Kindness of strangers...

Many thanks to "Anonymous" in Tucson, AZ for sending the stickers. I particularly like the purple sheep straying from the flock. The little hatched chick ain't too bad either...

Cheers. Hope the monsoon season has treated you well....

Windmill

Installed this afternoon...just in time.

Better pics and video of the mill in action to come...

Thank you so much, Paula...That this functions on more than one level is fabulous. Thank you again for the inspiration.

Cheers....

New shirts...

"New" old shirts...Gildan's "Ultra Cotton," 100% preshrunk cotton tees. White on various colors. Medium, large and extra large. Get 'em here...

Custom wind mill

This is the framework and beginnings of a custom-built "wind mill" for the Flynn Residence. Paula contacted me last fall about solving an unsightly "plumbing adornment" that so rudely invaded her large, expansive garden. After thinking about it during the winter, we took a look at it again this spring and came up with a mock wind mill that is to be sheeted with various metals: aluminum, galvanized steel flashing, stainless and some corrugated steel if we can find some. The mill is intended to have an organic, natural feel but still retain some "modern" elements. It will have a fully functioning vane and blade assembly. The 5/8" shaft will turn in two ball bearing assemblies concealed under a steel box to keep it out of the elements.

Zart 1312 window adornments

These are the windows behind the bar placement at Zart1312 in Des Moines. We simply found various pieces of steel and stainless drop-off from the shop and started attaching them to the window trim. Galvanized, mild steel, oxidized, HVAC flashing all made the dance on this project. Not too bad looking...

All things considered, in a best case scenario, I'll be able to COMPLETELY pull out of 1312 Locust at the end of next week. After I get a few things tidied up on Maribeth's railing at Zart, I can haul my JoBox back to the shop.

Worst case? I never leave.......and end up tending bar at Americana with Pete and Chief.

FIIF and the family in print

Here's some pics from the recent issue of Ready Made magazine. It shows us in the midst of our ongoing renovation of our American foursquare house. I absolutely love the pic with our son, Strummer!! He looks like he's about to eat the kitty cat!!

I also love the fact that I was allowed to wear my Murder City Devils shirt. Additionally, the URL for this blog was printed along with a pic of the reclaimed barn wood bed I built for my wife. Grab a copy on newsstands today to get the whole scoop on our project along with many more profiles!

Send me your stickers!

I like to tag. My body is adorned with tattoos. My clothing with stenciled art. Many of my larger tools and cabinets are slapped with stickers. I need more...of everything I've listed. You can help - send me stickers. Anything: bands, automotive, food, sports but especially SLAYER stickers. I'll return the favor by dropping a few FIIF stickers in the mail back to ya. International? Even better.

Factor II Fabrication
5268 NW 2nd Ave.
Des Moines IA 50313
USA

Cheers,
Boonie

Americana Restaurant and Lounge

Here's some pics of the wine racks going into the soon-to-open Americana Restaurant and Lounge at 1312 Locust across from Des Moines' Pappajohn Sculpture Garden. 1 1/2" sq. tube frames with 1/2" sq. bar. Each rack will house 60-70 bottles of wine. These will definitely be a fine focal point, among MANY more in what's shaping up to be a uniquely modern interior. More pics to come...

Remembrance Table Designs

I don't get to fabricate aluminum as much as I'd like, so this job has been a welcome change of pace lately. This project is a prototype for Dave Fremming and his company,Remembrance Table Designs, in Ankeny, IA. Most of Dave's products are fashioned out of wood and adorned with ornate handles - the entire product built by various craftsmen from around Iowa.

Hopefully, the aluminum table will find its way to Dave's permanent line. Thanks, Dave! You are an absolute pleasure to work with. I'm always happy to help out another carpenter!!!

Marge's kitchen island

Here's the completed kitchen island for my friend, Maggie Senn. 1" mild steel sq. tube legs with 1/2" solid round bar for the shelving in a "statuary bronze" powder coat finish. The top is a 1" thick maple butcher's block with 3" wide trim pieces wrapped around its perimeter. 2" locking casters keep the island mobile, but stationary when desired. Hidden under the block is a 1 1/2" thick piece of granite, supplied by Marge's, er, I mean, Maggie's mother, Jennifer. The block is removable so the granite can be used for baking purposes.

Thanks for your patience, Maggie! I hope this piece is integral in helping you prepare many, many fine dinners. Don't forget to KEEP THE WOOD OILED! Oh, and NEVER cut directly on the granite - you might as well bang your knives on the pavement.

