For me, everything started with metalworking. Initially, my friends and I planned to build a go-kart. I was tasked with buying a welder while they were supposed to handle the engine and frame. However, when they didn't follow through, I was left with a welder and endless possibilities. This unexpected turn of events led to my first apprenticeship and set me on the path of crafting and creating. It was the beginning of a journey that has since defined my professional and personal life.
Metal Working
Hand Forged Silver Ring
For my partner’s birthday, I wanted to create a truly unique and special gift, so I decided to hand forge a ring from a single piece of silver. The design was inspired by the idea of enduring compassion, symbolized by an uninterrupted solid ring. Starting with an ounce of silver in the form of a coin, I carefully drew out the center to form the basic shape. I then patiently shaped the metal over the horn of an anvil, adjusting until I reached the correct diameter.
The final ring emerged after several attempts—each one teaching me more about the material's properties. Through this process, I gained insights into normalization, stress concentration, and fatigue, deepening my understanding of metalworking and adding a special story to the gift.
Backyard Metal Foundry
Inspired by Grant Thompson, the creative force behind The King of Random, I embarked on building my own mini metal foundry. Over several months, I collected aluminum cans and melted them down into ingots, storing them for future use. These ingots later became crucial components in a vehicle restoration project. Unfortunately, there are no surviving images of these parts.
During this process, I deepened my knowledge of sand casting. I crafted my own green casting sand using motor oil and kitty litter and built custom casting boxes. I also learned about critical casting considerations like draft angles, the effects of impurities, and the importance of settling chambers. Additionally, I explored various aluminum alloys, their properties, and how they behave when they shrink during cooling. This project was not only a practical application of metalworking but a significant educational journey that expanded my skills and understanding of the craft.
This video showcases my very first attempt at ingot casting when I was just fifteen years old. Although the casting was rough and filled with impurities, it marked the beginning of an incredible journey in foundrywork.
Backyard Metal Forge
During a period in my youth when I was deeply engaged in metalwork, similar to when I built my metal foundry, I constructed my own forge. This forge functioned much like the foundry, using forced induction from a hair dryer to accelerate the combustion of charcoal. This setup generated a significantly higher energy output, heating the coals to temperatures high enough to make steel workable.
Using this forge, I created camping hatchets from old wrenches, a creative idea inspired by Eli from the YouTube channel ZNA Productions. Later on, I also used the forge to add ornate metal twists to other projects, expanding its use beyond just creating tools.
