DiResta: Star Key

Workshop
DiResta: Star Key

In each episode of DiResta (every other Wednesday at 2pm PT), artist and master builder Jimmy DiResta (Dirty Money, Hammered, Against the GrainTrash for Cash) lets us into his workshop, to look over his shoulder while he builds whatever strikes his fancy. On this episode of DiResta, Jimmy dives into another key project, this time fashioning a steam punk-looking key fob with old coins and three keys.–Stett Holbrook

YouTube player

photo

Tools:
Drill press
Band saw
Hammer
Disc sander
Table grinder with sander attachment

Materials:
2 old coins
3 keys
3 rivets (copper nails)
1 chain

Jimmy’s Notes: I have been modifying my keys for 20 years. When I get new keys I have  the opportunity to design something new. In this case I just got a new front door key to my building. I have to buy it from the landlord because the key can not be duplicated. I  also collect old coins and foreign coins of all sizes , the bigger the better. I use them often to mod keys in fun and sexy ways. Here you can watch me make a new “star key” for my apartment. I use a simple method with copper nails as rivets. I drill through the coins and sandwich the keys in between. I have made five-points before and there is often clearance for the keys to spin. Here i make a three-point because it is all I need right now. Enjoy!

20 thoughts on “DiResta: Star Key

  1. juannavarro says:

    Video is private?

    1. [ookid] says:

      I have the same problem. Video appears to have been marked as private.

  2. Dennis says:

    Stett, “bi-monthly” means once every two months.
    If an event occurs every two weeks, it’s referred to as “bi-weekly”, or “semi-monthly”.

    1. Paul says:

      Bi-monthly means both “once every two months” and “twice per month”. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bimonthly

      1. Charles Johnson says:

        It’s always driven me nuts that you guys say bi-monthly when it’s every-other Wednesday, IMO that’s bi-weekly. Now, I know the dictionary might say that bi-monthly could mean either, but if it’s every-other Wednesday (not the first and third Wednesdays of the month), then it will eventually fall on the first, third and fifth Wednesday of a 5 Wednesday month, which makes the bi-monthly appellation inaccurate.

        1. Stett Holbrook says:

          My language was imprecise. DiResta’s videos run every other Wednesday, not necessarily bi-monthly (twice a month). I’ll change that in the header language. Thanks!

          1. Charles Johnson says:

            Stett, my loosely-bundled sanity thanks you!

  3. Terre Tulsiak says:

    paul is right- (this is a good way to win money from smart alecks- it’s all in how you word the bet, like when I bet my kids that Australia was a country and they were sure it was a continent)

  4. Gregmac says:

    What size hole do you drill for the copper nails

  5. Emjoi says:

    Thanks Jimmy, great instructions…I am on my way out to the shed right now!

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Stett Holbrook is editor of the Bohemian, an alternative weekly in Santa Rosa, California. He is a former senior editor at Maker Media.

He is also the co-creator of Food Forward, a documentary TV series for PBS about the innovators and pioneers changing our food system.

View more articles by Stett Holbrook

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