Time and time again I see sad women, and pathetic men.   Welcome to my ludus.     You were made for loving her. Prove it, in all things- of worth.   "Your tears! Your blood! Your pathetic lives forged into something of worth. Listen! Learn! And, perhaps, live - As Gladiators! Now Attend your master."   "A Gladiator does *not* fear death. He embraces it. Caresses it. *Fucks* it. Each time he enters the arena, he slips his cock in the mouth of the beast, and prays to thrust home be fore the jaws snap shut."   Have purpose.      "Fight...

Needed to make a pair for an A6, so a few feet of 1/8" X 1" flat stock, scrap 1" 3/4 and some 2 1/4", with some black 1/2" pipe I was able to weld up these in a few hours. Most of the time was spent measuring and determining the width and placements of the rounded side fingers.They are held together with a 5/16" bolt and some washers for spacer between the sides. I purposely left this a bit loose to allow some play since without any, the units fit very snug to the crucible and you do want to allow for expansion.All I have left to do is add a chain and hook about 3/4" up the handles so it can...

It's funny where some of my inspiration comes from, and even more so where I "work things out" in that place I use my "mind's toolshop". See, I have a glorious view of the river and ridge edge here, its reminiscent of a outlet you might see in Norway, Scotland, or Ireland... From the bathroom.   For decades now, I've made my way doing things I love yet one elusive corner always has been presentation. I've done jewelry, leather, accessories, furniture, name it- yet it's always been the presentation that I can't ever seem to be completely satisfied with. Given the recent couple of years...

  It doesn't sound like much, but the first waxes coming out of a new setup are a mark of progress. Add that with a visit by a minion of a snake cult and some good music.   Not that I'm relaxing, but I am breathing a bit better because this whole result today marked the working completion of a whole chain of new, untested equipment, new methods until now worked out on paper only, and some serious sack sweat.   Let the molding and production onsalught begin.   After I have coffee.

  The end of the "list" is finally in sight. Taking advantage of a yearly awaited sale from a couple manufacturers to get the rest of the big ticket items on the foundry list. (Compressors, Vibratory Tumblers, a Pyramid Sized Pallet of IFB, Industrial Oven, etc)   I also get a tour of a facility near Philadelphia and some lazy real-estate scouting in the mix.   Now theres this annoying "little list" of the stuff you don't think about if its your first time around the block, like re-stocking buffing compounds, making measured ingot molds, extra plinths, and more clay to...

  Researchers from the British Museum recently unveiled a Viking hoard of silver that may rewrite early English history. An amateur discovered the treasure in a field in Watlington, Oxfordshire, around 40 miles west of London. The collection of more than 200 items, which includes silver coins, jewelry, and ingots, was intentionally buried in the late 870s A.D., during a tumultuous period when Anglo-Saxon armies fought to repel conquering Viking forces. In 878, King Alfred the Great of Wessex, the last independent Anglo-Saxon kingdom, finally halted the Viking invasion at the Battle...

Always looking for ways to look backwards, yet innovate. I present to you a "not tutorial", rather an insight into thinking outside the box, or crucible in this case.  ~Fen     Artopsy writes: This is a hollow silicon bronze casting I did using the 'flip' technique with ceramic shell moulds. I thought I'd give you a brief run down of how this was made. This isn't a tutorial as I couldnt handle the guilt/responsibility if any of you tried to replicate what I did and your work just fell short of the stellar standards I am able to achieve! Remember.....NOT A TUTORIAL!     Right,...

I've always been fascinated by construction methods used for Stonehenge, The Great Pyramids, and others. I think this guy is on to something, and even if hes not right what hes doing can be applied to projects we do today. I may get my Fenir-esque Easter Island Effigy for my yard yet. Using what he believes are the original methods, retired carpenter W.T. Wallington has recreated his own version of the ancient megalith. According to Wallington, “over the years, many times I had to improvise on tools that were not at hand in order to get the job done,” he writes. “At one of these...

It was inevitable. Last year, I began a serious delve into kicking my design skills on the computer up a few more notches. I mean, I've spent years (decades really now) working with digital art, and all this time it's primarily been for the crazy idea that eventually, I'll be able to do things more efficiently in the studio. I've got about 300 hours of direct applied time in class (3D) and I noticed how the previous skillsets made this come together more fluidly.   It's worked most of the time, and if anything I've been taught a bit more patience. Well, alot. See, my craft involves dedication,...