Solar Metal Smelter

Many fabrication processes are extremely energy consuming. Moreover, the equipment does not spark a creative impulse. With a passion for high-quality tools that are fun to work with, Jelle Seegers set out to design a production line that drastically lowers our footprint, using nothing but the sun, wind, or muscle power as its energy source. The ‘Solar Metal Smelter’ is his pièce the résistance: this huge magnifying glass creates a powerful focal point that, on a sunny day, makes metal melt. Cast in a sand mould, the hot substance is transformed into machine parts for a foot-driven grinder in an off-grid practice. Sharpening any hand tool to the max makes it much easier to follow his lead.