PB Cohen Creations

I decided I needed a sturdy table to hammer on, and lucky for me, I have a friend who helped me out!

Here's the table top: twelve 2x4 studs held together with four bolted threaded rods. The beginnings of the legs are in place, bolted in with the table top. Although I'll have to check the tightness of those bolts periodically, this makes all the pieces easy to replace. We thought about getting a hand sander to smooth out the top, but so far I've decided against it. I'd only be tempted to try to keep that table top smooth, and the purpose of this table is whacking.

But wait, it's adjustable! Here are the leg "sleeves" waiting to be drilled. (Click on all these photos for a bigger version.)


The leg sleeves have been drilled, and we're adding the bolts. I will stand while using this table, but since it's adjustable, I could do many things.


I love my table!


Here's some detail on the table's first task: holding my 6-inch square steel block. A block that size is pretty heavy, but when you really whack at it, it'll still move. So I have four steel braces holding it in place. So far, those braces are working just fine. I had to trim down the angled braces on the table top.


I got some ideas for this table from Tomi/MetalRiot, who had a woodworker build her a beautiful table for pounding. Hers is just gorgeous! But I figure anyone with some basic tools could make mine. If you think you'd be interested in buying some plans for a sturdy, adjustable table suitable for hammering, let me know. We'd have to test it all out, maybe make a couple more prototypes, but if there's interest, we could put something together.

What would you use a sturdy table for?

The Ann Arbor Art Center holds an annual All Media Exhibition. Established in 1922, this juried exhibition showcases recent work by artists in all media from all over the state of Michigan. This year's juror is Mark Nielsen, Director of the Slusser Galleries & the Intersections Program at the University of Michigan.

I'm pleased to say that two of my rings were accepted into the 2010 show. The exhibit's opening reception is from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, August 13, and the show runs from August 13 to September 26th. I hope you can come!

The Art Center
117 W. Liberty Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Tel: 734-994-8004 X101

"Marriage of metals" is a technique where you solder pieces of metal together to make a sheet, and then use that sheet to create something else. If you're good at sawing and measuring, you can make intricate puzzle pieces with the different colors of metals. Or, you can do what I did many years ago, and just work with straight lines. You can click on this photo for a bigger version, the metals in question are sterling silver and brass. Truth be told, I did a pretty bad job on this. It's very important to keep all the pieces flat, which I didn't do very well. And I also used too much solder. Waaaaaay too much.

Be sure to click on this photo to see some of the worst parts labeled.

Blobs of solder can be sanded off, but gaps can't be fixed as easily. I guess I could try to re-flow the solder, but I fear the more I fuss with this, the more problems I'll create. And in one or two spots, an extra bit of solder (shudder) might be needed — and that's where the age of this sheet comes in. I'm sure I was smart enough to use Hard solder when I first made this, but I have no idea which "brand" of solder I used. Since it's likely that every refinery creates a slightly different mix for solder, I'd really be taking a big chance that the old and new solders would flow at slightly different temperatures, which would make an even bigger mess of the sheet.

Not to worry, since it's relatively easy to sand a small piece of the sheet so it's flat and pretty. Here's a ring I made a few weeks ago.


I plan to make more of these rings, but unfortunately, numbers 2 and 3 didn't work out so well.
Click on this picture for a large version, where you can see that the some of the seams of the "marriage" lost integrity.

I'm not exactly sure what happened. I used Easy solder to attach the ring shank to the shapes cut from my big marriage of metals sheet, so you wouldn't think that the Hard joins would melt — at least, not on both numbers 2 and 3, since I didn't solder them both at the same time. That's some pretty bad luck. Plus, ring number 1 worked very easily. The only thing I can think of is that I rested the shapes on a regular old fire brick for numbers 2 and 3. I don't remember what I used for number 1, but it's possible (and possibly even likely) that I used a solderite board. Although I don't know for sure, the heat properties are probably different.

So I'll use a solderite board for ring number 4. If that doesn't work, I suppose I'll have to re-think everything.

Any ideas?

LauraHussein just added one of my Mad Cow pendants to her Etsy treasury, which she's called "Need MOAR COWBELL." Which, yeah, the world sure does need more cowbell! Just like the world needs more cows.

Thanks, Laura! That's a nice collection of cows, I'm pleased to be included!

Come to think of it, one of my sisters used to collect things with cows on them. We all helped her grow the collection. After awhile, she had so many cows she decided she didn't need anymore. But that was years ago. I'll be she needs a Mad Cow now.

(Of course, everyone does!)

In the beginning of the year, I stumbled on a group of people on Flickr who got together and decided to make a ring a day, for a year. Not everyone is making a "proper" ring every day (I'm looking at you, Peep). But the entries are always interesting: playful, creative, thoughtful, and often beautiful. I became obsessed, and looked at everyone's new photos every day. You can, too! Click to see the Ring a Day group on Flickr.

After many weeks of looking and being inspired, I finally asked if I could join, even though it was already about 100 days into the year, and I knew I'd never be able to make a "proper" ring every day (since I only have access to a torch two days a week [and might have no access to fire over the summer]). You never know what might happen, right? So I joined.

You can see random photos from my Flickr account below and to the right on this page, or see all my Ring a Day entries here. It's been a fun process. I've chosen to only make "proper" rings so far, but since I'm a little short on time, the designs have been somewhat plain (um, streamlined?). We'll see what happens. It's been great to focus on rings, on finishing things, and on getting them photographed. I have a couple of my favorite designs available in my Etsy shop.

Here's one I made yesterday, first the stamped sheet, then the finished ring:

I've been doing a lot of flowers, and should probably move on, but the weather in Michigan has been a little hard to take. My poor daffodils have hardly bloomed this year, what with some very early warm days, and the more normal frost at night. Maybe this "Spring Talisman" ring will help!

I've just dropped off some pieces from my Monster Series at the Ann Arbor Art Center's Gallery Shop. This is a big relief to me, since I have such a hard time photographing the tiny, round pendants. The smallest pendants are shiny and domed, which — at least in my experience — makes them almost impossible to photograph well. You may notice that the professional photographer who took this photo (click to make it bigger) didn't get the tiny guys very well, either (they're the three faces on the left). The group shot is great (thanks Charlie!), but close up, the little guys aren't very clear. So, rather than drive myself crazy trying to take difficult pictures, I decided to send these along to the Gallery Shop, where people can see them in person.

Interestingly, the shop director chose not to take any rings, which are the highest-priced items in this group. He liked them, but he's just not selling things that are priced that high. An unfortunate sign of these hard economic times. Maybe one day I'll be able to make these again, they're my favorites! In the meantime, you can see the two styles of pendants and the earrings at:

Gallery Shop
The Art Center
117 W. Liberty Street
Ann Arbor, MI. 48104