Handmade machined aluminum speedster

Dan Bishop from Karas Kustoms makes and sells these beautiful machined aluminum speedsters for $65: "It measures approx. 6″ x 4″. The wheels are mounted on bearings and actually roll. Each car is machined from 6061 alum, in our shop, right here in the good ol' USA."

Machined Aluminum Speedster, (Via: Make), Via: Boingboing

Frida Kahlo in Aluminum Cans

Phoenix-based artist Emily Costello made this portrait of Frida Kahlo out of (apparently) pieces of aluminum cans. It currently hangs in the Halperin & Lake Collection. She plans to create a similar portrait of a Mexican wrestler.

Link(Facebook), Via: DudeCraft, Via: Neatorama

The Gunshot Art of Walt Creel

Birmingham, Alabama-based artist Walt Creel creates illustrations by firing guns at aluminum sheets. He calls his collection “Deweaponizing the Gun”, and sees it as an exploration of guns in U.S., and in particular, Southern culture:

The terms gun and weapon are practically interchangeable. From hunting to war, self defense to target practice, the gun has been a symbol of power and destruction. Art and entertainment have both taken the same approach to he gun. Traveling Wild West shows had gunslingers that shot crude silhouettes and names, but this was done to illustrate the shooters prowess. Some artists have used high speed film to capture a bullet slicing through its target, while other artists have melted guns into sculptures.

Link, Via: Say Uncle, Via: Neatorama | Artist’s Website | Image: Walt Creel

Model Cars Made From Aluminum Cans

New Zealander Sandy Sanderson needed a new hobby to occupy his time as he recovered from a motorcycle accident, so he started making model cars from discarded aluminum cans. As you can see, he’s gotten very good at making what he calls CanCars. See more of his creations at Jalopnik. Link, Via: Digg, Via: Neatorama

Aluminum + Ice = Rocket Fuel

A team of scientists from Purdue, Penn State, NASA, and the Air Force have collaborated on the ALICE (ALuminum-ICE) Project, which makes rocket propellant out of a frozen mixture of water and nanoscale aluminum powder. The ultimate goal is for the more environmentally-friendly fuel to be used on long-distance space missions, but for now it's excellent for videos of rockets taking off (starting at 4:00). [Purdue University, Via: MAKE Via: Gizmodo]

How To Make Aluminum Can Leaves

“I think the great thing about this idea is that the ways to use them are endless. You can put them in shadow boxes, hang from a tree outside so headlights twinkle in them as they drive by, add them to a wreath, make year-round home decor, paint them any color or maybe spread a clear adhesive and sprinkle glitter. LINK