Don your favorite bathrobe, cream that coffee, and get comfortable with this week’s SolidSmack Weekend Reader. The Weekend Reader features a handful of the most interesting articles featured on the ‘Smack over the past week ranging from tips and tricks to inspirational designs, processes, and more. So lay back, relax and take a load off while reading the top ten stories on SolidSmack this past week. Oh and uh…don’t forget to shed some much-needed sunlight on your face, too. These Insane Chandeliers Are Made From Upcycled PET Bottles When it comes to upcycling, it’s not always easy to create something new out of discarded waste that doesn’t appear as repurposed…discarded…
Cardboard generally isn’t the first material that comes to mind when discussing sculptures, models, and prototypes—but legions of designers and artists have shown us otherwise. From quick and dirty product models to functional skateboards, it’s difficult to imagine what can’t be made with a little creativity. More recently, artist James Lake has been slicing and dicing the recycled corrugated good stuff for a good cause: to create a sculpture that highlights the need for recycling and finding more sustainable solutions to waste management. After conducting a study of over 2,000 UK citizens packaging company Rajapack commissioned James to create a sculpture that highlights the importance of recycling: “What you do…
Those wood parts won’t smooth themselves! But how often do you spend wrestling a piece of sandpaper around weird edges—only to be left with a half-crooked and totally botched result? There’s a remedy for that—and we can’t recommend it enough. The Preppin’ Weapon sanding block is a workshop necessity that lets users load sandpaper and adjust tension quickly and easily. And while just one Preppin’ Weapon sanding block will go a long way in your process, arming yourself with a four-pack for four different levels of grit will take it to another level—no need to stop and reload! For power users, the Preppin’ Weapon also lets you stack up to…
When the bowls dropped, we jumped out of the barrels. In the rambunction we didn’t notice the machines had moved in. Hundreds of them, thin and towering, light and quiet, only noticed when their combined silhouettes blotted out the sun revealing these links. Juan Pablo Roldan – Massive scenes, ships, mechs and more. Beautiful lighting and a handle on perspective that adds loads of depths. What the Fog – Mark Broyer is a freelance Art Director and Designer living in Hamburg, Germany. He likes to take photos. These are photos of Hamburg at night. Beginners Guide to ZBrush – If you’re interested in learning the popular sculpting program, this will get you…
AstroPrint is on a roll. They’re announcing the release of another app today that does two things for 3D printing. Toy Maker is a free app that 1) introduces kids to the world of 3D printing and 2) introduces developers to the capabilities of AstroPrint’s Cloud platform. Toy Maker On the surface, the Toy Maker app is simple – Pick a toy, print it out. Toys currently range from single piece characters multi-piece puzzles. After you choose a toy, it will be waiting in your AstroPrint Cloud account. Then you simply print it on your AstroPrint connected 3D printer. Currently, there are over 170 toys available, some free and others available for purchase. The…
Don’t believe what other people tell you – rocking chairs are NOT just for old people! In fact, they’re one of the comfiest pieces of furniture out there. Even so, a rocking chair isn’t the most portable seat. Since most of them rely on rockers or springs to operate, they can’t really be disassembled and stored for convenience. The Stargaze Recliner by NEMO Equipment looks to be a different story. It’s a series of chairs designed specifically for the outdoors which swing users back and forth to remind others of their presence. The seats are composed of water-resistant nylon mesh and can hold up to 300 pounds, while aircraft-grade aluminum…