Awesome Metal

Think of how strong a steel chain can be. Then imagine the forces that must be necessary to shape and connect its links. In this video from Engineering and Architecture, we get an up-close look at a specialized machine that takes lengths of steel wire, then scores, cuts, bends, and presses the pieces together.

The latest addition to AltDynamic’s series of collectible desktop curiosities comes in a satisfying tubular egg shape. Inspired by the mathematics of Gabriel Lamé and the 1960s Superegg design by Piet Hein, the roly-poly metal egg comes in titanium, stainless steel, and copper editions with machined or mirrored finishes.

We love seeing unique takes on fidget toy designs, and the Pivot is unlike any other we’ve seen. It consists of a Reuleaux triangle body and an oblong flipper which can be pushed from corner to corner thanks to neodymium magnets. Available in titanium or bronze, as well as anodized colors and laser-etched patterns.

Sure, you could go with one of those newfangled Ring video doorbells, or you could go old school and put a knocker on your door. Etsy shop Skulls4All sells these cast aluminum skull door knockers that are sure to scare off any unwanted solicitors who show up at your door.

Utah artist Andrew Chase creates truly impressive metal sculptures of animals, each of which includes, as he puts it “heavy, greasy, and lethally sharp edges.” Many of his creations even have articulated joints, so they can be put into different poses.

This tiny writing instrument goes anywhere and never needs ink. It uses a special silver composite tip that can leave its mark on a wide variety of surfaces. It measures less than 1″ long, and can also be used for opening boxes. Choose from titanium, copper, or brass variants.

Most soap dishes are made from plastic, ceramic, or wood. But we dig the more substantial look of Lukas Alberts’ soap dishes, which are machined from metal with strategically-placed ridges to keep soap bars from getting soggy. They come in solid aluminum or copper, both of which will oxidize and patina over time.

This pair of stiff wires have each been bent into a spiral shape, then coiled together. You would think that pulling on their ends would pull them apart, but they don’t. Vsauce’s Jake Roper shows off this curious illusion and explains how it works. The Mephisto Spiral and other fun items can be found in The Curiosity Box.

Rademic Puzzles creates awesome-looking metal puzzles, including the stainless steel Hexahog. This 3-dimensional puzzle is made of 14 unique pieces which interlock to form an outer cage and an inner cage, which contains a sculptural brass nugget. PuzzleMaster explains the puzzle’s design without giving away any tricks.

We’ve featured lots of blacksmithing videos over the years, and perhaps we’ve inspired a few of you to try it for yourself. Ryan Ridgway’s book provides step-by-step instructions and photos for 40 projects you can do with basic equipment at home. You’ll also learn about the science and history of blacksmithing along the way.

Watch as a pile of ordinary brass nuts and bolts is transformed into a shiny sculpture of an insect by artist Ross the Random. We weren’t quite sure where he was going at first with the wing piece, but the finished work turned out to be quite amazing.

Michigan artist Scott Nelles hand crafts all kinds of neat objects from cast metals. Among them is this awesome retro-futurist ray gun that looks straight out of Flash Gordon. The 15″ long space artifact is made from bronze and aluminum and features a working trigger. We also love his flying saucer and rocket coin bank.

Standard 6-sided dice are cube-shaped. But it’s also possible to make cylindrical dice – the trick is that they spin instead of roll. Metalsmith W&M Levsha demonstrates their craft by fabricating a pair of smooth-rolling metal dice spinners, each laser-engraved with six numbers. Tiny magnets ensure they stop in the right spots.

The perfect gift for aviation fanatics, this set of round nickel coasters features images of four critical instruments from an airplane cockpit – the turn indicator, the attitude indicator, the heading indicator, and the altimeter. Backed with felt to protect your coffee table.

The Hydraulic Press Channel usually shows how machines can be used to destroy stuff. But in this video, they take us inside Componenta, where such equipment is used to create things. Watch as a molten pillar of steel is loaded into a duo of presses, which gradually shape it into a ring that will be used to make a giant gear.

Puzzle Master’s metal plaything offers a Level 9 challenge for serious puzzle fiends. It’s made from 12 identical interlocking pieces that are painfully difficult to take apart and put back together. Despite having four fewer pieces, their similar Lattice puzzle is rated a Level 10 difficulty.