Skull Box

Wenchkin and Scott Krichau are back with another amazing collaboration. Scott built the box. Wenchkin designed the images. Then he cut the designs out, using a plasma torch. The box is 24 inches square made of steel with asimple bulb dangling from the inside center.

I saw this online a few weeks ago, and insisted that they allow us to feature it here. It's gorgeous lit and unlit. I could see it hanging up with chains, above a table as a gorgeous light. I love how clear the shadows are, that created when the light is cast from the internal bulb. Wenchkin and Scott are amazing artists separately, but their collaborations are always mesmerizing.

Welded Skulls

Josh Welton from Brown Dog Welding and Year of the Chopper, returns with these skulls that are on a couple of the drawer handles on his tool box.

I love seeing metalwork. It's one of the few arts that I have no experience in, so it intrigues me. These particular pieces are both practical as draw pulls and decorative as they are hand made skulls. I like the irregularities that this work has, it shows that they are one of a kind pieces verses commercially made, cast pieces. Since I'm working on some Christmas crafts for friends, I was thinking of how neat these would be as Christmas decorations or jewelry. Once again, Josh has shown us some great pieces of his work.

Welded Nut Skull

There are custom built choppers made from unique parts and pieces out there, and then there are choppers literally made from parts and pieces. Josh Welton gets as original as they come with his custom built statues made from stuff found in most garages. The true artist in him revs the engine when he tig welds a custom skull light.



Josh writes, "This is the final sculpture in my Year of the Chopper project. You can read more about the project on my blog. The skull/headlight was tig welded on a nut. All 52 pieces are sold or are being sold for charity."



You really inspire me to get back into my garage and rummage around for skull art ideas, Josh. You do a great job of not only building these complex pieces, but you also manage to create style and grace with all of your choppers. I feel like I could really see this bike rolling down the highway, looking for adventure, in whatever comes it's way. Good luck with your charity sales, Josh.

If you would like to help Josh support his favorite charities then feel free to stop by his Etsy store to pick out a cutsom chopper statue of your own.

Super Skull Saturday (Heavy Metal Style)

Crank it up to 11 for today's Super Skull Saturday post, skullnatics! It's my honor and privilege to introduce Tom Adams from Canton, MI to the Skull-A-Day stage to take you to a new level of heavy metal skull making. This stuff is so heavy you're beard might even grow a few inches.

Every artist has their influences in childhood that guide them down that long and winding road. Tom tells us, "As a child I always wanted to grow up to be a paleontologist and was always interested in bones, bugs, fossils and things of that nature. I was also fascinated by death. In school I was never very good at academics but had a knack for art, especially sculpture."

Tom's road happened to have the bike path from Hell on it and hence we arrive at the awesomeness that Tom has pedaled into place. "Here is one I call the "Skelebike" that I built in 2008. It is all steel and is a full functioning bicycle. I showed it at the last two Detroit Autoramas where it was very well received and won multiple trophies."



The metal gods command that you check out the means by which Tom transformed a girl's bike into this vehicle of wickedness!

All right! I know this next piece isn't metal, but it's HEAVY! "It's made out of an actual piece of a grave marker that was replaced due to an error."



I mean come on, it's a tombstone skull! You bet yer ass Tatman's tombstone will have a skull on it! Let the metal continue....

"Here's another one I made out of stainless steel. I like to set this one on a shelf in it's open position, when somebody touches it, it collapses and makes a wonderful metal clank sound. Not to mention it usually also scares the $#!+ out of them too, which is a nice side effect."



Tom felt the fire burn in him to wield and weld the metal to do his bidding, passing along the gift of metal to those who desired to be heavy. "Here is the one that started it all for me in steel. I have probably made over a thousand skulls in my lifetime and gave most of them away to anyone that had a shared interest in them."



He even goes old, old school and kicks Jur"ass"ic with this wrenched out Triceratops.



As fate would have it(or as the metal gods intended it), Tom tells the tale of divine intervention, "Over the years I had tried many mediums but after being required to take a welding course for my job, I was hooked. I felt a strong sense of permanency in my work. It feels good to do work in a medium that isn't practiced by many artists."



Tom gets down right hard as rusty nails with the "Termin8r".




This trip into the metal bending mind of Tom Adams comes to end, but we can't go out without thanking him for sharing all of his great work. Thanks, to you, Tom! May the metal gods always shine bright on your supply of tools, materials, and inspiration. Thanks for being a part of Skull-A-Day and for keeping it HEAVY!



I told you this post was heavy. Tom was clean shaven when we started.

Welded Buckle Skull

This killer belt buckle comes from Jody Collier. It's an all welded piece of art and you can even find out how to make one of your own right here.



I love personal, handmade art and jewelry. I sure hope your son wears this a lot. A handmade gift is always a treasure. Especially when it resembles it. Plus, we all know how many kids could use a good belt and buckle these days. Thanks, Jody!

Crooked Cross Skull

My evil twin Pudge has been busy in the shop creating yet another skull for us. Here's what he says about his newest piece, "I am submitting my new skull "The Crooked Cross". The cross is made from one long continuous chain that has been welded together. The skull is cut out from an old tool box lid and then welded to the cross. The chain was tough to weld in place but I am very please with the result. Enjoy."



You know I'm a sucker for heavy metal! Plus, I really like the skull and crossbones design you made. Thanks for sharing this, Pudge. Keep 'em coming and keep it heavy!

78. Sheet Metal Skull

1 piece of cut & folded 24 gauge sheet steel (folded size approx 6" x 9" x 4"). An extra huge thanks goes to Philip who let me use his workshop and materials, gave advice on how to accomplish this piece, and welded the seams for me!