BoltGallery

February 9, 2005 1:30 PM

Bolt Gallery
posted by srboisvert (22 comments total)

And $120 for this scorpion seems pretty reasonable.

Cool, srboisvert.
posted by scottq at 1:49 PM on February 9, 2005

That is cool.
posted by dazed_one at 1:54 PM on February 9, 2005

Jesus, I was expecting a hardware store site with, you know, all of their bolts on display. This exceeded expectations by a rather substantial margin.

Way cool!
posted by fenriq at 2:02 PM on February 9, 2005

Very nice work !
posted by lobstah at 2:08 PM on February 9, 2005

Man... I really wish I had a couple a hundred extra bucks, or this guy was doing a clearance.... I would love to get my hands on that battle droid... *sigh*
posted by Debaser626 at 2:09 PM on February 9, 2005

Nut Gallery
posted by Robot Johnny at 2:23 PM on February 9, 2005

Mmmmm... wonder how Lucasarts would feel about the trademark issues on a coupla those.
posted by The Thnikkaman at 2:43 PM on February 9, 2005

Anybody remember that poster from the late 80's that was like "The Problem Solvers" that had a series of "experimental" bolt designs, none of which would work?

Eg, two-headed bolts, bolts that tapered wider at the base, etc.

Anybody have a link?
posted by thedevildancedlightly at 2:46 PM on February 9, 2005

I saw his gallery in person. He used to sell his scluptures at a flea market in Pasadena, CA--Now he has his own little store in Thai Town-Hollywood, CA.

Love his work, he has a life size model of the "Alien" and "predeator" made from his bolts. I also have a couple of his pieces.
posted by countzen at 2:56 PM on February 9, 2005

We should all just sit for one minute and think about what a really clever thing a nut and bolt is.

Then we have to consider - how the hell does a thread work to exert such force?

Also, fine models.
posted by surfdad2 at 2:58 PM on February 9, 2005

Does anyone know what the back story behind these is? I remember seeing them for sale in pretty much every market in Thailand, and I've seen quite a few in Japan, presumably imports from Thailand. It seems to be the same small set of designs: Alien, Predator, a motorcycle, a W2K looking space marine with sword and gun, etc. Were they originally this person's design, and then copied? Or has he set up a factory / sweatshop mass producing them? Or, more tantalizing, were they made by other folks in Thailand, and he just decided to make himself the "public face" of them for the unknowing western market?
posted by Bugbread at 3:23 PM on February 9, 2005

W2K -> WH40K, sorry.
posted by Bugbread at 3:48 PM on February 9, 2005

Stuff like this has been around for years at motorcycle shows and swapmeets but this is the first time the works actually looked cool, as apposed to rusty and crap looking. Cool.
posted by snsranch at 3:56 PM on February 9, 2005

Dolt Gallery
posted by Baby_Balrog at 4:17 PM on February 9, 2005

Colt Gallery
posted by underer at 5:09 PM on February 9, 2005

I was also expecting some 'nuts' collection of bolts.
However pleasantly surprised.
Seems pretty cheap for "Original work". But given a spare $275 (£155) I'd love a Boba Fett.
Does free shipping extend as far as the U.K. I wonder?
20 lbs isn't cheap to ship from the U.S.
posted by darksmiler at 6:16 PM on February 9, 2005

Really impressive work. It sure would be neat to see the sculptor applying his skills to a wider range of subject matter, though; like, y'know, to stuff beyond the adolescent male geek aesthetic.

I remember being similarly impressed upon seeing Arman's "School of Fishes" (sorry; I wish I could find a better picture), a shockingly gorgeous sculpture made out of hundreds of pairs of welded-together vise-grips, at the National Building Museum a number of years ago. I don't know if it's still there.
posted by vitia at 6:18 PM on February 9, 2005

Great find - I love these! These pics of the creation process make you appreciate the final products even more. Thanks, srboisvert!
posted by madamjujujive at 6:19 PM on February 9, 2005

Not that there's anything wrong with the adolescent male geek aesthetic. . . And that second link shoulda been to nbm.org. Sorry.
posted by vitia at 6:21 PM on February 9, 2005

Bolt Thrower
posted by euphorb at 7:28 PM on February 9, 2005

thedevildancedlightly, I looked, but could not find any links to the very old drawings of wacky hardware you refer to. I say very old, because I am certain they go back to at least WW2.

I did, however, find a different bolt site.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 8:00 PM on February 9, 2005

Vitia, here is a better "School of Fishes" photo. Thanks for sharing (and remembering) the artist's and the work's name.
posted by FairWitness at 11:47 PM on February 9, 2005