Whats Up With Spencer?

Recovery

2011-09-05T11:27:00.001-07:00

Broke my collar bone, painted this while it was healing to keep my arm from wasting away.
For Sale! $500.00

Maineland

2009-08-21T11:29:00.001-07:00

The best pictures I took in Maine.

Nothing.

2009-05-07T15:03:00.001-07:00

Haven't been building anything. Except bikes.

2008-12-18T13:33:00.000-08:00

Belt Buckle #2. Made from salvaged bronze fire hose fixtures.

Yo! Semite

2008-10-24T11:36:00.001-07:00

Went Back to Yosemite. Here are the results.

ACBuckle

2008-09-05T14:36:00.000-07:00

1st Belt Buckle I've ever made.

Casting

2008-07-22T23:47:00.000-07:00

Taking the casting class again. This time I got to do a little bronze. Pictured is unfinished belt buckles.

Europe!

2008-06-30T17:30:00.001-07:00

Pictures from my trip to Germany and France.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22476710@N07/collections/72157605881141131/

number two

2008-05-12T23:34:00.000-07:00

Second glass fusing project. This one was made by placing the glass on top of sheets of heat proof material, and then melting the glass over them.

Glass Fusing Class.

2008-04-21T23:14:00.001-07:00

I'm taking a glass fusing class, once a week for 8 weeks. This was my first project.

Re-claimed trivet.

2008-04-09T21:47:00.001-07:00

I couldn't bear to see this get thrown out. It was the casing to an old hoist. Now it will keep my crappy counter-top from being damaged.

LaMud2008 Recovery Cruise

2008-04-01T22:26:00.000-07:00

Short Cruise Video.

Pictures
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22476710@N07/sets/72157604353911595/show/

Dessert

2008-03-17T23:23:00.000-07:00

The desert is in full bloom this year! Pictures from Temecula and Anza Borrego.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22476710@N07/sets/72157604139127529/show/

Wine Stoppers.

2008-02-23T23:28:00.001-08:00

Wine Stoppers for big sis. Made from (left to right): copper, silicon bronze, titanium, stainless steel, delrin, polycarbonate, pvc, ertylite.

Painting again

2008-02-05T23:28:00.000-08:00

Started Painting again.

Ti-Op #6 and Ti-Op #7

2008-01-29T21:51:00.000-08:00

New titanium bottle openers.

Shiitake Crop

2008-01-15T11:48:00.001-08:00

Thanks Sis for the shiitake log! Harvested the first crop last night.

Bench for Papa

2008-01-09T21:33:00.001-08:00

I made this while I was in Maine for my dad. I found the rocks on the beach and inlaid them into the top. The top is made of African mahogany and the base is made of white oak.

Christmas 2007 in the Bay Area

2008-01-03T23:18:00.000-08:00

http://picasaweb.google.com/spenceramma/ChristmasBreak2007

Philippines

2007-12-20T22:11:00.000-08:00

My 3 weeks working in the Philippines
http://picasaweb.google.com/spenceramma/Philippines

Solar Radio

2007-11-13T23:52:00.000-08:00

What is it?... Its a Solar powered iPod player. There is an auto cigarette lighter port so you can use your car car iPod charger. Also included is an inverter so you can charge a laptop or camera batteries.

Tin's Din Din

2007-11-13T23:50:00.000-08:00

Dinner for 6 at Tin's Place. Tin and Bri made some delicious morsels.
http://picasaweb.google.com/spenceramma/TinsDinnerFor6

Visiting Val in Va

2007-11-13T23:48:00.001-08:00

Visiting Val in Virginia Beach
http://picasaweb.google.com/spenceramma/VirginiaBeach

Woods Hole Part III

2007-11-13T23:44:00.000-08:00

Last leg of Martha's Vineyard Work.
http://picasaweb.google.com/spenceramma/WoodsHolePartIII

Welcome Small Projects

2007-10-06T23:07:00.001-07:00

I needed a welcome mat, so instead of buying one of course I made it. I think it came out ok. Made of a mild steel grate and Pine 1x2.

Back to the Hole

2007-10-04T21:32:00.001-07:00

Next installment of pictures from Woods Hole.
http://picasaweb.google.com/spenceramma/WoodsHoleTurnaround

Finally!

2007-09-23T19:49:00.001-07:00

Finally finished the floor!!!! Whoo Hoo! It feels like it took forever. I actually finished before Maine, but I didn't get around to posting till now. Now just gotta build the vanity, painting and trimwork and then I'll be done! I'm in the home stretch.

2 weeks in Maine

2007-09-20T23:27:00.001-07:00

Highlights from my 2 weeks hanging with the Maine-iacs
http://picasaweb.google.com/spenceramma/Maine2007

Surf Champs!

