08 MAR 2006
I recently finished A beginners welding course. I must say, that melting steel with fire is REALLY fun. Instead of the fiery, sparks-flying, nerve wracking experience I expected, its actually really calm. The flame (when done properly) is small and quiet, there really aren't many sparks, and moving a little puddle of molten metal around... well, maybe it takes a special kind of person to be calmed by molten steel. At any rate, I really liked it. Below is a picture of a set of tongs I made as part of the final project in the course. The full project will be posted soon. (the tongs are for the aluminum casting)
G
21 FEB 2006
There we go. At least the pictures are up now. You can all see the wonder that is my first casting of one of my precious heads. It worked pretty well.
G
19 FEB 2006
I just fixed a little bug that was found on the site. There will be a bigger post tonight.
G
23 JAN 2006
Since the last post, I have added the explanations to the wax head page. I also made a hat much like my own (but girlier) for Cherelynn. Unfortunately, no picures of it at this time. Ohderdan-dat, nudding.
G
23 JAN 2006
Since the last post, I have added the explanations to the wax head page. I also made a hat much like my own (but girlier) for Cherelynn. Unfortunately, no picures of it at this time. Ohderdan-dat, nudding.
G
17 JAN 2006
Yesterday, I was walking along at work, minding my own buisness, and griping inwardly about the fact that I was frozen and getting rained on, when a thought struck.
My head might be warmer if I had a hat on.
So I made one. From string. String is fantastic stuff.
I have also posted a new page on copying a wooden head with wax, but the comments aren't there yet. Just a bunch of pictures.
G
08 JAN 2006
I have just finished posting the rest of the pictures I have of the scrap melt from some weeks back (I think it may have been Christmas day) The picture below is a link to the others.
G
07 JAN 2006
The new year is upon us, and I am almost (two weeks late) finished with Christmas gifts. I refer the the Balloon Pump that I made for Cherelynn. My hood ornament got put on hold, since the pump took much longer than I was expecting. I should be back at it soon. I will soon post some pictures of a recent scrap melt.
G
15 DEC 2005
I have been messing around with the projects page, trying out a slightly different format. Anyone who has an oppinion as to which is the better format, please feel free to say which you prefer on the guest book (stupid thing might just be useful after all)
This is the original Projects page
This is the new format Projects page.
Also, there are some recent additions to the projects, some pictures of the furnace, the propane torch and a picture of some crochet.
Here is another picture taken watching the Tozan kiln.
10 DEC 2005
Last tuesday, I wandered over to the campus on one of my days off, so that I could see their Tozan pottery kiln going. The kiln is one of only two in north america, and large. Wood fired. Flames spitting out of every crack. While Cherelynn and myself were watching, they pulled a couple of bricks out of the side to toss some more wood in. At least half of the brick was glowing bright yellow. We also got a chance to look into the main door, and the entire interior of the thing was the same color. Hundreds of cubic feet at well over 2000 degrees (Fahrenheit, but still impressive). All from wood heat. That's a heck of a campfire.
The best bit though, was when one of the potters running the kiln looked at his potter friend and stated:
"Your wife's jugs are looking pretty good over there in the corner."
Nobody even giggled. What a crazy bunch those potters are.
G
I felt like a the world's biggest tourist taking this picture.
