Tag Archives: clamps

Tools of the trade

Posted on by
Reply

.

I am at once both ashamed and proud of this photo. I built the bench that these clamps lie on. I have also purchased every single one of these clamps since I took that steel fabrication sculpture class just – what – one month ago? This is but a small sampling of where a large portion of my spare (and not so spare) cash has been going. Yet, I tell you that I need every one of these, and I’m sure at some point in the not too distant future I will find myself in a situation where every single one of them is in use and I’m saying, “If only I had one more!”

I’m a little concerned about these expenditures, but it seems to be what I really want right now. I think this is part of what they call following your muse. I’ll let you know if it starts to get out of hand. More than likely, if it does, you’ll see it here before I realize I’m in it.

This is getting ridiculous

Posted on by
Reply

.

I remember about two years ago when I started doing these things I was reading someone’s online account of building rolling ball sculptures. He had a photo up of one part of the process, some copper clamped up in a vise with a bunch of wood, and the accompanying text said something like, “I have built clamps to hold sections of track so that I can solder them appropriately.” I remember thinking, “No way, man, not me. I’m not going to get that involved. That guy is obviously going much further than I’m going to go. That’s kind of ridiculous, all that effort just to solder one joint.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: a photo of me having achieved the ridiculous. (For the record, it worked, and nothing less than this conglomeration of clamps, wood, and wire would have made it possible.)

What a Tool

Posted on by
2
.

.

Doubtless you’ll be as breathless and excited over this one as I am. These three seemingly inoccuous blocks of aluminum have tremendous potential, at least they do for me. They’re tools to be used in the making of rolling ball sculpture. These were designed by the sculptor Matthew Gaulden, and constructed in conjunction with his machinist. These hold 1/8″ wire when building an RBS, and Matt says they cut down his construction time by 20%. Building these sorts of sculptures is very time-consuming, so any way to cut down some of that is welcome, particularly when it’s an annoying detail like getting track spacing consistent. Personally, I’d rather spend my time developing some new track element, like a lift that’s shaped like a ferris wheel or something. Track spacing? Not exactly my idea of ultimate creativity.

One side note here: They don’t make copper in 1/8″ diameter. These clamps are to be used with steel wire. This means they have to be welded isntead of soldered. Previously, everything I’ve done has been soldered copper. I have a crappy little welder with which I have cobbled together one or two things. This is effectively a move toward making some construction changes. I don’t know when you’re all going to see some results, but it occurred to me that sitting around thinking about how I didn’t know how to weld my sculptures was not getting me any closer to being able to weld. This, this is a step forward. Stay tuned here for details on how I manage to botch my welding in the future.