2007-09-18T16:18:00.000-07:00

The 14th annual Moores UCSD Cancer Center Luau and Longboard Invitational
1st Place Team From left to right: Jessica, Me, Herbie Fletcher, Gino, Lucas.

I was fortunate enough to be selected to surf on the Scripps team in the 14th annual Moores UCSD Cancer Center Luau and Longboard Invitational. Scripps team took the gold!

In the Hole.

2007-08-29T19:40:00.000-07:00

On business... in Woods hole. Here's the trip so far.

Changed planes in Vegas, Played on the Wheel of Fortune slot machine... Left behind $5 in this machine.

Sight seeing at... 500 mph?

Lake Havasu... never seen that before.Grand Canyon... Never seen that either.

Obviously I had a window seat.

Good sunset from the parking lot in front of Sears Rhode Island.

Woods Hole.
Gumby suits doing yoga... downward dog.

Martha's Vineyard.Food Highlights...
Lobster Roll.

Country Berry Flan.Lobster dinner.

Totally swamped

2007-08-02T10:07:00.001-07:00

Been getting totally hammered at work, (and the surf hasn't been half bad either) no time/strength for projects.

Although, thanks to T & L P I got to go to the Comic-Con!

And made a decent dinner. (Turnips from Super Mario 2)

Islesford Boatworks.

2007-07-03T21:13:00.001-07:00

I made this a while back in my Al Casting class, but I couldn't post it till it was given. Go check out their site! http://www.islesfordboatworks.org/

Back from Yo! semite and the desert.

2007-06-27T22:41:00.000-07:00

View from around 7000' in the White Mountains. 4% humidity! Bone dry.

Some pretty cool colors on the rocks. Found them outside an old mine.

Walking through an oasis in the desert.

The approach to Devils post pile.

Didn't get to see the pile, but I did see this cool river.

The Following is sight seeing in Yosemite at
50 MPH.

Although I did get to stop a couple of times.

On the way home we stopped by fossil falls. Neat! For about 1/2 hour.

Al LTK & I like Eating Thien!

2007-06-12T17:19:00.001-07:00

I couldn't figure out what to cast at first, so I decided to try to sculpt Lark's Long Tail Kitty, and I Like Eating Thien! The First long Tail Kitty ended up being a short tail Kitty, and the second was medium tail kitty. Finally I cast a Long Tail Kitty. Thien came out a little scary looking if you looked at him straight on, but from 45 degrees he looks pretty good.

One stone at a time.

2007-06-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

Started installing my floor. I think I could have finished it, but the 5 gallons of stone I had Prepared was not enough for the 30 square feet of floor... Well back to cutting stone.... I think I gotta cut bout 2 more gallons worth of stone.... bummer.

Al Casting.

2007-05-18T16:47:00.000-07:00

In my Aluminum casting class I have made several name plates. These both have some parts that didn't turn out exactly as planned, but I say it adds character! More Casting projects to come.

single.

2007-04-20T22:40:00.000-07:00

Finished the single speed build up. I just removed the freewheel, reversed the axle, and re-dished the wheel. from there, it was just a matter of buying some parts. Actually I need to buy some pedals too, I'm using the pedals off of my mt. bike right now. Haven't ridden it yet, its been too windy/rainy. No, its not a fixed gear cuz I'm weak.

ti-Pod

2007-04-20T22:23:00.000-07:00

Yea! Put the last touches on the Titanium Ipod case. Now my iPod is bulletproof! A little overboard? Yea.

Casting Al

2007-04-12T20:40:00.000-07:00

I'm taking an Aluminum casting class. This is my first cast. Hopefully I can make something a little cooler. What is that thing anyways?

Very Benchy.

2007-04-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

Took me a little bit longer than I had expected, but it came out pretty good. Some of the joints could have been better, but I'm still learning. At least this project gave me a nice break from the bathroom remodel. Again it's made of macassar ebony, walnut and maple.

Another unfinished project

2007-03-24T22:52:00.000-07:00

I started this one about 2 years ago. Dug it out of the closet about a week ago and its 3/4 done now. Macassar ebony with walnut butterflies. The base will be made of walnut too. Its about 36" X 7" X 2". Oh yea, its gonna be a short bench.

en-Ti-rely too much?

2007-03-15T19:02:00.000-07:00

Well this is the beginning of a titanium iPod case. Maybe a little bit of an overkill, but whatever.
Just gotta learn how to put the 4 jaw chuck on the lathe.

Too busy to post.

2007-03-01T15:15:00.000-08:00

Installed, Finished! Finally...

