Experiment with Nature » portland http://experimentwithnature.com Shwood Blog Tue, 16 Apr 2019 20:07:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.3.34 The Oxidized Collection http://experimentwithnature.com/02-videos/the-oxidized-collection/ http://experimentwithnature.com/02-videos/the-oxidized-collection/#comments Thu, 03 Sep 2015 17:40:20 +0000 http://experimentwithnature.com/?p=4396 Earlier this week we debuted our latest material experiment, The Oxidized Collection. To complete this project, our product design team harnessed the power of oxidization to bring brilliant turquoise, blues, and golds from genuine brass. These brass inlays are then applied to two versions of our classic Canby silhouette for a look that has truly stood against the tests of time. To accomplish the oxidizing process that normally can take months to years, we apply a calculated mixture of ammonia & salt to raw brass in a controlled container. When cleaned and polished after a day-long resting period, the results are quite stunning.

 

Check out the photos below, watch the video of the process, and visit our WEBSITE to see more.

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Agenda Emerge Shop Visit http://experimentwithnature.com/02-videos/agenda-emerge-shop-visit/ http://experimentwithnature.com/02-videos/agenda-emerge-shop-visit/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2015 22:05:02 +0000 http://experimentwithnature.com/?p=4354 Our founder and designer, Eric Singer, welcomes you into the shop in this video by Agenda Show – Emerge.

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Shwood for Atlantic Records Collection http://experimentwithnature.com/02-videos/shwood-for-atlantic-records-collection/ http://experimentwithnature.com/02-videos/shwood-for-atlantic-records-collection/#comments Mon, 13 Jul 2015 20:43:21 +0000 http://experimentwithnature.com/?p=4342 Atlantic Records is classic. It’s revolutionary. It has pushed the envelope of popular music since it introduced jazz and R&B to the masses 60 years ago. And now Shwood is pleased to play a role in Atlantic’s legacy of experimentation and quality.

Introducing the Shwood for Atlantic Records Collection. Two versions of our classic Canby shape, both integrating genuine Atlantic vinyl records for a look as effortless as the music it embodies.

See more at: https://www.shwoodshop.com/us/collections/atlantic and check out the photos below.

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Journey 020 – Those Simple Days http://experimentwithnature.com/01-journeys/journey-020-those-simple-days/ http://experimentwithnature.com/01-journeys/journey-020-those-simple-days/#comments Thu, 16 Apr 2015 22:36:06 +0000 http://experimentwithnature.com/?p=4231 For the 20th installment of our Journeys series, we get reminded by Sarah Cabalka that adventures don’t necessarily need to be a long way from home. Sarah organized a camping excursion just outside of Portland along the Columbia River in an attempt to remind herself and her friends of simpler days.

See some sample photos below and check out Sarah’s full photo essay HERE.

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Journey 019 – High Sierras :: Hot Springs http://experimentwithnature.com/01-journeys/journey-019-high-sierras-hot-springs/ http://experimentwithnature.com/01-journeys/journey-019-high-sierras-hot-springs/#comments Thu, 16 Apr 2015 22:12:55 +0000 http://experimentwithnature.com/?p=4223 For the 19th installment of our Journeys series, we follow along with Kelly Shea & Brendan Banks of Vancrafted on a stop in the High Sierras during their cross country road trip. In their own words: “This account takes places on week 15, day 105, of 5 months spent living on the road :: We are 2 people who traded our city apartments for one 30-year-old Volkswagen van and 15,000 miles of fresh air. At this point in the journey, our nerves have become as accustomed to gleaming mountain lion eyes at night as they were to taking the subway every day to work. This part of our journey finds us at a point where we have gained ease in the unknown of each coming day and love for camping with only nature surrounding us.”

See some sample photos below and check out Kelly & Brendan’s full photo essay HERE.

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2015 Shwood for Louisville Slugger http://experimentwithnature.com/02-videos/2015-shwood-for-louisville-slugger/ http://experimentwithnature.com/02-videos/2015-shwood-for-louisville-slugger/#comments Thu, 16 Apr 2015 17:33:07 +0000 http://experimentwithnature.com/?p=4144 For the second time, we’ve teamed up with the legendary Louisville Slugger. It’s a brand-new collection, inspired by classic Slugger designs and crafted from real Slugger bat woods. This collection is a tribute, not only to America’s favorite pastime, but to American craftsmanship and ingenuity.

Select model is limited to 250 pieces. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the game.

See more from the collection.

 

 

 

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The Shwood for Louisville Slugger Canby Select.

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The Shwood for Louisville Slugger Canby Select features a “Hornsby” inspired stain & paint-dipped temples.

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The Shwood for Louisville Slugger Canby Original.

