Experiments with the tubes

Above is a glass coil Ryman from GlassChem has given me to experiment with. It didn't work well because it was chipped. Therefore, I used plastic tubing that I bought on ebay a few days ago and made a video out of it. I tried out various thicknesses of the tubes, lengths and angles to find out what is most suitable one for my design. The movement of the liquid is really mesmerising, which made me want to create this "impossible" design even more. I have used a mixture of real coffee to achieve the colour, and strained it so it's a smooth consistency - just like in the siphon coffee method.

Visiting Glass Chem

GlassChem, Forrest Gate, London

Terry (from the glass company) called me up to tell me that my design is impossible to make, in his words "even God himself wouldn't be able to do this", so he invited me to their workshop in Forrest Gate to have a look at what they've done for previous students and discuss possible compromises for my outcome. 

Things that I need to change about my design 

• the inside coil needs to be attached to the outer glass otherwise it would be loose and possibly bend
• the coil cannot be planted on a circle - there wouldn't be enough stability and it could easily fall
• the circles within each other cannot be made, it is very difficult to control the heat 

Making the prototype

       


It started with a block of wood on tuesday - after turning it, a lot of sanding and a final polish, it is ready to be vacuum formed.


I then realised, the two pieces cannot be joined to each other, so after looking around on wednesday, I came across a hamster ball - which offered a solution for my problem - a screw joint.
Surprisingly, it took me almost a whole morning to figure out how to recreate that in my sphere. I ended up attaching a few layers of paper sheets on the bottom of the sphere to make some space for the other half to slide in. I know it doesn't look perfect, but it's a step forward.
   

Sending off my design

So, I have finally settled on a design, now I know what I am doing, I've just sent this off to ChemGlass and hopefully there is a possibility of making this work. If not, I may have to change my design.

More sketching

So, after the overload from the V&A, I got some ideas. I also (finally) have my final design. What's left to do: 

• Illustrate a better version to be sent off to GlassChem
• Make a prototype of out plastics

Postmodernism

I went to the V&A to see the Postmodernism exhibition, which was perfect for this project. There were so many teapots to look at!

 

Coffee Joulies

These stainless metal beans cool down coffee to the right temperature and manages to retain it afterwards as well. I think it's such a great invention. This video should explain everything.