Awesome Aluminum

Machine shop DataPro shares hypnotic footage of a Datron CNC milling machine, as it takes a disc of aluminum and transforms it into a precise and smoothly formed gear. It was shot as a time-lapse, but won’t it be awesome when machines can do this in real time?

These unique metal dice from AKO have a modern look while incorporating a texture inspired by a dragon’s scales. Instead of round dice pips, numbers are represented with lines that mimic a dragon’s claw marks. They’re machined from aluminum and come in five colors. A 10-dice set includes a case/dice tower combo.

Commissioned by the U.S. Navy in the 1940’s, the Emeco 1006 Navy Chair is immediately recognizable. Designed for light weight and resistance to fire, the aluminum chairs are nearly indestructible. BRANDMADE.TV takes us inside the Hanover, Pennsylvania factory where these iconic chairs are still manufactured by hand.

Elephant Wallet’s sleek and modern cardholder is milled from a block of aluminum. Its front is solid and blocks RFID scanning, while its rear provides easy access to up to nine cards, which stow under a colorful fabric strap. Available with your choice of 14 different strap colors.

The classic NASA “worm” logo is back, and now you can own a memento of this iconic work of graphic design thanks to Register Seven. The company will produce a sweet CNC-machined version of the logo milled from 6061-T6 aluminum, then anodized in NASA red, black, or grey. Measures 7.5″ w x 2″ h x 1″ d.

Most books have covers made from thick paper, though you might find some vintage ones made from wood. What you won’t find are any books with covers made from cast aluminum. Black Beard Projects teamed up with Nerdforge to create just that, and the result is a impressive work of readable art. Watch part two here.

The GrabOpener pops open bottles with one hand… and a flourish. The easy-to-use anodized aluminum tool removes caps without bending them. Its built-in magnet holds onto caps, and can stick the tool on your fridge. Comes in purple, green, gold, and orange.

This modern desk lamp offers two modes of operation – an indirect light shaped like a triangle or an adjustable task light in its open position. It has a built-in USB and Qi-compatible wireless charger in its base as well. It provides both warm and cool light settings in five brightness levels. Bostitch sells a cheaper version made from plastic.

Hop on the ultra-compact bandwagon with this minimal mechanical keyboard. The kit comes with an anodized aluminum case, brushed stainless steel top plate, a programmable PCB that fits Cherry MX or Matias/ALPS switches, and looks fantastic with the optional Acute keycap set ($30). Note: switches and keycaps not included.

California artist Brianna Kufa creates these unique, wall-mountable bookshelves in a variety of curved profiles. They start off with a simple and affordable arc design, and get as complicated a wall-filling combo of undulating waves and a spiral that holds up to 325 books. Each one comes with anchors for hanging on drywall.

Farmer Customs‘ machined metal bottle opener is the perfect keychain companion. It’s got a sleek, yet pragmatic design that allows it to hang a keys from either end, and clips easily onto your belt or pants pocket. Available in aluminum, stainless steel, brass, copper, or titanium for the ultimate in strength.

Keep your pills, rolled-up cash, match sticks, or other small items inside of this torpedo-shaped keychain container from edcfans. It’s 100% waterproof, made from lightweight aerospace-grade aluminum, and has a sharp carbide glass breaker on its tip. Measures 3.1″ long x 1.3″ diameter, with a 1.3″ inner diameter.

The MagBolt pen features a unique mechanism that uses the power of repelling magnets to engage and retract its pen tip. Each one features a smoothly machined aluminum barrel, along with accents in copper, brass, or aluminum. Accepts a Schmidt 9000 M refill (included).

Builder Tim Sway always wanted to create a musical instrument without using any wood in its construction. So he set about crafting a fretless bass guitar from a thick sheet of clear acrylic and aluminum. Despite some challenges along the way, the finished result looks amazing.

Macally’s slimline aluminum keyboard looks great with modern Mac computers, blending in a retro typewriter vibe with its circular and oval keys. It’s optimized for use with MacOS, and includes numerous Mac-specific shortcut keys. Plus, it’s a bargain compared to the price of Apple’s venerable wired keyboard.

This modern writing instrument features a sleek metal body in aluminum or steel, and its magnetic hex opening holds screwdriver bits for eyeglasses, watches, and electronic gadgets. It comes with eight tool bits, and can store up to four of them inside of its body. Special price available for a limited time from Drop.

Makers of cool metal objects AltDynamic are back with another really sweet design. The Tesseract is a CNC-machined aluminum cube within a cube that looks like a rare totem from another dimension. It comes in three sizes: 1.9″ Mini, 2.4″ Mighty, and 2.9″ Mega, in raw aluminum and three anodized colors.

M.N. Projects shows off a nifty little weapon he machined from aluminum. It has a set of hinged arms which are attached to springs that store up energy when the bow is drawn back. We certainly wouldn’t want to catch one of those metal-tipped arrows in an eyeball.

Most minimal wallets put an emphasis on modern looks, but Dango Products‘ take on the slimline trend combines the classic appeal of leather with the structure of aerospace-grade aluminum. It holds up to 12 cards, and blocks RFID scanners. It’s also available in a slim bifold style.

EDC Apparatus makes all kinds of great clips, belt loop, and keychain accessories. This little guy is a miniature engine piston with a face cut into it, perfect for lovers of cars, motorcycles, skulls, or all three. It’s made from 6061 aluminum and can be outfitted with a carabiner clip in stainless steel or titanium for a small upcharge.

Machined from a solid hunk of aluminum or brass, the Flipo Flip offers a unique take on the desktop fidget toy. This metal plaything is designed to feel great in the hand, and is perfectly weighted for flipping, spinning, and manipulation with your fingers. Available in hexagonal and square designs.

Olight’s small-but-mighty pocket flashlight features a water-resistant aluminum body with a unique knurled grip design. It offers 180 lumens of brightness from a single AAA battery, and has a TIR optic lens for a smooth beam. The zig-zag pocket clip offers carrying versatility. Available in desert tan and black.

From the Truth in Advertising Department, machinist Brian Howey’s shiny, stubby, and fat metal pens have a clean, minimal look to them, and measure just 4-3/4″ long. They come in various combinations of aluminum, brass, and copper, and can be optioned out with a matching leather case from UpState Handmade.