Hullish

6'10" 2 + 1 Universal variant

a user friendly hull 

The finished wedding ring

well, here is the finished ring after acid etching.

i set out to make a ring that is unique to me, something rare and precious. not so much because of the element that it is made from but through the process by which it is made.

making pattern welded titanium is a relatively new process and one that is full of difficulties. a layer of oxides form on the surface and that makes it hard to weld, the same oxides also make etching difficult. the exact pattern is unpredictable and no two pieces are the same.

i am satisfied that i have achieved what i set out to do, this ring is singular, there really isn't another one quite like it. in fact having done quite a lot of research on the subject, it is likely to be the only Pattern Welded Titanium wedding ring in the world.

How to make you own wedding ring Part 3

Shape the outside of the ring using an angle grinder, abrasive paper and files.

Create the profile inside the ring using a Dremel with an abrasive drum, then polish with a buffing wheel.

As you can see, after polishing the Damascus pattern is no longer showing. in order to bring the pattern out the ring needs to be acid etched.

Acid Etching

Titanium is tricky stuff to etch and you need some really aggressive chemicals to do the job.

i would not recommend attempting to etch titanium. 

if you are in any doubt, have a read of the material safety data sheet for Hydrofluoric acid. this stuff is really nasty and according to the experts that i spoke to, it shouldn't be handled without a full protective suit and a respirator with a face shield.

So, the original plan was to have someone etch the ring for me but very few people will etch titanium given the potentially risks of working with such dangerous chemicals. after exhausting all of the options both here and in America and doing a lot of research, it turns out that it's possible to do it in your shed with a pair of rubber gloves and some chemicals contained in readily available products that you can buy on-line. still a little scary but the quantities of acid that you need are relatively low and the risks are manageable.
still wouldn't recommend it though.

How to make your own wedding ring part 2

The first job is to drill the hole through the centre.

With a 4 jaw chuck, mount the block on a centre lathe and drill a hole with a centre drill.

Then use progressively larger drills to enlarge the hole.

and a boring bar to clean and open the hole to the finished diameter.

Then back to the milling machine to mill down to the finished width and chamfer the corners.

more to follow...

How to make your own wedding ring part 1

Because of the significance of a wedding band, I wanted a ring that was both special and unique to me. I decided that the best way forward would be to make my own. In that way, through choice of material and the labour of making i would have a ring that is not only unique to me but also reminds me of the journey to get here and bond that it symbolises.

So for those interested, here is how i did it.

The Material

I make my living by working with my hands so I wanted a metal that was both tough and durable. I chose pattern welded (also know as Damascus) Titanium because of it's toughness, weight, appearance and the process through which it is made. This very special material is only produced by a handful of craftsmen around the world and has a pattern like wood grain. The pattern is produced by welding different alloys of titanium together and then twisting the welded bar. the patterns are largely random and no two pieces are alike. I contacted Richard Furrer from Door County Forgeworks in Wisconsin. 

Along with Damascus titanium Ric also makes beautiful Knives, Swords, Axes and Tools from his own hand made Damascus Steel. have a look at his work here:
http://doorcountyforgeworks.com/Available_Work.html

this is my piece of Titanium, milled square and ready to go. More to follow...

#9

7'11" #9 

2+1 

for Rob

Bowl

Stoneware bowl

Jar

Small Jar decorated with a chattering technique.
Made for Maz's birthday

Super 6 + 1/2

6'6" Super 6

for Jon

Mid-length Hull

8'4" Hull for Ivan

Mode

9'2" Mode for Simon

Cassette

9'4" Cassette V2

My new long for spring

Spectro Ride Report

Hi Steve, 

Today I had what was probably as good a session as it gets up here on the Spectro. Solid head high, not a breath of wind so mirror-glass conditions, spring low tide, shallow, punchy, hollow beach break surf.

I felt instantly at home on the board. Paddles well (possibly a touch better than the Lumus) and can pick up waves with ease. Not much adjustment needed in the takeoff other than an extra split-second to be sure I'm moving down the face before popping up. 

I actually suprised myself with a few late drops, one of them a bit of an air-drop going front side as the lip pitched early. Felt amazing as the fins connected on the steep face. Couple of pretty late backside drops too, definitely assisted by the narrower nose. 

Up and riding it's got all of the good bits about the Lumus, projection, flow and speed, but a little more refined overall and a slightly more lively/agile feel. The fins seem to offer the perfect mix of drive, control and looseness and I think the smaller size works really well. 

Duck diving is also a touch easier than the Lumus, which I wasn't expecting as it's got slightly more volume. Makes sense I guess as there is less nose to sink. Anyway was grateful for it today and made the paddle out that little bit easier. 

Overall I think we got the sizing spot on and it's the perfect compliment to the Lumus for exactly the sort of surf we had today. I feel like I can jump on either board with minimal adjustment needed. Super-stoked.....again! 

Many thanks Steve,

Paul

Vulcan

10' Vulcan for Matt

Teapot

Hand built stoneware teapot

Handle made from a Cornish hedgerow and reclaimed electrical wire

Free to a good home

Olympus OM10

Tamron Tele Macro Lense

other lenses and filters

all free to anyone that can make use of them

GONE

Jar

Stoneware Jar with Tenmoku glaze

Jekyll

6'2" Jeykll for Jonathan

green resin stripes

wedding rings?

anyone know anybody that makes wedding rings?
would much rather give my cash to a craftsman.

Hull

7'0" 2+1 Hull

some elements of the Universal for Chris