vincenthudsondesign-blog

[vincenthudsondesign-blog]

Final drawing and composition

[vincenthudsondesign-blog]

For my final experiment I used flat bar mild steel. I began my process by trying different methods of stripping the oxidisation layer on top, using a combination of filing, sanding and wire brushing. I then heated the entire piece of metal using a jet torch (after learning from heat experiments that the steel becomes more malleable when hot) and continued to punch holes in it using various sized nail punches and a hammer. My final step was to backfill the new perforation points with a rusting solution and clean any excess off the surface so that only the internal structure would rust. I repeated this process several times until I was satisfied with the outcome.

[vincenthudsondesign-blog]

Second experiment: Thermal techniques.

For this experiment I used a very thin slice of goldfoam and pressed onto a roughly filed piece of timber. I then slowly heated the foam with a heat gun on a low temperature which gave the foam this membrane look.

[vincenthudsondesign-blog]

First experiment: Deconstruction.

I used a strip of brass and repeatedly folded, hammered and compressed it until I ended up with these lovely little folds.

[vincenthudsondesign-blog]

A material I found during my research that caught my eye is "aluminium foam". Made by casting aluminium with salt and then removing the salt to leave the aluminium porous. The grade of the pores can be controlled by the size of salt grains used in the process. An example of use is in filtration systems due to the light-weight, shock and heat resistant properties. Outside of its functional properties I think this material holds a lot of beauty and potential for exploration.