around the net

What is an Astrolabe?

QuiQue — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:04:08 -0600

Found this wonderful video describing the use of a most beautifully hand crafted metal device used for telling time in the 13th Century. The Astrolabe is something I think that some of you on ArtMetal may want to take a look at making using blacksmithing or casting methods. Anyway, I hope this video summons creativity and craftsmanship to some of you.

Tom Wujec reaches back to one of our earliest but most ingenious devices -- the astrolabe. With thousands of uses, from telling time to mapping the night sky, this old tech reminds us that the ancient can be as brilliant as the brand-new.

The Clock is Tickin'

QuiQue — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 19:37:10 -0500

As some of you know, I recently returned from Peru where I gave a series of workshops/seminars to metalworkers in Lima. I had a great opportunity to take some personal time after the workshops to visit the sacred site of Machu Pichu - an Inca ruin. I've always had a great desire to learn more about ancient civilizations, especially Mesoamerican civilizations. Somehow, I've always thought that they had knowledge of this reality which we, in our egocentric material world, do not realize we have.

Energy Connection

Craft in America Includes Blacksmith Artist Tom Joyce

webminster — Wed, 30 May 2007 14:11:32 -0500

If you're interested in seeing what Tom Joyce, a great blacksmith, has been up to in the recent past, check out the PBS series on "Craft in America." It starts tonight!

Libor Hurda - communicating through the human figure

webminster — Fri, 04 May 2007 14:55:39 -0500

I was browsing the web and ran across a master metal artist that I would like to share with you. Libor Hurda has created some fantastic human abstract sculptures which communicate clearly. One of his sculptures "Kentar Enzo" remind me of some of Chris Ray's art. Especially "Tyro And The Serrosteed" from the Quadreverz series. I'm not quite sure why I see the correlation. Maybe it's the wheels? But there seems to be more and I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe you can shed some light on it. Do you see any relationship between the art created by these two artists?

Damascus blades are made up of nanotubes

webminster — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 11:38:34 -0600

Ed Yong has an interesting description on how a seventeenth century Damascus sabre made by Assad Ullah has tiny carbon nanotubes embedded into the sword to give it that super hard but ductile strength
Damascus blades are known for.

New welding wire from Hobart Brothers

webminster — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 16:05:01 -0600

A new welding wire from Hobart Brothers, the TM-770 wire's smooth, stable and soft arc creates virtually spatter-free welds to minimize post-weld cleanup time and help increase productivity. Engineered for single- and multiple-pass welding in all positions, TM-770 produces a flat weld bead profile, even in the vertical-up position, and is designed for use with mixed shielding gases.

An Amazing Robot Sculpture

webminster — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 09:29:22 -0600

"Around the Net"

What an Amazing Robot Sculpture Mark Ho has created! Seems he is going to make a limited edition of 25 at 30,000.00 EURO. If you're interested in buying one, contact him at:

Mark HoZoho Artforms
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
www.zoho.nl
+31 6 233 099 69

Here's a link to some larger images including him building it.