2007-02-21T13:55:00.000-08:00

Finally all of the work is done... for now. Now all I have to finish is tiling around the counter top, painting the walls, building the vanity, making outlet covers, heater vent covers, exhaust fan covers, lighting fixtures, finishing the floor, baseboards, door trim, and grouting the tile. Ugh.

Not too exciting.

2007-02-20T13:10:00.000-08:00

Here is the TP holder I made to match the cabinets. The spindle is just 1/2" copper pipe.

Polished and sealed

2007-02-12T22:54:00.000-08:00

A week and a half without Email, cell-phones, tv, or internet can do wonders for the mind. Although a week and a half without a bed, showers, or running water can be hard on the body.

I am pretty pleased at how it came out although I wish the glass stood out a little more. A lighter color of cement would have helped.

I had to drill several holes in the bottom of the counter so that I can undermount the sink and attach it to the wall.

Grind & Slurry.

2007-01-25T13:05:00.000-08:00

Before I got sick, I ground and slurried the counter top. Sorry that the pictures are a little blurry, but thats how I feel today anyway, kinda blurry. I'll do a second grind/slurry this weekend to fill in the rest of the holes.

Broke the mold!

2007-01-19T13:28:00.000-08:00

The Counter top has cured for enough time. With help from John and Doug, I pulled the massive slab of concrete out. It probably only weighs about 150 lbs, but it is pretty awkward.
Tomorrow I get to grind down the top and see what lies beneath the surface.

The Pour.

2007-01-17T10:28:00.000-08:00

Over the long weekend, I managed to find some time to pour the concrete into the mold. It was messy and pretty stressful due to the limited time to work the concrete. My good buddy Ross helped out, and the help was definitely needed. This Saturday I will be breaking the countertop out and grinding it.
WOO HOO!

TI-Op

2007-01-12T12:44:00.000-08:00

I made several of theses bartender style bottle openers out of Titanium with various differences. This was the first one I made. Why would you need a Titanium bottle opener? I really like the look and feel of Ti.

Pachinko!

2007-01-11T10:38:00.000-08:00

This pachinko machine has been at my parents house for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, i spent many hours playing with it. It still works after all these years. At some point I'm gonna make a case for it, buy more balls and hang it on the wall.

2007-01-10T18:19:00.000-08:00

Towel Bars.

A while back I made towel bars.

I like that you can swing them over the bathtub to hang your wet wetsuit on.

2007-01-09T11:04:00.000-08:00

The mold is done!

Hopefully the pattern will stay through the pour. It is made from marbled glass that I broke up with a sledge. And hopefully the glass wont be sharp after polishing.

2007-01-08T11:55:00.000-08:00

One Step Closer To Finishing

I built 2 medicine cabinets for my bathroom out of poplar. The hinges I made from copper. If I ever need to make hinges again, I think they will come out much better. They cabinets probably took me about 60 hours to make.

The mirrors were cut from a $30 mirror that I had bought from home depot. I eased the sharp edges with my diamond stone. It was pretty easy and saved me some $$.

I think the all of the small shelfs make it interesting, but almost impossible to install in the wall with a normal screwdriver.

I really liked this portion of the board, the grain was very beautiful. It had a check in it so I fixed it, and it became one of my favorite details.

2007-01-05T16:28:00.000-08:00

Last Years Luau.

Last year I was honored to be selected to surf on the Scripps team for the Rebecca and John Moores UCSD Cancer Center Luau & Longboard Invitational.

Scripps Team from left to right: Jessica, Garth, Bob "The Greek", Glenn, Me.

Surfing Legends

2007-01-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

One of my 1st projects.

This is one of the first things I ever tried to make. A footstool made with birds-eye maple and jarra butterfly. I was very bad at making the mortise for the leg and cracked off a large chunk of wood, thus the butterfly to stabilize the piece. I Think I started it in 2003 and Finally finished in December of 2006.

2007-01-03T10:21:00.000-08:00

New project for the new year.

Happy New year!

Even though I have not finished the hammers, I started the cement counter top for my bathroom. This is the mold for it sans the knockouts.

Old Projects for the new year

2006-12-29T13:13:00.000-08:00

I'm gonna finally try to finish these old projects.

Copper hammers. I have the heads and the handles, all I gotta do is put them together.I also wanna make this thing into a clock. Its a 1" x 2.5" piece of 304 or 316 stainless.

My first Blog entry... Testing.. Testing 123.

2006-12-28T15:37:00.000-08:00

Early December 2006 I Got to visit Toulumne Meadows.
I forgot what this rock was called.
I walked on A frozen River for the first time.

Yea pretty boring, Hopefully I get better at this blogging thing.