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Interior Concrete Step or Riser
July 22, 2010
I made a really nice concrete step or riser, I’m not really sure which it would be.
I am very pleased with the finished results, I did some interesting metal and stone inlays, as well as adding some texturing into a few panels to give some traction as straight polished concrete is quite smooth.
I also did a blend of colours to try and get some marbling through out the piece. The idea was to get a visual texture close to the cork with colours that were complimentary but not quite the same as the cork.
I don’t know what this classifies as. It is structural but also like a piece of furniture and a bit like a sculpture. So I guess if you live in Edmonton or Calgary and are looking for an interesting sculpture made of concrete that also doubles as a step and a low bench to sit on I’m your guy. Hope you liked it!
Concrete Can't Lie
July 13, 2010
Concrete wears it’s heart on it’s sleeve. It can’t hide it’s feelings or it’s past. One of the reasons I love concrete is this history. I know where every little mark or colouration came from in a project. I think it’s interesting that a project carries the artifacts of the form and polishing process. That’s what makes concrete hand made and unique.
A common artifact you will see in exterior architectural concrete is wood grain. This is a side effect of being formed with rough grade wood and I think it looks beautiful. I have done a few projects that have incorporated wood grain.
As a teaser I will show you a tiny piece of a project (not my own) which is kind of an Edmonton landmark (or at least very close to a landmark). I am currently writing a full article just on this piece but here is a pictorial taste. Anyone know where in Edmonton Alberta this concrete art is from?
Concrete Bathtub
July 8, 2010
Heer is a custom concrete bathtub I recently made for a little Edmontonian. As you can see it fits perfectly to the curve one has in a lounging position and once it gets up to temperature it hold heat extremely well. This tub is also used for a few other purposes but I think it looks best as a tub and so does the little gentleman in it.
Joking aside, I can make concrete tubs. I have the knowhow and the equipment to do so but have not had a client here in Edmonton or Alberta want a concrete tub and a concrete bathtub is a pricey undertaking if there is not a client for it. So if your out there thinking “Man I wish I could lounge like that cool guy in my own concrete bathtub you need to contact me so I can make that dream come true for you.
Seiko's "Golden Tuna" 7549-7009
July 5, 2010
I have been trying to hold off talking about this newest addition to my watch family but can’t hold back any longer. I recently received a Seiko 7549–7009 diver watch back from a great company that did a refurbish for me. Jack from IWW (http://internationalwatchworks.com/) did a fantastic job on my watch, he replaced the crystal, cleaned up the movement and changed the battery and seals, pressure tested the watch, sourced new titanium screws for the shroud, replaced the bezel seal and spring to get it clicking again, and cleaned and relumed the hands and face of the watch. I found Jack on a watch blog a frequent, but something else interesting I found out on the blog is that there is a decent watch collecting community here in Edmonton and Calgary as well.
The watch was originally produced in the late seventies to the early eighties, mine can be dated from the serial number to 1980 which is kind of neat because I was also born in 1980. I was originally drawn to the design of the watch because I wanted something in black and gold but I also really liked the rugged appearance of the watch. Some might scoff that this watch has a quartz movement but at the time the quartz movement used in this watch was much more expensive and difficult to design and produce than an automatic movement.
The 7549–7009 was also the first all titanium dive watch. This is contrary to what many believe was the first titanium dive watch designed by Porsche Design for IWC the Ocean 2000 which began production in 1982 the Seiko Golden Tuna predates the Ocean by 5 years. The Golden Tuna also made an appearance in the Bond movie “For Your Eyes Only” so if it’s good enough for James freakin’ Bond it’s good enough for me.
Combining grinds to create depth of colour and texture
July 1, 2010
I have been experimenting with techniques in grinding and polishing since I began working with concrete as an interior finishing product. This has resulted in many test pieces laying around the shop but it has also helped me hone some very unique skills in grinding and polishing that I have not seen perfected by other craftspersons yet.
I like the varied grinds because it can be subtle with only a few bursts of deeper more extreme grinding. I tend to shy away from a full deep grind because it can look a bit too much mike quartz and be over bearing.
Varied grinds also add a lot of depth to a piece. To have a fully uniform polished piece or uniform ground pieces I find is a bit bland. But adding just a touch of grinding to reveal some sand and fine aggregate really deeps the colours and textures of a concrete counter. It is a way to add unique design to a counter top with out going to extreme. From a distance you may not notice any variation at all but upon closer inspection you are drawn into the different texture and colour.
Varied grinds work on just about anything made of concrete. I have personally done concrete countertops (counter tops?), concrete vanities, concrete fireplaces, and concrete furniture all with varied grinds in the Edmonton area. They have all turned out great and the grind is loved by clients.