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The Shwood for Louisville Slugger Canby Original features a treatment inspired by pine-tarred bats.

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The Shwood for Louisville Slugger Canby Acetate.

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The Shwood for Louisville Slugger Canby Acetate features would inlays inspired by pine-tarred bats.

 

 

 

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Neon Sculpture by Eric Franklin http://experimentwithnature.com/03-found/neon-sculpture-by-eric-franklin/ http://experimentwithnature.com/03-found/neon-sculpture-by-eric-franklin/#comments Tue, 15 Jul 2014 22:52:25 +0000 http://experimentwithnature.com/?p=3723 Local Portland Sculptor Eric Franklin works in an extremely interesting, if somewhat macabre, medium. He utilizes clear glass tubing, vacuum sealed and filled with noble gases such as neon, krypton, argon, and xenon to create stunning renderings of the human form. The process is extremely tedious and painstaking, sometimes taking thousands of hours per finished piece to ensure that there are no leaks. Any leakage in the joints of the glass connections or molecules inside the sealed piece would affect the reaction of the gases within.

 

 

He uses the glass as a container for light and space, with each piece being unique and unexpected as there is no real way to tell how the gases will coalesce as they work their way around the glass housing. The gases even react to your body’s electromagnetic field and flicker and change as you move close to them.

See the photos below for examples of Eric’s work and follow the links at the bottom for more information.

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Visit Eric’s portfolio site, or watch this Discovery Channel feature to find out more about his work.

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DIY Snowboards http://experimentwithnature.com/06-experiments/diy-snowboards/ http://experimentwithnature.com/06-experiments/diy-snowboards/#comments Wed, 25 Jun 2014 16:27:04 +0000 http://experimentwithnature.com/?p=3668 Winters in Portland are long, cold, and wet– but not quite cold enough to see any significant amount of snow in the city. Mt. Hood is close and accessible– if you’re willing to make the hour and a half drive and deal with the sometimes heavy traffic and often dangerous road conditions. The combination of these factors make for very dedicated skiers and snowboarders, including some of our crew here at Shwood.

Our founder and designer, Eric Singer, teamed up with Joe Blecha (who formerly has shaped boards for Burton) to lead a few friends in making snowboards 2 winters ago and learned a lot about the process. This past winter, with an even larger crew, they put the knowledge gained from the first experiment to the test.

The first stage of the process involved everyone sitting down together to design their custom topsheet. We worked in Adobe Illustrator to set up the file for the laser engraver. At this point we also placed the order for materials, enough to make six boards total.

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Once the raw lumber arrived, we set to work on the table saw cutting down the bamboo and poplar into strips that would later but joined together to create the cores of the boards. The slats were then milled down to a consistent and specific thickness. Bamboo was placed at the center and edges of the core due to its water resistance, rigidity, and flex. Poplar placed in between the bamboo reduced the weight while maintaining strength and pop.

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Wax paper was used to prevent the glue from sticking to the clamp and press system. We stepped up our game this time around on the pressing portion of the process after having less than stellar results previously when driving a car on top of the press to provide the necessary pressure.

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Once the cores were glued together, they were sanded down and fitted with hardware. The topsheet designs were applied and covered in fiberglass and resin to seal everything together. At this point they were vacuum-sealed and pressed.

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Once pressed the boards were cut to their final shape, they were sanded to a clean edge and coated in walnut oil to bring out the natural wood color. Four coats of marine boat deck finish were applied to the top and sidewalls to provide a clean, waterproof seal.

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Finally, after a long and intricate process, we were ready to hit the hill. The crew made their way up to Mt. Hood Meadows for a little late season shred.

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Shwood Acetate Collection http://experimentwithnature.com/02-videos/shwood-acetate-collection/ http://experimentwithnature.com/02-videos/shwood-acetate-collection/#comments Wed, 19 Feb 2014 21:57:27 +0000 http://experimentwithnature.com/?p=3214 We recently launched our new collection of premium acetate and wood sunglasses over at shwoodshop.com. To accompany the release, we created a video that embodies the spirit of adventure that these glasses were intended for.

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AARON BAMBOO RODS http://experimentwithnature.com/03-found/aaron-bamboo-rods/ http://experimentwithnature.com/03-found/aaron-bamboo-rods/#comments Mon, 01 Jul 2013 16:22:40 +0000 http://experimentwithnature.com/?p=2928 Continuing the MAKERS series, Shwood pays homage to some of Portland’s most innovative crafters, artists, builders, writers, and designers that inspire the experimental creators in us all. Part 4 features Tim Aaron, a craftsman of world class custom bamboo fly fishing rods. Tim shares his insights on making these functional works of art and why his lifestyle fits into the Portland culture.

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