Awesome Metal

Hydroforming is the process of shaping metal structures by inflating them with pressurized water or air. Maker Connor Holland has been experimenting with the technique, and shared this compilation of some of the more interesting and satisfying results. The pillow one looks like a metal whoopee cushion.

This desktop plaything from the makers of the Mezmoglobe and Mezmotop tricks your eyes when you spin it. The mirror finish aluminum toy looks like a stack of coins, and its smooth spinning mechanism creates a wavelike illusion as you get it up to speed. Sold in standard and nano sizes, as well as a bundle with both.

Estonian design shop Udrik’s playful metal stand provides the perfect place to store your over-the-ear headphones. Serving as both a work of modern art and a functional accessory, the powder-coated steel and oak stand resembles an abstract human who is happy to wear your cans when you’re not using them.

Robinson Foundry crafted this useful brass kitchen gadget using a 3D printed measuring cube as a starting point. Like some of his other creations, he used the “Lost PLA” method to create a ceramic mold around the 3D print and then melted away the plastic. We wonder how accurate it is compared to the original.

The Michelin Man, aka “Bibendum,” is one of the most iconic advertising mascots of all time. Awesome Restorations, got their hands on an antique metal sculpture of the rotund character and sandblasted away years of rust, then repainted it, restoring its former glory. He looked like a toasted marshmallow man before his makeover.

This CNC-machined aluminum building block from Gundae Productions is a great gift for LEGO fans. The block is roughly twice the size of a standard 4×2 LEGO brick, measuring 2.5″ wide. It’s not designed for a tight fit though, so consider it more of display piece than something you’d build structures with.

Cast metal versions of organic forms can look awesome, like this seashell that Seth Robinson made. The process involved placing a marlin spike shell into a sand mold. After melting aluminum and pouring it into the mold, he removed the casting and cleaned up the excess metal to reveal what the insides of the shell look like.

Maker Ross the Random has a thing for turning hardware into critters. After he transformed a few nuts and bolts into a shiny hornet, he took a single screw and managed to massage it into a palm-sized sculpture of a scorpion.

If you’ve been to a firing range, you’ll see countless shell casings littering the ground. Seth over at Robinson Foundry wanted to put these to use, so he melted down the brass casings and turned them into custom coins. He created the shapes by 3D printing coin models, then placed them into a sand mold for casting.

Ian Davis needed a prosthetic to replace four fingers on his left hand. Rather than purchase a commercial model, he engineered an awesome metal hand that looks like something straight out of The Terminator. It’s capable of opening, closing, splaying its fingers, and makes satisfying sounds as it flexes.

Magnetic Games presents yet another wonderfully satisfying video, in which he uses hundreds of magnetic rods and spheres to create an complicated geometric sculpture. He placed a light at the center of his masterpiece, so it casts interesting shadows as well. After it’s all done, he knocks it down with a catapult.

Keep all your vinyl records organized and easily accessible with this hand-welded metal storage tower from Design Atelier Article. It comes in two variants – one that holds 240 LPs and one that holds 300 LPs. Both measure 45″ high, but vary in width from 15 3/4″ to 19 2/3″. They also make a squared-off storage unit with casters.

Despite being made of only four pieces, this palm-sized metal puzzle offers plenty of challenge for puzzle lovers. The goal – remove the interlocking pieces from their base, then put them back together. Designed in Japan by puzzle expert Mineyuki Uyematsu.

Mr. Michal shows off a metal truck that incorporates a multi-fire rocket launcher in its bed. Loaded up with gunpowder, it puts on quite a spectacle, but the danger level rises precipitously with the addition of ball-bearing projectiles. Yep, don’t try this at home. Leave it to the YouTube “professionals.”

Fishbone’s metal gadget is designed for knotless joining and tying of ropes and straps. It holds up to 0.5″ rope or 1″ flat webbing, and has built-in neodymium magnets for stacking and storage. Available in stainless steel or lightweight aluminum. They also make a mini version for 0.25″ or smaller rope or paracord.

TITANS of CNC: Academy presents footage of a truly epic creation – a hefty chess board machined from a massive hunk of metal. It’s got a grooved playing surface, and logo art on its sides. We’d love to see how they milled all of those beautiful titanium chess pieces too.