Introduction: Screw Bowl - a Bowl Made From Screws

About: Hello, my name is Toglefritz. That’s obviously not my real name; my real name is Scott, but on the Internet I use the nom de plume, Toglefritz. I like to make things and I like to share my work with others. I …
Do you have extra screws laying around your shop?

Would you like to have a very stylish bowl to impress your friends/family at parties or other social gatherings?

Are you bored?


If you answered yes to any of the above questions, this Instructable is for you.  Watch the video on Step 2 or read the more in-depth written instructions that follow it and you will soon know how to create your very own artistic bowl made from screws.  Show off your bowl at any get-together or just stare at it and bask in your own creative brilliance. 

Step 1: Supplies

The following supplies are necessary to make the Screw Bowl, although, as is always the case with Instructables, feel free to experiment.

Supplies:
  • Lots of Screws  I used 105 screws in my bowl that I had left over from a             building project.  If possible, use two or three (or more) types of screws, this gives the bowl a more interesting look.  I advice using galvanized screws if possible because their rougher texture lends itself to bonding with the glue better than regular screws.
  • Gorilla Super Glue (or hot glue for faster, but slightly less professional, results)
  • A Non-Screw Bowl the same size you wish the Screw Bowl to be
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Optional:  High Gloss, Clear-Coat Spray Finish (if you want the Screw Bowl to be shiny)
  • Optional (but recommended):  Acetone which will soften the Gorilla Super Glue in case you glue any of your body parts together or glue screws to your fingers

Step 2: Screw Bowl - the Movie

Flash Animation

Step 3: Prepare to Make the Screw Bowl

Before we start gluing, we need to prepare the non-screw bowl for its role as a mold for the screw version and set-up our work area.  First, place the bowl open-side down on your work surface, wrap aluminum foil around the bowl and then tuck it under the rim.  Next, place your screws and glue nearby.  Finally, place a supply of acetone close to your work area; if you glue your fingers together, quickly soak the newly attached digits in the acetone and slowly ease them apart.  If you try to separate your fingers without acetone, you stand a chance of loosing some of your skin.

Step 4: Start Gluing Screws Together

Starting with the top of the bowl (previously the bottom) start gluing screws together.  Attempts to assemble the screws in a random configuration by changing the angles, the points at which screws are glued together, the spacing, the number of screws attached to any given screw, et cetera.  Each time a new connection is made with glue, hole the screws together for at least 30 seconds.  Be careful not to glue any screws to the aluminum foil. 
Make sure to create a nice heavy base before attempting to start down the sides of the mold otherwise, the weight could pull the unfinished Screw Bowl so that it would no longer be centered on the mold, leading to a wobbly, unsymmetrical finished product.

Step 5: Continue Gluing Screws

After a heavy base has been assembled on top of the mold, begin extending the mesh of screws down the sides of the mold.  Start by gluing one screw down the mold's side and branch off of this screw in a random pattern with more screws. 
If you plan to use this bowl to serve food (and you should, it is a hit at every party I bring it to), try not to have any screws with their pointy ends protruding above the rim of the Screw Bowl; people will not appreciate your artistic prowess nearly so much if it hurts them. 

Step 6: Remove the Screw Bowl From the Mold

In order to remove the Screw Bowl from the mold, first invert the entire assembly and place it back on your work surface.  Then, lift out the non-screw bowl.  Next, lift out the aluminum foil; if you were carefully with your gluing, the foil should just lift straight out.  If the foil sticks in a few places just carefully tear the foil off the problem spots.  Try not to put too much pressure on the Screw Bowl itself or you could dislodge screws.

Step 7: Congratulations


Congratulations, you are now the proud owner of a Screw Bowl.  Show it off at parties, or just marvel at it.  This is a bowl truly befitting an Instructables member.