Popular Woodworking 2009-02 № 174, страница 58

Great Woodshops

As an artist, Margolin didn't start as a sculptor; he trained as a fine artist at Harvard University (where he received a degree in English), and afterward attended classical painting schools in Italy and Russia, where he learned to study nature and create large-scale paintings.

But it took an insect to plunge him into the world of mechanical engineering and kinetic wooden sculptures.

The Caterpillar that Moved Him Margolin's engineeringexploits began while he was observinga caterpillar undulating its way across desert sands. He wondered how he could create a device that would mimic that movement.

His first step was to re-leam calculus, which took about three months. Then Margolin began building. His third attempt at a mechanical caterpillar was 5' long and was composed of

springs, cables, welded pieces of metal and mechanical linkages, all attached to a turning Plexiglas wheel, which resembled the classic steering wheels found on the tall, masted sailing ships of the 18th century.

As the wheel was turned, a knob slid in a curved path cut into the Plexiglas. As the knob passed particular points in the curve, it would move cables that would then actuate different parts of the caterpillar. The knob's path was the only part of the creation that caused the caterpillar to move in a caterpil-lar-like way.

Margolin uses basically the same procedure to create all of his wooden and mechanical marvels. Usually, he is first inspired by nature (water, or grass waving in the wind, for example). Sometimes, he is inspired by the mechanical simplicity of bicycles.

Then he sketches the sculpture in a notebook, noting measurements. Next, he moves to his drafting table, where he uses compasses and rulers to make a more accurate drawing of the proposed sculpture. Margolin then builds a quick scale model out of cheap materials to make sure that the proportions are correct. Finally, he builds the full-size sculpture.

Why Wood?

Margolin uses a lot of salvaged wood in his work. Recently he acquired 14'lengths of clear 2x6 redwood from a salvaged deck. He also uses salvaged maple from old futon frames, as well as some salvaged fir and oak balusters. To supplement the salvaged material, Margolin buys Finnish plywood, Baltic birch plywood and some poplar, as well as rough lumber and construction-grade plywood.

Margolin says he likes working with wood for several reasons: It's easy to use, he can cut it using inexpensive tools, it's strong for its weight and it's beautiful. He also likes that wood is "linear in nature," but can easily be made into planes, such as plywood.

However, Margolin admits that making mechanical things with wood can be challenging, because wood is not "an abstract material, not homogeneous like aluminum." Its seasonal expansion and contraction can interfere with his sliding parts and pulleys.

Putting Wood in Motion

Many of Margolin's pieces have to be seen to be appreciated, and you can view short movies of his pieces and their motions at his web site: reubenmargolin.com.

'DOUBLE RAINDROP-PHOTOCOURTESYOF THE IXPIORATOR1UM

The Double Raindrop. Inspired by the pattern two raindrops make falling near each other in water, this piece contains more than 500pulleys and 3,000 feet of cable. The frame is made of salvaged fir and Baltic birch plywood, and the wave below it out of birch dowels and hand-cast lead weights.

76 ■ Popular Woodworking February 2009

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