but, you know, to get her response,
0:34:04 > 0:34:08- after she's sent it in the state it was to what it is now, yeah, it was really nice, wasn't it?- Mm.
0:34:08 > 0:34:09Yeah, yeah.
0:34:09 > 0:34:14Back at the tip, Sarah was quick to spot the potential in Robert's boot.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17- Look at those legs. - I reckon that's Ercol.
0:34:17 > 0:34:19That's not going in there, is it?
0:34:19 > 0:34:21I was planning on doing so.
0:34:21 > 0:34:23Robert was reluctant to see it go.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26- So you are an Ercol fan, then? - Yeah, I love it.
0:34:26 > 0:34:30My uncle worked for them, my nan bought this from brand-new, so...
0:34:30 > 0:34:35With a family connection, Robert had high hopes for its future.
0:34:35 > 0:34:39I'm sure she's got every intention of doing something great with it.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42So, yeah, I'm really pleased that she's taken it from me today.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46I don't think you'll be disappointed, as the restoration is top-notch.
0:34:48 > 0:34:52Sarah went straight home and posted pictures online,
0:34:52 > 0:34:54and she found a private buyer.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01Now, Sarah's travelled to Midhurst to show Robert the transformation
0:35:01 > 0:35:02and hand over the profit.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09- Hi, there.- Hello.- Hi, Robert. How are you doing? - Not too bad, yourself?
0:35:09 > 0:35:11- Yeah, very well, thank you. Nice to see you again.- Yeah, you too.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14So, you were dropping off an Ercol table at the tip.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16- It was your grandmother's, is that right?- It was, yeah.
0:35:16 > 0:35:18Your uncle used to work for Ercol?
0:35:18 > 0:35:20- He'd done a brief apprenticeship there, yeah.- OK.
0:35:20 > 0:35:24So, did you think, when I took it away,
0:35:24 > 0:35:26what I might have done with your table?
0:35:26 > 0:35:28Well, I weren't sure.
0:35:28 > 0:35:32I was hoping that you were going to restore it yourself, but, you know,
0:35:32 > 0:35:36I know also that you paint things and make other bits and pieces to them, so...
0:35:36 > 0:35:39I'm not actually sure what you've done!
0:35:39 > 0:35:42- It's all right, I've some pictures here to show you.- Excellent.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46It wasn't something I'd worked on, it was something I took to south London to a fantastic team of guys.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48They did a fantastic job on your table.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51They've managed to get rid of all those cracks,
0:35:51 > 0:35:55they have resurfaced it and it is now a pristine Ercol table.
0:35:55 > 0:35:59- Excellent.- It did look amazing and we shared it on social media
0:35:59 > 0:36:02and it got an instant buyer.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04- So it did sell.- OK.
0:36:04 > 0:36:05- I've got some money here.- OK.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07I've got a fiver there for you.
0:36:07 > 0:36:11- Lovely, OK.- And 130 quid there to go with it.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14Wow, thank you. Oh, dear...
0:36:14 > 0:36:15Thanks a lot.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18I love handing over money.
0:36:18 > 0:36:20Cheers, that's going to come in handy.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22Well, you've just moved house.
0:36:22 > 0:36:24- Is that where it's going to go? - Yeah, that's going on a coat hook.
0:36:24 > 0:36:28Is it? I know somebody who can make a really nice one of those.
0:36:28 > 0:36:31- Yeah, I'm sure you do. - Coat hooks, well,
0:36:31 > 0:36:34thank you so much for your time at the tip and here today.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36- Thank you very much.- Really good to catch up. Bye-bye.- Bye-bye.
0:36:39 > 0:36:44The cost to restore the table was £160.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48Sarah sold it for a cracking £295,
0:36:48 > 0:36:52giving Robert a £135 pocket full of profit.
0:36:56 > 0:36:58Back in Marlow in Buckinghamshire,
0:36:58 > 0:37:02Sarah left the bike that belonged to Julian's late father.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06Has bagman Neil turned it into fabulous bike panniers?