Bon appetit.

2011 DSM Juice Mixies awards

Thanks to my pal, Eric Rowley, for bringing the photo shoot into the shop for a session with one of this year's winners, Canby. Check out all of the winners at Juice or pick up a copy at your local merchant.

Zart 1312 forged railing...FIN!!!

Well, it came down to the 11th hour, but the railing for Zart 1312 was indeed ready to go for Maribeth's first event on April 1. A few loose ends need to be tied up, but we're pretty much a wrap on this one. Though, Maribeth has a few more builds inside to complete. They should be great too!

Thanks go out to Terry Reeves for the milling of the mahogany molding, Nate Fetus for pitching in on the cleaning of the rails and especially April Moore for her undying eagerness to learn and heed constructive criticism. April's dedication to the build really made this job a success. Seriously, I couldn't have done a job this big in such a short period of time without her enormous contribution. You have a solid future in this field, girl!

Thanks, ALWAYS, to Miller's Custom Powder for their extraordinary generosity and hospitality.

Last but not least, thanks to Maribeth Trevillyan for trusting us in getting the job right and installed on time. It was a pleasure working on this one, despite the long, long days and nights and we look forward to knocking out that list of future endeavors.

So...cheers. I'm gonna go sleep for a couple days.

Zart 1312 forged railing - cont. Day 2 install

...two more panels installed. Four down, five to go.

Zart 1312 forged railing - cont.

Here's some pics from the past week. April and I started installation on Saturday and will continue everyday until it's finished. The mahogany molding needs to be attached to the top channel, but this is how they look inside of Zart.

Thanks Maribeth, Dennis, Daphne, Norm and "DELBERT!"

Zart 1312 forged railing

We're hard to work on the interior railing for Zart 1312's new space in downtown Des Moines. Hundreds and hundreds of feet of 3/8", 1/2" and 3/4" round steel bar has to be forged to give the appearance of growing vines...and the forging is done cold. Needless to say, we've had our cores shaken.

While we take care of the steel fabrication, Terry Reeves (below) is fashioning a mahogany molding to cover the steel channel. Finish will be raw steel with the client applying a satin oil-based polyurethane.

16th Annual YWRC "Sit On It!" benefit

This will be the third year I've proudly donated some furniture pieces to the Young Women's Resource Center's annual "Sit On It!" benefit. This year is a little different, as I've collaborated with interior designer, associate and all-around-swell-guy, Daniel Hyland These tables measure 18"h and 12"w fashioned out of 1/4" x 9" mild steel, designed by Daniel. They are shown here prior to being powder-coated.

Please make plans to attend the event on April 16th at the Polk County Convention Complex featuring these tables, and many other items built and donated by other Des Moines artists and builders. Contact Christina Jarck with the YWRC at 244-4901 for more information.

Matt Gardner Residence - installation

'Twas a chilly day for an installation this morning. Luckily, everything went off without a hitch. Thanks to Matt Gardner of Gardner Homes for allowing us build for his personal residence. Another BIG thanks to Brian Miller with Miller's Custom Powder Coating for shooting the stair rails on this job on a Saturday morning. Your generosity and kindness has no boundaries....

This build was fabricated of 3" sq. tube posts, 1 1/2" sq. tube rails and 3/4" sq. tube pickets. The rails were powdered with a 20% semi-gloss black finish and anchored to the deck with 5/16" lags.

Matt Gardner Residence

Here's some shots of yesterday's activities in the shop. The stair rails for the Gardner Residence were mocked up and fit yesterday. Everything was plumb, and the posts hit each tread just like they're supposed to. Pickets were tacked in place, and final welding needs to be done later today before installation tomorrow. It's gonna look great.

Daniel Hyland Design

Daniel and I delivered this table to the Niegsch Residence in Ames this afternoon. The powder-coated finish is actually "statuary bronze," intended to feign a well-worn bronze piece. This finish, coupled with the simple, clean lines makes for a very elegant piece if I do say so myself. With the table to the wall, there are absolutely no visible welds. This simplicity, in my mind, is due to very thoughtful and intelligent design.

The expression "less is more" is an understatement with regards to this piece. Well done, Daniel! Thank you for allowing me to fabricate it...

Daniel Hyland Design

Here's a table I finished fabricating today for Daniel Hyland Design. 1/4" x 12" plate was used to build a side table 36"H x 48"L. The powder finish will be similar to that of an oil rubbed bronze.