The Zeal Steel owner and boilermaker has just spent 150 hours fabricating a 700kg recycling centre from recycled steel.
"Ironic Cafe needed something to cover their rubbish bins and recycling area and, as I'm a boilermaker by trade, this old steel is a very attractive material for me to work with," he said.
"This job has been all about recycling, so it was only right to use recycled steel.
"All the steel used in it was going to be thrown out.
"But using this shows respect for the old guys who did this work 100 years ago.
"It's important to preserve history."
The centre includes a planter and an oil recycling cavity.
It was fabricated from a 12.5mm steel fire tube boiler and 16mm Kensington gas accumulator, which was built in the 1870s.
"I've made quite a few things out of that gas accumulator, over the years.
"All the stuff in [Dunedin fashion label] NomD is made from that," Mr Forbes said.
The design also incorporates a 1930s railway signal light.
The signal light is stamped with a New Zealand Railways insignia.
An 1890s lift handle from the former John McIndoe building is used to close the oil trap.
"I'd love to see this steel work in South Dunedin.
"There were a lot of working class people out there who used to work at Hillside and the gasworks, so this relates to that area.
"As a planter, it's indestructible," Mr Forbes said.
"It's arc sprayed underneath and epoxy painted, so it will last forever."
