Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! This is a little different from the cute-cutesy stuff I normally post, but when I heard I heard about this project, I was totally enchanted and had to find out more. My bf is a machinist and works at an epic machine shop in San Francisco. They make all manner of things out of metal, from gates to signs to architectural flourishes you never even considered, using a waterjet machine.
It's pretty incredible to the layperson (me!) to see the stuff that goes on in there. His colleague Nick Foster found a way to use his shop skills to make a beautiful valentine for his lady, and I was so into it that I wanted to share his process and the final result! Here's how this very special valentine was made, in Nick's words:
It's pretty incredible to the layperson (me!) to see the stuff that goes on in there. His colleague Nick Foster found a way to use his shop skills to make a beautiful valentine for his lady, and I was so into it that I wanted to share his process and the final result! Here's how this very special valentine was made, in Nick's words:
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| all photos by Nick Foster |
This 4" tall card was cut, along with lettering, on a waterjet machine.
The stainless steel hinge was then welded to the leaves. A short
message is pounded into the back of the card using common letter punches
and a hammer.
Finally, a heart shape, also cut on the waterjet machine, was fastened
to the back of the card via size 0-80 screws. The heart shape is
intended to function as a picture frame, holding a picture securely to
the back leaf of the card!
In order to make the card more pleasing to the eye, the front cover is
decorated using a technique referred to as 'machine turning' or
'jeweling.' This is an old-fashioned technique which involves spinning
an abrasive circular brush against the stainless steel cover in a
repeating grid pattern such that light is captured and reflected in an
interesting pattern."
Incredibly cool, yes? Enjoy your day, treat yo'self no matter your romantic situation, and get ready to buy a ton of 75% off chocolate tomorrow. XO!
1 comment:
This is such a sweet and romantic Valentines idea. Engraving your sweetest Happy valentines day messages on that metal heart is truly amazing. Cheers xxxx
Marilyn
http://easyday.snydle.com/valentines-day-wishes-and-messages.html
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