Casting & Forging

How-To: Make a metal cracker

How-To: Make a metal cracker

New York artist Herbert Hoover, aka Makers Market seller Snacks & Bones, presents a tutorial on how to cast your favorite Saltineâ„¢-type cracker in shiny pewter. Hoover’s iconic, numbered crackers are sold in Art-o-Mat vending machines around the country, and the Cracker Tracker collects photos of crackers and their proud owners from around the world. If you don’t have the tools or the time to make your own, and you can’t find a nearby Art-o-Mat, Hoover will gladly sell you one online for $15.

Hand-cast robot with geared steering

Hand-cast robot with geared steering

Robot maker Michal Zalewski sent word that his latest attempt at cat befuddlement, the tinybot mk III, has been meticulously documented and awaits your perusal. Of interest are the geared steering, relatively low-cost components, and the fact that each gear was custom designed, machined, and manually cast in his home workshop.

Featured Maker: Shannon Conrad

Featured Maker: Shannon Conrad

If you follow CRAFT, as well, you may have seen Rachel’s post back in January about Oregon jeweler Shannon Conrad’s interlocking Lego rings. Shown above is the result of Shannon’s very first experiment with casting from Lego elements, a one-off solid silver Imperial Stormtrooper minifig she made for her 11-year-old son. It weighs 1.5 oz (44g). I know Lego fanboys who happily would trade their own teeth for one of those.