Sculpture

All around us, little bits of mechanical engineering are unsung heroes of our daily modern life.

This was partly inspired by a friend who worked for Rolls Royce in the aero engines area. He once gave is father a nut from a jet engine. The nut, apparently, had a high silver content. I have no idea what the original purpose of the nut was, but it became a trinket on a keyring that was often fondly tumbled between thumb and finger.

A nut and bolt is normally a purely practical thing, often covered in oil or grease, performing essential duties but overlooked and unloved. But made out of silver a nut and bolt is a strangely wonderful thing to behold. For its size it is heavier than you would be used to (silver is more dense than steel) - this gives it a lovely "heft" in the hand. Running the nut up and down the bolt is compulsive. A great thing to fiddle with - utterly different as an executive toy. I first made an M10 nut, bolt and washer. Later I made a set as 3/8" Whitworth with locknut. The broader head on the Whitworth bolt has more pleasing proportions.