Open cell metal foam

[sumu]

Went through my pic archives and found something I made some years ago.

I guess the tech part here is that brass, aluminum, oily hardwood (cocobolo) and casting epoxy do not seem to particulary stain each other when sanded and polished together.

About the aesthetics, well, your call. I can't tell.

 

[flatblackcapo]

Wow , that looks crazy! How does it wear?

 

[sumu]

Haven't used those ones myself that much to say.

 

[bittermanbrewing]

really love the way that looks. did you make that material?

 

[sumu]

The foam came to our business 10-something years ago from a German company called m-pore. They were making it in their facilities. I machined some experimental parts out of it, and with the scraps I got the permission from my boss to do whatever I want.

I used aluminum foil to make a quick mold around a piece of foam. Then casted slow curing clear epoxy to fill the piece. I actually did not plan much at that point, just wanted to see would it come out any good for something.

I sawed off the foil mold, and then decided to combine the piece with cocobolo. Originally I thought of making a knob for my car shift stick, but then I went for a knife handle.