Maker Highlight: Collin Sage – Make:

Title

Collin Sage

The place are you positioned?

Louisville, KY

What’s your day job?

I’m the Content material Producer and In-Home Blacksmith for FirstBuild, which is the innovation lab for GE Home equipment. Throughout my day-to-day, I help the creation of YouTube movies, content material for social media posts, and any customized movies – usually that includes new merchandise we plan to make or options on our group members, who’re additionally largely makers and hobbyists themselves.

No matter items have been on my thoughts: swords, cutlery, horseshoes, rings, armor or no matter loopy new concepts the FirstBuild workforce has for me – at 8 am, I’m strolling by way of the doorways to fireplace up the forge or the digicam and soar straight into work.

Do you attend a makerspace/fablab/hackerspace?

On a regular basis after I clock in! FirstBuild has its personal open makerspace with 3D printing and a Common Laser cutter, store tools like welding, metalworking, water jet, and woodworking—even a small-batch manufacturing facility onsite. Once I’m not engaged on our video and content material initiatives, I get to throw on my apron, head to the again of the store, and begin hammering out my very own initiatives from Damascus pizza cutters to blades and no matter else I get impressed to make.

What sorts of stuff do you make?

Every part I make is considered one of a form, however I’m usually drawn to creating knives, bottle openers, J-hooks, battle axes, sample welded rings, swords, ornamental packing containers to carry mentioned swords, and mainly something and the whole lot medieval and steel. I’ve additionally been recognized to make a Damascus metal shift knob or two when the temper strikes.

How did you get began making stuff?

I used to be a Technical Theater main in school. We would have liked some prop swords for a undertaking so I crudely welded, floor, and whipped up a pair rapiers. They had been ugly as sin, however I had a lot enjoyable I made a decision I needed to learn to make them “for actual” and completely caught the blacksmithing bug.

I spent nearly each greenback I had on starter tools, and after graduating from school, I began my very own facet enterprise. It was demanding and I used to be horrible for a very long time, however after a few years (and many tears), issues began to come back collectively for me.

What’s one thing that you just’ve made that you just’re actually pleased with?

I’m a two-time winner of the Historical past Channel’s ‘Cast in Fireplace’. I had truly by no means even met one other smith till I joined the forged. Considered one of my proudest moments from the present was beating one of many judges – historic weapon recreation specialist David Baker – in a sword making competitors. Past the present, the items I’m most pleased with are simply the little hunks of steel from every time I’ve made a brand new forge weld. The primary time I fused a metal cable right into a strong bar. My first sample welded metal piece. My first Mokume Gane nugget (copper nickel fusion). Every of those little hunks imply extra to me than any ornate sword I’ve made, as a result of they characterize a transparent and painful progress level and are a tangible illustration of every main “Stage Up.” I’ve saved all of them as small medallions, virtually like my very own private Olympic medals.

What’s subsequent in your undertaking listing?

I’ve a number of swords I’ve been wanting to construct, together with one impressed by The Witcher, (which has been sitting half accomplished for six months). Swords will be laborious to promote, however I really feel impressed by them. I’ve been taking fewer customized initiatives just lately to free myself up for extra private initiatives, so that is positively one which I’m hoping to get finished quickly.

what’s one thing you’d wish to work with however you haven’t but?

Meteorite! It’s so cost-prohibitive, however is so cool and distinctive to work with and one thing that might actually stand-out in my assortment.

Any recommendation for folks studying this?

Don’t give up your day job. I do know it’s the factor no person desires to listen to, however as any person who did that, the monetary burden can kill all the creativity and enjoyable. I’ve seen folks rush into creating full time as a result of they hate their 9-5, they usually find yourself in the end burnt out. It’s a tricky highway, so don’t take it evenly and attempt to plan revenue to the perfect of your means whereas sharpening your expertise and investing in your self.

Are you going to point out off at a maker faire within the close to future? If that’s the case, which one?

FirstBuild repeatedly participates in Maker Faires and in any other case, folks can discover me right here at FirstBuild in our makerspace (which is open to the general public) or on our YouTube channel.