Forged and Filed

[Doug71]

Just saw this on another forum, it's not woodworking but the guy certainly is a craftsman!

Hope the link works, the end product is amazing.

https://vimeo.com/288711470

Doug

 

[Rorschach]

Incredible work. I often wonder with projects like these though, where is the money coming from.

Materials and 2 years labour for a museum piece, who paid for it?

 

[novocaine]

http://www.sethgould.com/coffer/

but more on it here.

 

[Dee J]

Incredible work. I often wonder with projects like these though, where is the money coming from.

Materials and 2 years labour for a museum piece, who paid for it?

Seriously, on a craft based forum you're asking that! Whilst there's bound to be some person or organization who would value the object if it ever came to market, it's the story and the process that has been of value to the place that has provided the residency - raising their credibility and profile. Just look at the publicity it has gained. And of course to the craft worker, like an end-of-apprenticeship masterpiece, it's a physical CV - it's value like a university qualification.... look how much time and money folks dedicate to those. So a couple of years of fairly low living expenses and some iron and fuel is a bargain.

 

[Rorschach]

A perfectly valid question I thought. I wasn't denigrating the craft, just curious about the economics. In your disparaging answer you actually made some plausible points about my query.

 

[AndyT]

I love the eloboration of the mechanism but most of all the proof that hand methods still work, just as they always have.
The discussion about the economics is interesting too - I suspect that many craftspeople would like to make products for discerning people on ordinary incomes but end up having to cultivate the very rich instead.

 

[rafezetter]

I've just sent him a message:

I've just seen this on Vimeo as linked by one of our woodwork forum members https://vimeo.com/288711470 - Coffer.

Now I could tell you that from 4.20 onwards, I was literally frame by frame as each step of the unlocking process took place with more and more incredulous expletives being uttered, but I'll just say this instead:

Even were you to never make another object again in your lifetime, you Sir, have just secured your place in history alongside David Roentgen with his 18th century desk and H.O Studley's tool chest.

The world is a richer place for your work being in it. Long may it continue.

 

[Dee J]

Apologies Rorschach. I was a bit sharp there. Perhaps because of my own learning experience. I'm working through why people (including myself) make stuff. Sometimes, on a practical basis it's to obtain the final object... but so much more the final object seems to be the least part of the deal. The real value seems to be learning, teaching, journey, story, performance and the presentation of that narrative. Especially when documented on a public forum or video sharing site. Some YouTube makers (e.g. Laura Kampf) have analysed their own motives and concluded that they are performers/videographers primarily and the finished objects are given away or sold at a minimal price and never actually used. Witness Project Binky or Clickspring and the Antikythera reconstruction. All these objects are (just?) MacGuffins to move the plot along. Part of me is entertained, but another part feels kind of cheated.... here ends today's personal therapy. Sorry again.

 

[Chris152]

The discussion about the economics is interesting too - I suspect that many craftspeople would like to make products for discerning people on ordinary incomes but end up having to cultivate the very rich instead.

That was the fundamental flaw with the Arts and Crafts movement - the ambition was to improve society as a whole, but the reality was that makers had to charge for their time, putting their products beyond the pockets of ordinary people. I guess where industrial methods merge with hand-crafting is the nearest we get to making such beautiful things more available?
edit - forgot to say - beautiful film and object, thanks for sharing.

 

[Bm101]

Thanks for sharing Doug. Real pleasure watching that.
Sublime video that and incredible chest in the true sense of the word.

 

[MikeG.]

In some ways it is jaw dropping, but in others.....well............I think it a pity that it is a little austere and plain externally, and just a little odd that it is a steel chest designed to look like a wooden one.

 

[--Tom--]

Well that is mighty impressive, and watching the vid this morning made me late for work

 

[thetyreman]

I still like my wooden toolchest, but that lock is pretty nice, love the sound of it, this would cost a fortune to make surely.