Hot Stuff: A Material System Study

Since the inception of this project I have found myself studying different types of feedback loops ranging in form from natural growth and decay processes to urban circulation systems. When considering possible material studies another feedback loop came to mind, the system of material recycling commonly used today. As it stands the system allows the consumer to buy a product, consume its contents, and ship its container to a centralized location for sorting, another location for recycling into usable pure material, and finally reformed into a new product. My goal was to simplify and decentralize this feedback loop by creating a system for recycling at the consumer level while exploring the properties of that recycled material.

Using aluminum as the basis for the system, I have started to create a home scale forge for smelting aluminum cans. The forge is created from simple materials available at local hardware stores and thrift shops.

The designis not in itself noble or unique, similar forges have been created and shared all over the internet, but the point is to consider it an opportunity for creating a more efficient grass roots level recycling system.

At this point I have not been able to get the forge hot enough to completely melt the cans but with some simple design modifications I believe it will become successful.