Hammered Hearts jewellery blog

Making of a Mechanical shark.

This Shark sculpture is just under 500mm long and is made from aluminium and copper and recycled machine parts. The underlying structure and shape is formed from wood. This gives a strong light, easily formed body which makes it easy to nail and screw other parts on to it. The nails have domed heads which simulate rivets for that classic industrial appearance.

I started with a block of pine and sketched the basic shape I wanted onto it and sawed off the excess wood.

Next the shape is formed using an angle grinder fitted with a flap disk which is like a regular grinding disk with strips of sandpaper attached, it works very efficiently and is an excellent way to shape wood.

The fins, tail and lower jaw are made separately and attached later, after they have been covered with the metal.

The inside of the shark was hollowed out using a router. The way I did it requires experience and very great care and is not recommended for anyone as it can be extremely dangerous. Probably a burr on a good Dremel type tool and one of those oscillating cutter things would be better.

Various bits and pieces were added to the inside, always keeping in mind what will be visible when finished.

This part was carved out of an old carburettor using the same flap sander. Pretty much a waste of time as it really can't be seen. I thought the throttle flap would look cool in the throat of the shark but near impossible to see.

Unfortunately I forgot to take photos for the fitting of the metal parts. Basically I gradually hammered the metal to the shape of the wood and nailed them on.The metal on the fins and tail is riveted all round the edges. The back fin is screwed on from inside the sharks back. The tail and fins are dowelled and glued on and attached with nailed on plates. The mouth was lined inside the head and inside the lower jaw. The teeth was cut into the lining metal in the head and the outer covering of the jaw. and then nailed and glued on. The eyes are made from those grey glassy beads called haematite. I discovered a great product called Rust Guard in the form of a clear aerosol varnish. It says it will seal the metal surface to prevent rust and tarnishing and also makes it very glossy.Maybe too glossy?