0:37:08 > 0:37:10What was I thinking?
0:37:10 > 0:37:12The last time I came to Marlow, I left my favourite bag maker,
0:37:12 > 0:37:14Neil Wragg, with a bicycle.
0:37:14 > 0:37:16What will he have made of that?
0:37:16 > 0:37:19Well, this was a completely different challenge to what I'm used to.
0:37:19 > 0:37:23I've managed to incorporate as much of the bike as I possibly can,
0:37:23 > 0:37:26including some very personal touches,
0:37:26 > 0:37:28and I hope Sarah's going to be quite thrilled.
0:37:30 > 0:37:36When Sarah picked this bike up, its commuter days were long over.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39Now Neil has made two bespoke bicycle panniers,
0:37:39 > 0:37:43showcased beautifully on the back of Neil's own bike.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48It's an ingenious use of materials throughout.
0:37:48 > 0:37:50The handlebar grips are the top handles,
0:37:50 > 0:37:54while the inner tubes formed the internal lining.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56The brake cables are piping.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59The frame struts are fixings.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02And the spokes add rigidity.
0:38:02 > 0:38:07Neil's vision even includes a rail ticket that once belonged to Julian's dad.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10A wonderful touch and an inspiring design.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18- Sarah, hi!- Hello, how are you doing? - Very well, how are you?
0:38:18 > 0:38:20Yeah, I'm really well. Where's my bicycle?
0:38:20 > 0:38:23This way, follow me.
0:38:23 > 0:38:24Now, that's not my bike.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27This isn't the bike but this is most of the bike.
0:38:27 > 0:38:29Come on, then. Let's see, I'm so excited.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31Let's have a look.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34We've got the set of up-cycled leather cycle luggage.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38What have you used from the bike, then?
0:38:38 > 0:38:41So, from the bike, we've got his old steel tubes,
0:38:41 > 0:38:44which were obviously from the bike and how you attach it to the frame.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47- Yeah.- His old saddle bag straps.
0:38:47 > 0:38:48Obviously you can see the grip.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51We've got his brake cable as piping.
0:38:51 > 0:38:57We've got the inner tubes from his old bike, with patch.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00We've got the spokes to create the structure.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05And I think you can see the last tickets he bought
0:39:05 > 0:39:07incorporated into the label.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12I'm speechless. Honestly, Neil, they're fantastic.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14So, that's how you...
0:39:15 > 0:39:18To get all of that in there is amazing.
0:39:18 > 0:39:20There's a lot of the bike.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23Neil's come up trumps with this clever design,
0:39:23 > 0:39:26using so much of Julian's late father's bike.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29But what about the budget?
0:39:29 > 0:39:30Did you make it on budget?
0:39:30 > 0:39:32I think they were £100 for the bag.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35Yes, after all the angle grinding,
0:39:35 > 0:39:37it was just some straightforward sewing.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40I'm blown away. Honestly, I don't know what else to say.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42It's just fantastic. Thank you, they are amazing.
0:39:42 > 0:39:46And just to think, that bike is going on a completely different journey now.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48- Going on another journey. - You are fantastic, well done.
0:39:48 > 0:39:49- Thank you.- Beautiful.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53Well, I am blown away with what Neil has managed to achieve,
0:39:53 > 0:39:56but he has handed over the baton to me.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58I've got to sell them now.
0:39:58 > 0:40:02There was a lot of the bike involved in the, in the final product,
0:40:02 > 0:40:05so it was nice. It was quite emotional.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08I don't normally get the angle grinder out to do my sewing projects,
0:40:08 > 0:40:10so this was quite a challenge.
0:40:10 > 0:40:12But it's turned out very nice.
0:40:14 > 0:40:18When Julian brought his trailer of trash to the tip,
0:40:18 > 0:40:20Sarah was soon on the case.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23- Whose is that?- That apparently was my dad's.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25I don't know from what decade,
0:40:25 > 0:40:27but it certainly hasn't seen the light of day for quite a few.
