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Our pal Jake von Slatt has a great gift guide up at the Steampunk Workshop. Now, all you steampunk haters out there can calm down. This isn't a steampunk gift guide, just a guide from a maker who happens to work in the style of steampunk (as Jake puts it). The guide covers all sorts of tools and toys that Jake likes, such as the above Oxy/Acetelyne torch kit. Here's what he has to say about it:
I bought my first Oxy/Acetelyne torch kit nearly twenty years ago. I used it to dissasemble a 1971 Buick Electra 225 and cut it into pieces small enough so that I could place it by the curb for collection by the trashman, that was the cheapest way to get rid of it at the time.The frame became a utility trailer that I towed behind my 1977 Lincoln car, and it had nearly as nice a ride! In fact, it was one of the stablest trailers I've ever owned and the only one that I could pilot through a 6 wheel drift while taking off ramps at . . . well, imprudent speeds.
Anyway, with an Oxy/Acetylene torch you can braze, weld, cut, and heat. Auto Mechanics call this tool 'the hot wrench" and with a little practice you will be able to use one to cut a nut off of a bolt without damaging the the threads. Furthermore, the process of "gas welding" is incredibly useful for all types of steel and the experience you'll get "pushing puddles" of molten metal around will prepare you well for learning all other types of welding.
Plus, fire hawt!
$169
Also, the most-talented artist and photographer, Libby Bulloff, has a Steampunk Fashion Gift Guide on the site (which has a pair of tabi books that are so awesome, I almost bought them on the spot!).
Jake's 2009 Steampunk Gift Guide - A few of my favorite things.
Libby's Steampunk Fashion Gift Guide
I am quite supprised that you are so proud of your "pal" "Jake von Slatt" when he says
"I bought my first Oxy/Acetelyne torch kit nearly twenty years ago. I used it to dissasemble [sic] a 1971 Buick Electra 225 and cut it into pieces small enough so that I could place it by the curb for collection by the trashman,[sic] that was the cheapest way to get rid of it at the time."
Good to know that MAKE supports Jake and his efforts to fill up landfills to the brim so long it comes at a financial benefit to himself.
Aside from that, the list is hardly a Makers go to guide when it contains things like a Wilton hat, a Marcopoloni Compasso leather field bag and most of all Buffy the vampire slayers dvd collectors set?
And as a Make editor has put it
"Now, all you steampunk haters out there can calm down."
I reply
Now, all you earth haters out there can calm down. Don't worry about the land fills we will be dead and gone before that is a (real) problem. /S!
So disappointed.
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eh, so I took a little editorial license. The steel went to the scrapyard in the trailer - auto junkyards weren't paying to pickup cars at that time but scrapyards would give you a few bucks for clean steel. All fluids were collected and disposed of properly. The engine was rebuilt for another Buick, and the tranny went into a '74 Cadillac after a tail-shaft swap. So it was just the vinyl and carpet and sundry rubber bits that got left for the trashmen.
And hey, that leather bag is awesome and you do not front on the Slayer, uhn.
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Thanks, Gareth, for pimpin' both of our gift guides. I hope the suggestions make a lot of people happy, and well, if they don't, it's nice to see that they're making people think about their gifting choices this holiday season.
Also, those tabi boots are THE BOMB and I totally conned Jake into getting himself a pair!
Thank you again, and happy holidays from Steampunk Workshop.
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I agree, it's nearly impossible to recycle everything. Especially if you don't have local collection points or pickups. In his case he didn't even have a place to scrap his old car so he salvaged what he could and threw away the rest in small pieces (smart!).
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