Monday, June 9, 2014

Aerospace Inspiration Take 2

After finishing my first Bomber Chair I decided to apply the aviation aesthetic to another piece of furniture; a lamp.  The shape of a simple wing rib gave me the inspiration for this first lamp.
aviation inspired aluminum riveted lamp
Aviation inspired table lamp
The same fabrication methods from the Bomber Chair were applied to the lamp: buck riveting solid aluminum rivets, using my box and pan brake to bend the aluminum sheet, and punch flared holes.  A simple drum lampshade was made from aluminum and galvanized mesh.
aviation inspired aluminum riveted lamp 2
The aircraft inspired lamp from a different view

Aerospace Inspiration

I've been getting the itch to jump into the shop and build something so I did just that.  Since I love everything aviation and vintage race car I wanted to make some items for my office that reflected that aesthetic.  Hiding in a corner of my garage I had some Speedway aluminum bomber seats collecting dust.  Starting with the basic seat I designed legs to turn it into a Bomber Chair.

I'd never buck riveted anything or done much work with sheet metal that didn't involve welding.  All of the rivets on the legs gave me some good practice!
aviation inspired aluminum riveted bomber seat chair fabrication 1
Punch flared leg test fit
aviation inspired aluminum riveted bomber seat chair fabrication cleco 1
Chair leg components clecoed together
 aviation inspired aluminum riveted bomber seat chair fabrication cleco 2
aviation inspired aluminum riveted bomber seat chair
Finished aviation inspired aluminum chair
aviation inspired aluminum riveted bomber seat chair 2
Rear view of the finished piece of aviation furniture