No Robots, but much Coolness!

So last month I got a rare, and historically super geeky opportunity. I was on the U.S.S. Constitution when it did a turn around cruise in Boston Harbor. How incredibly cool is it to be on the worlds oldest commissioned warship, a ship that was named by George Washington? Well I thought it was awesome. The cruise was to honor Gold Star Families and educators (that's how I got on board). They ship went out to Castle Island, was saluted by a National Guard Battery, returned the salute, and then went back to her birth. All told it was a 3 hour cruise and just tremendous. We lucked out weather wise too, it was perfect.

More about the Process

Its been a while since we have looked around the Robotorium to see whats "up-and-coming". Given that I wanted to post a few images of what I am working on and combine that with more musings about my creative process.

First Up: A Pile of Heads.

Many times I begin a project with a body part, most often is a torso. Heads are right up there though. I usually do not have a  preconceived notion of what the final product will look like, but prefer to just start with a part and go from there. The end result is driven by materials, paint, patina (dirt), and availability of parts.

Heads are fun, fun to make and think about, but also critical to the final personality. Of the ones above, only the gas pump/meter has a potential body. Its the film strip projector you can see a bit of in the photo. The rest will sit on the bench while I ponder potential uses for them. 

Next are two pieces that are in the works. The first is waiting for me to figure out its legs.

I love the look and feel of this one. I am quite happy with the head, which is a combination of  an electrical service conduit and an old projector bulb. Right now the base I have it on allows it to kind of wobble around, and I may leave like that. But the skeletal nature of the arms keeps making me think of replicating that in its legs. I need to think on it some more. 

The  there this:

Not the best photo, but this uses an old projecting microscope as the body. Its kind of different from what I have done in the past, which makes it cool. The challenge here is what do I do to round out the body and what kind of head do I use with it. Again this needs more thought and tinkering. trying various parts, figuring out how to attach them and how they work, or don't work, as a whole. Like any other creative endeavor its part tinkering, part head scratching, and part flash of inspiration. 

Hopefully this post gives you a sense of how I get "from here to there", its never a straight path, but always a fun one to walk. 

Summer's Over, I am Back

Summer break is a big deal if you teach, like I do. My summer pursuits tend to turn towards outdoor activities, thus the lapse in postings. But school began anew this week, and with so begins my work in the studio. Below are a few things I have just finished up.

I always wanted to build a couple of old school looking ray-guns and finally got around to it. Here is my take on the classic 1950's ray-gun. Both use soldering iron handles as a base. The top one uses an old light meter for the body, whereas the bottom one I built the body up off of the barrel using some bearings and drive couplings.

Vernon, The House Robot has been at the Mosesian Center hawking for donations but will now become part of this falls members show. I need to change out his batteries, but if you are near Watertown, swing by and check him out, he's a personal favorite.

Apologies for the picture here, but this ones kind of big and the spot I usually use (with the nice neutral background) didn't work because of his size. Anyway this is a variation of a few I had built before. This one has a slightly more malevolent air to it. I love the face and the way the arms came out. I always try to get the end result to be visually and stylistically cohesive and I think this one is a good example of that. 

Nothing to do with Robots

Lets call this a tonsorial diversion. About a year or so ago I started shaving with a straight razor. It appeals to the tool user in me. I think straights can be elegant looking tools, and the thought of shaving with something 100 years old is really cool. Anyway I managed to put a nick in one and needed to find a person to hone it out and bring the razor back into fighting trim. One thing lead to another and I found The Perfect Edge in Shrewsbury, MA. only an hour drive from me. Its run by Howard Schechter a honemeister extraordinaire, and all around fascinating and funny man. I spent the morning with him learning how to hone a razor, how he got into importing Belgian Coticules as well as some of the science behind what happens when you rub a piece of metal on a rock. Anyone at all interested  in straight razors, honing, or even making one of your own (he can show you how) should check out his site, and if your in the area, pay him a visit. It's always a pleasure to spend time with craftsman, and Howard ranks right up there.

The razor I nicked that Howard fixed for me and a Zulu honing stone I bought from him while I was visiting. 

The Donation Robot

I finally finished the Donation Robot and dropped it off at the Moseisan Center for the Arts. Its there right now as part of the annual fund drive. I am happy with the way it turned out. Lori and I actually miss it, its customary home is in the kitchen. For now though its in Watertown, so if your looking to see it head on over and check it out.

Here it is "In Action!"

How Much is that Robot in the Window?

What it worth? That's a tough question, one I wrestle with - a lot. Since I have decided to try and sell these its been hard to try and figure out pricing. Its hours of work and the parts do not always come cheap. But here is an example where things worked out better for me regarding costs. Take one of my latest pieces, Angus. His head is made of a surplus submarine periscope film magazine.

Now I got this part from Surplus Shed in Pennsylvania, a great place to look for oddities, specifically optical stuff, but they have a ton of other things, like this. Anyway, the last time I ordered a few of these the package had the original U.S. Navy inventory tag. Check out what Uncle Sam paid for this. 

Yup, you read that right, $16,818.00! Now I would say that makes Angus here just a little more valuable, wouldn't you? Nothing but the best for the Robotorium. 

Amina's Birthday Present

So about 2 years ago my friend Amina gave me 2 old Weston electrical gauges. They sat for a while, as things do around the Robotorium, but when I got going on them I really loved how they worked as a platform. I liked them so much I bought a bunch more a few months after I finished the first ones. It proved to be a good call, they really work well and are fun to build off of. Anyway it was Amina;'s birthday this month so I gave her one of the the ones I built using the parts she gave me. Weston #2 now has a new home.