Crafts / Craftsmen / craftswomen (craftspeople, I suppose)

That's cool, I wonder if it gives actual brass squares for this kind of project. I know it defeats the idea of reflectivity but I think a weathered brass orb version of the above would look sharp.

I’d love to do that some day but the cost of the materials would prob put most people off. Also, unless we could work out a way to put a backing on the bronze prior to it being cut into squares it’d have to be stuck on one at a time which would try even my patience.

The original Strand mirrorballs from the 20s-30s were mirrored onto spun copper spheres, my boss has a couple in his collection. They’ve shed a few mirrors here and there over the years so the verdigris has seeped into the mirror backing and looks fucking fantastic. Trying to match the patina on old, original balls is practically impossible but it’s a little side project we occasionally attempt.

What's the ball underneath yours made of?

The short answer is fibreglass but the long answer is more complicated to allow them to be LOLER certified and testable. Our stuff weighs less than half the that of the equivalent size from the factory in the Far East that churns out balls. Those ones also aren’t CE marked or tested in any way :/

Oh, if you could post a pic of one of those old ones that’d be fantastic!

This one is a bit later, think it’s early 1960s. Can’t really see the aging that well tho. Note that all the mirrors are hand cut keystone shape, not square. It’s not particularly consistent but the level of detail and overall effect is pretty fucking cool. This ones only a baby tho at approx 300mm diameter.
All the good old stuff is at my bosses house not the workshop tho but sure I’ve got an early strand I can take a pic of tomorrow.

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Cheers

Would you sell a ball? I'd love a ball

A blank one I mean

You’d have to go thru the company, not me for something like that.

Please take more photos. I love this!

Ha, I’m generally too busy to take pics while I’m working and as much as I love mirrorballs etc once you’ve worked around them all day every day they’re just another prop!
The bosses insta (Mirrorballpaul) is worth a follow tho..

Think it's copper backed mirror.

I once ordered several thousand euros worth of cut to size mirrors in that tint. I put "copper mirror" on the order reference as they were going to get copper frames. I was trying to order plain silver. Didn't go down that well with the boss.

It’s coloured glass, the backing from our supplier is always silver, regardless of the shade.
We’re still yet to find an acceptable green or hot pink which sucks as we’ve got nearly everything else on hand.

Cut some steel pipe
Turn some random hardwood
Fit together with a brass tube insert
Sand and wax
Incense holder

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That’s real nice

Thanks :)

They were very satisfying to make too. I could make them all day long.

I’ve started getting into bonsai tree so thought I’d have a go at making some pots. I’ve started with something really simple and will think about jazzing them up a bit as I progress.

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nice, do you have your own kiln?

Yes. Although that’s another story. I haven’t quite figured it out yet. But think I’ve got the schedule down now

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Cool. I've been wanting to try some ceramics for ages. Own kiln very coooool. Are you just hand building or gonna get a throwing wheel too?

So nice

Hand building. I used to have a wheel but it was massive and I really wasn’t very good so would have needed lessons. Will probably get one at some point but happy just playing around at the moment.

Made a thing.

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Don't know what it is but it looks great.

It's an icosahedron made out of a map. Just a little test ahead of making some for Xmas gifts. Will use maps local to where the recipient lives.