Mr. Randall Wizard

So, unfortunately, while shooting the PCMII, I accidentally left an exhaust valve open, redirecting the combusting gas, and destroying my mixing fan. Oops. So I'm not going to be posting a video of the cannon for a while. Sorry about that!

The good news is that I just finished a neat drawing. Our AP Calc class is buying class sweatshirts, and I was asked to do the artwork for them. I took our teacher, Mr. Randall, and drew him like Yensid, the wizard who teaches Mickey Mouse in Fantasia. 

Potato Cannon Mark II

Alright, I finally got it working! The PCMII is now fully operational. Here are a few pictures, and a video will be coming soon...

The barrel is detachable, so the gun can be breech loaded, and is seven feet long.

This shows a little bit of the propane metering system, which allows a regulated and precise amount of fuel to be injected into the combustion chamber every shot.

T-Rex with Gun

This is one of my more goofy art projects. I decided to draw a tyrannosaurus rex, but I wanted to make it even MORE intimidating and scary than it was already... So, I added a large gatling gun to its back. Triceratops don't stand a chance.

It was drawn using quill and ink.

Longbow

 For years I have been interested in archery. Last year, I decided to make my own wooden longbow. Made of oak, the bow stands about six feet tall, and can hurl an arrow a hundred yards.

An arrow with a custom steel tip I made.

Knifesmithing

I had wanted to make my own knives since the time I was a small child. About a year ago, I began taking blacksmithing classes at a local smithy, and realized I could make my childhood dream a reality. After spending hours wading through online forums and instructional websites, I learned everything necessary to start building knives.

This is a block of Desert Ironwood burl, a wood preferred by knife smiths for its beautiful patterns and durability.

Workbench

We have next to our house a fairly large garage type building. When Dad moved out of the building, he said I could convert it into my workshop. As everyone knows, a workshop is not a workshop without a large work bench. So, I set about building one, using Douglas Fir 2x6's, 2x4's, plywood, and some left over logs my family had from a fireplace installation.

Please excuse the messiness, I am right in the middle of several projects, and haven't had a chance to clean up.

Potato Cannons

This is the combustion chamber of the potato cannon, the area in which the fuel explodes. 

Ammo and fuel.

The two small wires you can see in the combustion chamber form the spark that ignites the fuel.

Because this is a very simple cannon, known among spudgun enthusiasts as a "spray and pray," it runs off of normal hairspray. My next cannon will employ a regulated propane metering system, allowing for a consistent amount of fuel to be released in the chamber every shot.

Treehouse

My treehouse began in the summer between my freshman and sophomore years, and has evolved since then. 

Summer before last, I decided to add drywall and a window. Additionally, I textured and painted the drywall.

Tragically, my treehouse was the victim of a fast-flying lemon fired from my lemon launcher. I aimed at a tree, missed, the lemon flew for 70 yards, went through the open door of my treehouse, and blew a hole in the drywall. Rats.

The deck, composed of stained Douglas Fir and composite decking material.

I made the staircase using two logs we had left over from a fireplace installation. 

Here is a view of the roof. It is shingled. 

Blacksmithing

The following pictures show some of the tools I use, have made, or plan to make through blacksmithing.

This is a leaf spring from a truck. The steel used for these things is very good for making tools and blades, mostly because of its ideal carbon content.

This is an antique forge blower I restored. The purpose of this blower is to supply air to the fire, making it hotter. I chose a hand-crank blower over a modern electric one because it is easier to contol air flow, and it conserves fuel.

This is the forge. 

This is clinker, a glass-like material that forms in the forge after continued use. It is a result of impurities in the fuel.

My hammer and my anvil. The anvil, although small and made of low quality cast iron rather than steel, serves my purposes well. 

A step by step walk-through of the starting of the forge.

 Me, working at the forge.

A piece of glowing hot steel.

A twist pattern, created by heating the metal to red hot, clamping it in a vice, and using a wrench to twist.

A fire-poker I made.

Some more shots of smithing. The middle picture in the left column shows some of the other objects I've made, including a few chisels, a semi-complete pair of tons, and a semi-complete knife blade.