When I were a lad student protest had slightly more knackers to it than spouting a few conspiracy theories at a failed Presidential candidate and squealing like a girl when the filth got a bit heavy handed.

I doubt if you’re going to have to quell too many uprisings with a rallying cry of “Don’t Tase Me, Bro”. I’ve no idea what the Chinese is for “Don’t run over me with those tanks, bro,” but I’m fairly sure it didn’t pass by The Unknown Rebel’s lips during that day in 1989.

Trying telling me that this:

isn’t a far cooler protest than this:

Anyway, I got round to thinking about possible metal taser vests in case people wanted to engage in civil conspiratorial debate without the fear of looking faintly ridiculous in the process. Something that would cause the taser barbs to make a slight tinging noise and drop harmlessly to the floor whilst showing you off to have a well defined set of pecs could be a certain winner. Then I remembered you could probably get yourself the top half of a suit of armor instead.

However, I did manage to come across something truly useful in the metal vest category - the vest pocket ashtray

With the onset of the smoking ban, what better than your own personalised stainless steel ashtray to put in your breast jacket pocket. I honestly can’t see it failing.

Unless you happen to be wearing a t-shirt.

Not to be confused with:

Would you like to build a CO2 laser cutter similar to this?

That can cut things like this:

Instructables has an exceptional step-by-step guide as to how to go about it.

As the introduction states:

The general idea of this CO2 laser system is that a beam is directed down to a part for cutting. The part sits on a computer controlled platform which moves the piece around the stationary laser beam. Cutting is acheived (sic) by passing the beam through a focusing lens. A focused beam exits through the bottom of a cutting head nozzle. Gas, such as oxygen, is fed into the side of the chamber below the focusing lens. This gas exits the nozzle along with the beam and the laser beam/oxygen combination serves to vaporize the steel for cutting.

There are pictures a plenty, videos of it in action, a block diagram pdf and seven extensive pages of instructions on how to build one.

Well, the site is called Instructables.

Here’s a simple bending jig I’ve come across by David W. Wilson:

David W. Wilson’s Bending Jig

Bending Jig Parts

Dimensions

A thick steel plate and large bolts will handle heavier bending. However, a plywood base may be used for lighter bends. The steel plate base is easily assembled if the holes are threaded. But bolts and nuts will also work if held top and bottom through drilled holes in the plate. Various sized sockets from a socket wrench set adjust the radius of the bend. A metal strap may be used to hold the socket in place, and to help keep the bolts from twisting. Smooth bolts and sockets are preferable to threaded rods for the threads will damage the work piece. This type of jig can be held in a vise, or bolted to a work table. A large flat surface around it can help keep the bends flat.

The distance for the work piece between the bolts and/or socket should be snug to keep it from slipping. Several holes drilled into the base at various distances facilitate making numerous radius bends.

“S” type bends are easily bent with this jig. A long rod will help give leverage for several S’s. They may be bent by: 1. Inserting the end of the rod and bending the top part of the “S” 2. Work this bend back through the jig reversed, then bend the bottom of the “S”. Cut hook from section of rod, repeat. Scrolls are also easily bent by gradually working the work piece around a bolt or socket. For repeated work, it’s best to match it to a master shape.

Bending jig pdf download.

If we can somehow incorporate this into Jasper’s work routine without freezing his lips shut we might not have to employ anybody else for a bit.

[coolplayer width="480" height="380" autoplay="0" loop="0" charset="GBK" download="1" mediatype=""]
Welding Metal With Cigarettes
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Whilst this guy doesn’t have any exact plans in relation to building said tube bender form scratch, he does have plenty of pictures, information and is more than happy for you to ask any questions via email.

As he points out:

There are No Plans for this bender, none now, and none later.
I want you to think freely and create.

So off you go to try and cobble one together.

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UPDATE: More about tube bending including various calculators here.