Awesome Metal

Seth from Robinson Foundry has created some unique metal objects. But most of his projects use a single kind of metal. This time, he made a geometric puzzle with pieces cast from copper, aluminum, and bronze. He 3D printed the shapes which he used to make ceramic molds for the molten metal. He used sand casting and woodworking to create the base.

There’s just something about molten hot metal that gets us excited. In this video from Mega Process, they take us inside of a facility in Korea that produces huge metal bolts for industrial use. They start with long rods of steel which they cut down to bolt length, heat and shape the heads, then machine the screw threads.

UK artists Two Brass Monkeys make wonderfully challenging sculptural puzzles from brass and stainless steel. Among their tricky designs are the spherical Gob Stopper, the hexagonal Joy of Hex, and log-shaped Pygmy and Marmoset. Each one will flex your brain as you attempt to separate and put together their geometry.

Screws come in all shapes and sizes. In this video from Mike at Chronova Engineering, he show the process of creating an insanely small 0.6 mm screw for use in a watch. After milling down a metal rod on a watchmaker’s lathe, the part is turned in a threading die, its head cleaned up, and a slot cut into it with a skinny saw blade.

This weighty metal valet tray is a great spot for dumping the contents of your pockets. It’s machined from 25mm thick solid aluminum and includes a removable synthetic leather pad to protect items from scratches. It measures 11.3 W × 7.7″ D x 1″ D, and has anti-skid silicone feet to keep it from sliding around.

Do the chickens have large talons? We’re not sure, Napoleon. But these tongs sure do, and their mighty metal claws will hold onto your ice cubes like a bird with its prey. They’re made from antique brass-plated stainless steel and measure 7-7/8″ long.

Metal objects like the Metmo Cube are fascinating because they feature parts that are so precisely cut that you can’t see where one piece begins and the other one ends. Science educator Steve Mould explains wire EDM machining, which enables the creation of such incredibly tight-fitting objects.

These unique serving bowls from Pendulux feature an embossed design inspired by the lines and icons used to identify flying objects on radar screens. The pattern looks like it came from some ancient alien civilization. The set includes 13″, 9″ and 6.75″ diameter bowls, and comes in nickel-plated brass or natural brass.

Random Hands took a piece of rusty metal from the shaft of an industrial drill bit and transformed it into a shiny new ballpoint pen. After sanding the surface rust off of the metal rod, he drilled out its center, added a cutout for a bolt-action mechanism, and gave its case a beautiful hammered texture with a rotary tool.

Watch as a talented craftsperson turns a metal disc into a beautiful work of art by applying heat from a torch. The control it must take to create such a precise pattern is extraordinary. We’re not sure who created this piece, but it looks a lot like the work of Skip and Racheal​ Mathews, who use the technique on copper.

Dyson’s Supersonic hair dryer pushes more air and dries hair faster than most. Integza figured out a way to use its tiny and powerful motor to create a handheld jet engine. First, he had to use an industrial 3D printer to produce a metal case for his project. Then he injected fuel into its combustion chamber and ignited it.

Magnetic Games walks us through the painstaking process of assembling a 2030-piece metal model that comes together to form an awe-inspiring dragon. It’s not for beginners and takes 20+ hours to put together, but the result is worth the effort. You can buy the kit from EngineDIY.

Moscow mules are served in a copper mug for a reason. Not only does copper look awesome, it helps keep cold drinks cool. Not content with storebought mugs, Robinson Foundry decided to make his own. In this video, he shows how he made a pair of beautiful mugs using ceramic molds he created from 3D-printed forms.

An isogrid is a kind of metal structure that uses hollowed-out triangles to provide strength while reducing weight. Barry from Titans of CNC Machining used the technique to create a truly awesome skateboard. He started by plotting a design in SolidWorks, then used a CNC mill to carve the board from a block of aluminum.

Mortal Kombat’s Kung Lau wears one of the deadliest articles of clothing ever. Not only is his hat made out of metal, but it also has a razor-sharp brim that can slice his opponents into pieces. Koss shows us how he made a real-world replica of the killer hat using a jumbo circular saw blade as a starting point.

One of the more interesting items you can produce in a machine shop is a sphere inside of a cube. Emil Hogslätt shows how he produced one such object using a DMG Mori 5-axis milling machine. The finished product is immensely satisfying, as are the soothing noises the machine makes as it cuts and smooths the aluminum piece.

The vast majority of computer mice are made out of cheap plastic. Artist Uri Tuchman wanted to create something with a bit more substance, so he took the electronics out of a mouse and painstakingly crafted a new enclosure out of brass then engraved it with an ornate filigree pattern.

This titanium fidget toy features a series of magnetic bars which tilt along a center beam and click into place like toggle switches. The interchangeable buttons let you choose between a mix of rectangular and square switches. Available in grey, purple, or blue anodized finishes.

Vital Carry is back with another neat pen design. The Mini-Bolt pen has a machined metal case with a grooved non-slip surface and a bolt-action mechanism which can be ordered left- or right-handed. The 3″ long pen accepts a Schmidt D1 ink refill and comes in bright aluminum, titanium, bronze, brass, or copper.

ImpactRack takes those old streetcorner newspaper vending machines, removes the coinboxes, and makes them look as good as new. The boxes can be used for storage, a sidewalk library, or for vinyl storage and a turntable stand. They’re available with classic newspaper logos or can be custom painted.

The manhole covers here in the U.S. are pretty utilitarian. But in Japan, manhole covers can be works of urban art. This video from Process X takes us inside a high-tech factory that turns raw steel into embossed discs, then has artists embellish them with colorful enamels applied with squeeze bottles.

Melting steel normally requires a very hot, gas-fired furnace. But NileRed shows us how a relatively inexpensive induction heater can be used to turn a pile of nails into a molten blob, thanks to the heat generated by 3500 watts of electricity being conducted through the metal.

Hermit crabs are known for their ability to reside in the abandoned shells of other sea creatures. I did a thing wanted to know if one of these crustaceans would wear a shell made out of metal, like a tiny suit of armor. So he got to work casting some metal seashells and put them in a tank to see if a crab would put one on.