VOLT/AGED

Starting the night my drinking buddies and I took over my wife’s Craft night to solve the problem of aging brandy before the “End of Ages” comes in 2012, we came across this single sentence in an old book from the 1930’s. “The treatment with pure oxygen gas with or without an electric burrent”. We discussed at long length what a burrent was and where we could get one, then decided it was a typo and they ment current. Fortunately I just happened to have a luminous transformer in my basement, fortunately for my house we were fresh out of oxygen (can you think of a more flammable cocktail)? A couple of clothespins, wire and a glass full of bitter brandy and we were ready. Not much could be seen as we pumped 15,000 volts into the brandy, but much to our surprise, once removed, the taste had smoothed considerably. We had drank to much at that point to finish the job, but settled on the name VOLT/AGED for our new process.

Several nights later we set up production at my shop in West Oakland and added a copper pipe system that featured a Jacobs ladder that could be short circuited in the drink to be “treated”. This gave the us the visual that was missing from the 1st night and more surface area in which the reaction could now take place. We now had a 15,000 volt cattle prod with plenty of places to grab that was going to be right in the middle of a bar!

The next day (slight hangover) we added the safety cage complete with vintage rivets, Oil Punk plexiglass, and a timer to keep track of how many years we wanted to age it.

It was a hugh hit at the Mouse Trap Party and made Jack Danell’s a sipping drink!

Come see this and more at Maker Faire

May 3-4

Mouse Trap last Friday night!

Here are pictures from last nights great event.

We will be there again tonight.

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Form & Reform at the Acre Show!

This show looks so good that I’ve decided to break my promise to never do another trade show.  The Acre show is April 26-28 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
I’m really excited to see all my old wholesale customers and meet new ones!

   

 

One of the many things I do is run a furniture company called Form & Reform. I started it in 1987 after I moved out here from Idaho. I had experience in metal work from high school and learned blacksmithing though the California Blacksmith Association. I’ve really enjoyed all the years of running this business and the experience it has brought. I now can’t help myself to make a smooth to the touch edge on everything I make even if I know no one will ever touch it.

Taxidermy Department at CAL

Taxidermy Department at CAL

After missing the preschool deadline for my daughter Zoile (a week after I met my wife Kyrsten) we thought we should get the jump on college for Zolie, so we took her to CalDay to sign her up for college. We thought she might like taxidermy but she was visibly disturbed by all the dead stuff. She was back to her happy self once we found some live things (bunnies, lizards, and these great stick bugs).

Link

Boiler Bar Theater Presents at Maker Fair May 3rd & 4th

Maker Faire

Jon Sarriugartes Boiler Bar Theater Presents
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Saturday:
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Circassian dancing beauties Denzel and Gibson
Mitara balances death
Dr. Morton presents a miracle elixir
Snake charmer Tansy
Dancing on Glass
Miss Melanies oddity emporium
Funambulist Mitara
Holy Volatile lights up the stage with fire
Uber Da entrances the musical ear

Fire Gardens to warm the body
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Sunday:
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A quartet of Circassian dancing beauties
Mitara balances death
Dr. Morton presents a miracle elixir
Snake charmer Tansy
Dancin on Glass
Miss Melanies oddity emporium
Funambulist Mitara
Denzel lights up the stage with fire
Links:
jonsarriugarte.com
dancerdenzel.com
gibsonpearl.com
mitara.com
myspace.com/pyraburns
solimeno.com

Gumps Zig Zag shelf

ZIG ZAG Picture Book Shelf

Gumps commissioned me to make them a shelf to hold large picture books! It’s been a great project and they are wonderful to work with. This project involved both the technical challenge of a seemingly unsupported zig zag and a purposed design that is not an everyday need. With the wonderful patina we added, it will make a beautiful sculpture and show off any art books uniquely. I can see my favorite turn of the century tool book on top opened to the page of a Horizontal Drill Press with the operator wearing a tie and bowler hat!

Want one for your home, give me a call.

Bolier Bar at the Mousetrap

http://lifesizemousetrap.wordpress.com/

The Boiler Bar and Fire Gardens will be at the Haunted Barn April 18th, 9pm & 19th, 2pm

702 Earl Street SF CA

http://www.cyclecide.com/

Sputnik Fire Garden

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The Sputnik Fire Garden. A satellite you’ll want to orbit around on chilly nights.

These are made from recycled Halon spheres from ship board fire fighting systems. I added my Hand forged Pan legs and a rail to kick your feet on.

These Gardens are setup to run on propane and can also be setup to run natural gas. Shown here on the highest setting (yellow flame) they can also be turned down to a flickering blue flame. With a set of my hand forged tools you can write in the sand and make amazing fire art. It’s both warm and entertaining!

Contact me if you’d like to own one for your own yard.

Rentals are avalible for these, the Boiler Bar, and Stage for events and parties.

 

Dancing at the Boiler Bar Theater

Denzel


Mitara

Holly Volatile

 

Happy Valentines Day!!

These are new works I made for the Valentines party sale last weekend. I really had fun playing in the shop. These days it’s a rarity for me and very wellcome. The Valentines Party was great fun (sorry I didn’t take a single picture) and I sold several pieces!

Please contact me if your interested in a piece.

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Flaming Heart 18 x 24″ $700  sold (call if you want me to make one)

 

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Sputnik Fire Garden 22″ bowl $1100

 

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Touchier 60″ $1100

 

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Catholic Heater 60″ $1100

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jon sarriugarte's items Go to jon sarriugarte's photostream