by oldclaypaws » Wed Dec 18, 2013 2:47 pm
I have what passes as a 'pet blast furnace' at the bottom of the garden and have played at melting glasses and metals for some 30 years as a profession. Did acquire some bronze ingots with a view to trying a bit of casting and like bronze age tools, particularly axes, they have a ritual quality and were highly prized status symbols.
I think its man's tool and language abilities which have got us into our unique dominant species status on the planet, so a bloke who cant make basic tools is like a fish that can't swim, its in our nature to do it.
What I really want to do is make a steam powered efficient road vehicle which runs on logs. Nearly managed last week, but cheated by selling logs and then filling with Diesel, don't think that counts.
People think of pottery as rather effeminate and arty farty, believe me it isn't. Its a cross between pyromania and mud wrestling. Ability to think practically is essential, and although many see me as a thinker and artist, I'm at home building kilns, experimenting with different minerals in the fire (which is like alchemy), and digging holes in the ground. It good getting paid for essentially being a big kid.
Recently sorted my tool shed for the first time in 13 years and was surprised to find 6 sets of Allen keys, 15 pairs of gloves, 8 Stanley knives, 4 tins of WD40, 6 rolls of Duct tape, no partridges in pear trees though.
