h a l f b a k e r yRenovating the wheel
add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random
news, help, about, links, report a problem
browse anonymously,
or get an account
and write.
register,
|
|
|
Stone balancing is the process whereby a series of oddly
shaped rocks are balanced on each other to create a
stable
structure that look totally impossible to construct. The
process requires hours of infinite patience and
completely
steady hands. (see link)
For many people it's simply an
impossible task, but The
Stones Of Perfect Stability Kit solves this problem.
Each kit comprises of a choice of rock types, shapes,
weights, colours and sizes, meaning the potential to
create
a totally individual outcome from 3 to 5 stones is
substanial given the large number of permutations.
The stones all have two points on them. From one point,
a
tiny spike protrudes. The other diametrically opposite
point features a miniature hole into which the spike from
another stone can be inserted.
Regardless of what stones are chosen, and what order
they
are placed on top of each other, a stable structure can
be
created with minimal effort because of the accuracy of
the
mark positioning. Each kit also contains a "capping off
stone" that has no hole on its top side which would
otherwise mar the effect.
When complete, the owner can choose to make the
arrangement more permanent by placing it under the
protection of a glass case for display, or return the
stones
to their storage container for a future session, similar to
the assembly of a jigsaw puzzle.
(before you know who points out the children's wooden
balancing toy..... I am aware of it. It's totally different,
mass produced and not made of real rocks that are
completely individual and therefore unique.
Balancing stones
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UqU19dR0bFE
[xenzag, Oct 08 2020]
the 3 states of matter
https://sodabred.tu...zag-8102020-you-can
[xenzag, Oct 08 2020]
Salt, Potato, Plastic
https://sodabred.tu...zag-8102020-you-can
another 3 states of matter [xenzag, Oct 09 2020]
How it's done
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xe1TBLawqoA
[xenzag, Oct 11 2020]
[link]
|
| |
Are they real rocks or synthetic substitutes? How are the spikes made? How heavy is the packaging? If you used inflatable stones it could be more convenient to store and deliver to customers. |
|
| |
They are real rocks. I leave the other details to my
technicians. I just generate the ideas. |
|
| |
I would say that the kit would still need strength and steadiness of hand to assemble. The spikes would assist with location accuracy, but the mating weight-bearing surfaces would actually do the balancing. Mating surfaces as small as she is using in the video would require an equally steady hand and patience to find the balance point. Larger mating surfaces would be easier to balance but would not look so impressive. You could offer graded kits, the higher the grade the smaller the mating surface. |
|
| |
Agreed that it would still be quite difficult but
nothing in comparison to that of raw untreated
rocks. |
|
| |
You can do this by sticking a long steel pole in the
ground, drilling holes in all your rocks, and then
threading them onto the pole to look as if they’re
carefully balanced |
|
| |
// I leave the other details to my technicians. I just generate the ideas. // |
|
| |
"That's just the sort of thing that Hitler would say ..." |
|
| |
This is nothing less than egregious fraud, pulling a fast one on the audience. It's lazy, devious and verging on immoral. |
|
| |
see link for pic of a piece of work I did for a local show illustrating the 3 states of matter - looking at it, and the changes it will bring to your thinking process is your reward for the kind compliment about your great uncle Adolf. |
|
| |
It's nice the way that you've managed to include two major food groups in that representation. Just add Bacon, toast and BCBs and you've got a winner. |
|
| |
The balancing stones link is very beautiful. |
|
| |
The video you see after clicking the link is nice
too. |
|
| |
An interesting project would be an automatic
stone balancer. About the size and shape a large
donut, you'd put it on top of the first rock then
plop the next rock on top of it. The mechanism
would sense the weight and rebalance it as
necessary till it found the balance point, probably
manipulating it via a series of bladders of hydraulic
fluid that would deform as necessary to position
the next stone. When it reached stability, a very
loud screeching alarm would go off telling you to
remove the unit, which unbuckles like a neck
brace, place it on the top rock and continue till
you had a pile of rocks several yards high in much
less time. |
|
| |
This way, rather than communing with nature and
getting in touch with the peaceful calm and
serenity of the act of balancing stones, you could
line the entire lake with very tall columns of stone
in record time, the screeching alarms making sure
you're ready with the next rock. Highly efficient. |
|
| |
They make magnetic stacking stones like this.
I'm still waiting to unearth mine one of these days. |
|
| |
Stones of non homogeneous density would be interesting especially if patterns of magnetism polarity were included in the mix. Linking nipples and seats would have to be included as clues but are not seen in the final art. |
|
| |
Posted another image from the series "3 States of Matter" [link] |
|
| |
Yes, potatoes and salt, two of the essential components for making chips. All you need to add is an image of a pan of boiling lard. |
|
| |
I really like balancing towers of rocks when I’m at
the beach. I can’t help thinking though that the
rocks in this idea (with spikes and holes to make it
easier to place rocks on top of one another) would
make it a less rewarding experience... |
|
| |
Unless you have shaky hands, in which case the
impossible becomes achievable. It would still be
difficult to get larger stones to balance end to end
on smaller ones, even with the location holes and
spikes. [link] |
|
| |