Rocket Science Lamps
These lamps were built because of the amazing looking parts that are now the base to each lamp. I believe they were originally engineered for, and used in the oil and gas industry, but I prefer to think they were from some R&D lab at Lockheed Martin where they were part of a classified rocket program, hence the name. I came across these heat exchange type parts at a scrap yard, looking for freedom, playing hooky from work while "running errands". I am always looking for and looking to create "objects of contemplation & fascination" and to me this series of lamps embodies that idea well. The original use of the base is an unknown but it easily allows your imagination to come up with uses, both practical (oil & gas) and "I wonder how long this part orbited the earth before reentering the atmosphere". So, in keeping with the ambiguity of the base, I made the simple center sections to match, adding possible wrench flats, view ports, and o-ring seats.
There was no final outcome I aimed for when starting this project, just a desire to build something, a 1963 Bridgeport knee-mill, a 4th axis indexer and one free night to myself. I've always thought it was good practice to spontaneously design and build something to keep ideas flowing and skills sharp.
RS 1
RS 2
RS 3
RS 4
RS 5
RS 6
RS 7
