The mortar and pestle is an archaic tool still used for cooking and medicine but modern blenders and grinders outnumbered them. Mortar and PESTle explores the value of effort and emotional significance.
Mortar and PESTle is a bio-inspired, high effort tool crafted to prevail through generations.
Tools:
Figured maple, lathe, bandsaw, belt, disc, spindle sander, and propane torch
Duration: 4 weeks
Duration: 4 weeks
The Inspiration
People of all ages recall summers of chasing these beetles, watermelon beetles as they’re affectionately nicknamed. These beetles are reminders of fleeting memories of childhood and times of the past.
Thoughts & Sketches
I decided to make a mortar and pestle inspired by these little guys. When threatened, these bugs’ make a hissing sound like the grinding noise of a mortar and pestle.
Attempting to make the body feel alive and organic, I added a tilt to the top surface and askew axes. This gave it some directionality and looked like the beetle was sort of crouching.
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foam prototypes
I decided to make a mortar and pestle inspired by these little guys. When threatened, these bugs’ make a hissing sound like the grinding noise of a mortar and pestle.
Attempting to make the body feel alive and organic, I added a tilt to the top surface and askew axes. This gave it some directionality and looked like the beetle was sort of crouching.
Fabrication
Shop plans & process pics
Shop plans & process pics
Key Takeaways
- Go into the final production stage with as much of the process and design details flushed out.
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Hard maple is in fact very hard
- very hard to turn, very hard to sand - Careful with pressure from the tailstock on the lathe
- tried to add a pestle back onto the lathe to do a bit more fine sanding but ended up cracking it - Taking pictures helps when trying to show process
- feels good to have pictures for what I’m trying to say. that’s it
! look at this cool doorknob i saw that has the june beetle pattern!
© 2021 - 2025 Midori Monosoff.