0:40:27 > 0:40:31Recognising the bike had seen better days, Sarah wasn't put off.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34I really liked the fact that it's a bit tatty.
0:40:34 > 0:40:36- Yeah?- That's lucky. Yeah, I know.
0:40:36 > 0:40:40Julian realised it was a massive task to make anything from the bike.
0:40:40 > 0:40:45Hopefully she's got a good team of magicians who are going to turn it into something interesting.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48Yeah, Julian, Sarah has friends who can work their magic.
0:40:48 > 0:40:52On this occasion, though, it's Neil who pulled the panniers out of the hat.
0:40:55 > 0:40:59Sarah snaps some pictures of the panniers to put them up for sale.
0:41:01 > 0:41:05Now Sarah's in Godalming to show Julian what happened to his dad's bike.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07And I reckon he'll be gobsmacked.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16- Hi, there.- Hiya.- Nice to see you again.- Yeah, good to see you.
0:41:16 > 0:41:17- How are you doing?- I'm really well.
0:41:17 > 0:41:22Now, I said I'd pop back and see you if there was something to be done with that old bike.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25- Yeah, yeah?- Did you think, what on earth's she going to do with that?
0:41:25 > 0:41:28I couldn't really imagine seeing it turned into anything decent, no.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32So I'll be impressed if you can transform it into something.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35I have. Not personally. I took it to Neil Wragg,
0:41:35 > 0:41:40who's a fantastic bag maker over in Marlow and he saw the bike,
0:41:40 > 0:41:43- wasn't that impressed to begin with...- Understandably, yeah.
0:41:43 > 0:41:47But he likes a challenge and I've got some pictures here to show you what he did with it.
0:41:47 > 0:41:48OK, yeah, love to see it, yeah.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52Your bike has been recycled into bike panniers.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54Oh, right? OK.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58So what he did is he used some of the frame to make the structure for
0:41:58 > 0:42:01- the panniers.- Yeah.- He used the brake cables to make the piping
0:42:01 > 0:42:04of the bags and he's even used some little train tickets
0:42:04 > 0:42:07- that were in the back to make the labels.- Nice touch.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09Right, yeah, that's all right.
0:42:09 > 0:42:11I wouldn't have seen the bike in there unless you pointed it out,
0:42:11 > 0:42:13but I can see now all the little elements of it, yeah.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16- So, what do you think of that? - Yeah, amazing.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18I'm absolutely astounded that he's managed to turn it into
0:42:18 > 0:42:21something quite so attractive and useful looking,
0:42:21 > 0:42:23because it was basically a pile of scrap, wasn't it?
0:42:23 > 0:42:26I haven't sold them yet, I haven't had them for very long,
0:42:26 > 0:42:29but I think they should sell well and give you some profit.
0:42:29 > 0:42:31Thank you so much, especially for your time, I know you're very busy,
0:42:31 > 0:42:34- so lovely to catch up with you. - Pleasure, thanks a lot.
0:42:34 > 0:42:36- Thanks ever so much.- Take care. - Bye-bye.- Cheers.
0:42:38 > 0:42:42Neil charged £200 to transform the bike into panniers.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45With Sarah still to sell them, though,
0:42:45 > 0:42:49it could mean a potential loss of £200.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52But I'm sure it won't be long before Julian is pedalling away
0:42:52 > 0:42:53with a profit.
0:42:57 > 0:43:03Sarah salvaged three unwanted items from Witley recycling centre.
0:43:03 > 0:43:07Colin's dressing table was given a fresh new look by Sarah.
0:43:07 > 0:43:12Robert's coffee table has been lovingly restored by Rosie, Tom and Johnny.
0:43:12 > 0:43:18And Julian's old bike continues life as panniers, courtesy of Neil.
0:43:19 > 0:43:22Well, three fantastic finds that were about to be binned have been
0:43:22 > 0:43:25transformed into unique and valuable items.
0:43:25 > 0:43:28And what's more, we made some money for nothing along the way.