Burningman 2022:Waking DreamsBuilding a PhoenixThe phoenix bird is a mythical bird from Greek mythology. ... The classical, mythical imagery and symbolism of resurrection, of life reborn anew and transformed, resonated with the Christian story. The phrase rise like a phoenix from the ashes is often shortened to rise like a phoenix, or even rise from the ashes.
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the Plan part 2: Cross Sections. |
Welding starts.Everything was finally in place about 10 months after the fire. I had a place to work, burnt tools laid out in piles in plain view, new tools sheltered, and a plan of how to proceed. I then bought a MIG welder from Harbor Freight, got a couple lessons from Gabe (owner of farm and our host if you missed part 1) and started welding parts together.I started at ring (A.K.A. disk) 3 because it was to be rigidly connected to a long double ended bolt I welded together that was to be the hip/attachment point of the legs. Mostly to show the strength of the hip, I chose to use hammer heads and a big tire lug wrench to make this disk. (pic below) It was the only disk designed/welded completely in place using the wood disk to support everything while it was welded. Click on any image to view larger.
It's a pain to build on a slanted wooden disk, and didn't like it much when making disk #3. Instead, I marked where all the disks were on the square support tube, removed them and started building the remaining 6 disks production line fashion (pic below) The disks above #3 could be removed off of the top of the square pipe. Disks 1 & 2 had to be cut off of the support, and when the disks were made, parts had to be done in place. This may make more sense as we look at the final versions of the other disks below.
The next disk that I finished was #6 up at the top of the body and along with #5 finished second, the largest diameter. (pics of #6 above & #5 below) Disk #6 is made of Pliers. Since I finished it and attached it to the top of the tube (later), it keeps reminding me of the Matisse Painting "the Dance". The next finished disk was #5. I really wanted to use the old pulley that I think I got from my neighbor Neil from Paradise. The gaps in the spokes were in the right place to fit the 3" tube, and it looked like something in motion. I next thought about adding a wheel that had not only survived the Camp fire, but also a pretty hot fire on the desert playa as part of my Burning Man project in 2013 that burned (the Mayan Tricycle) Since fixed wrenches are among the most common tools I collected, I used some of them to make what looks a bit like a bike chain going round both wheels. The metal disks are weights I've had that were cut from steel rod and survived the fire nearly unscathed.
The next disks finished was a newly revised #4 made of scissors. I didn't like the first layout, but this one seemed more balanced.(pics of #4 above) Also pictured above disks #2 made of C-Clamps & #1 made of Sockets. Since these 2 disks are below #3 which was already in place when these were made, they have a 3" gap in them as picture to allow them to be attached and the rest of the camps and sockets were added. I originally thought about having the head looking straight up, but along the way changed the pose to have the head looking down toward the viewers. I didn't make the 7the disk till weeks later. See below for the photos of it made of socket drives. Note that there are 2 square pieces of pipe. The main support, and then a new pipe that is the socket for the neck. I neck is being made to be removed from the socketfor transport starting above the 7th disk. Later yet, I realized I'd be needing an eighth disk to connect the neck to the head and body and it is made of adjustable crescent wrenches. I tried to arrange these a bit like a 2D bouquet of flowers. Both #7 & #8 are approximately 12" in diameter.
The cross section ring/disks/sections
Below shows the first 6 rings welded in place. 
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