| Sculptural metal fabrication and design services for custom architectural fixtures, artists, businesses, and others |
| About |
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Capabilities
Design
Metal fabrication
Custom illumination systems
Mold making
Glass work
Design
- CAD modeling and rendering
- Engineering
- Design consultation
Metal fabrication
- One-of-a-kind, prototyping, or volume production
- Welding (GTAW, GMAW, FCAW, SMAW, OFW)
- CAD/CAM integration
- laser & water jet cutting
- machining
- Foundry casting (bronze, aluminum, cast iron)
- ceramic shell investment
- sand casting
- Cold forming
- Finishing
Custom illumination systems
- neon
- LED
- halogen
- programmable controllers
- interactive sensors
Mold making
- Object reproduction
- Reduction or enlargement
- Life casting
Glass work
- casting
- slumping
- fusing
- neon tube bending
- cold working
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Buzz Voelker, sculptural fabricator and founder of Firewater Metal, lives and works
in the San Francisco Bay Area. Formerly a manager of software developers and
consultants, he left that career in 2001 to pursue a more creative and expressive
way of life. He has taught classes in welding and metal fabrication to hundreds
of students at The Crucible in Oakland, CA. Buzz holds bachelor's and master's
degrees in industrial engineering from Purdue University where his work focused
on computer-integrated manufacturing, computer graphics, and teaching.
Originally working with stone and water, his favorite medium is metal, typically
incorporating illumination by fire, neon, or LED as a primary aspect of the work.
Current works include the public Laurel District renovation project for the City of
Oakland and several private installations.
Buzz views art as a fundamental tool of self-exploration that can educate,
motivate, and illustrate personal change. His work with various performance
groups reflects this process of transformation, making visual art more directly
integral with the human element of the performing arts.
in the San Francisco Bay Area. Formerly a manager of software developers and
consultants, he left that career in 2001 to pursue a more creative and expressive
way of life. He has taught classes in welding and metal fabrication to hundreds
of students at The Crucible in Oakland, CA. Buzz holds bachelor's and master's
degrees in industrial engineering from Purdue University where his work focused
on computer-integrated manufacturing, computer graphics, and teaching.
Originally working with stone and water, his favorite medium is metal, typically
incorporating illumination by fire, neon, or LED as a primary aspect of the work.
Current works include the public Laurel District renovation project for the City of
Oakland and several private installations.
Buzz views art as a fundamental tool of self-exploration that can educate,
motivate, and illustrate personal change. His work with various performance
groups reflects this process of transformation, making visual art more directly
integral with the human element of the performing arts.
Materials
Metals
Polymers
Castables
Stone
Wood
Glass
Refractories
Composites
Metals
- aluminum
- stainless steel
- mild steel
- copper
- bronze
- iron
Polymers
- acrylics
- aramids (NomexTM, KevlarTM)
- PTFE - (TeflonTM)
- UHMWPE
Castables
- urethanes
- latex
- silicones
- alginates
- gypsum cements
Stone
Wood
Glass
Refractories
Composites
Mission
Firewater Metal exists to assist in the realization of unique, distinctive visions.
We provide sculptural-quality metal fabrication and design services for
custom architectural fixtures and fittings, designer furniture and lighting, and
other high quality furnishings.
Our clients include architects, businesses, cities, and home owners.
Firewater Metal exists to assist in the realization of unique, distinctive visions.
We provide sculptural-quality metal fabrication and design services for
custom architectural fixtures and fittings, designer furniture and lighting, and
other high quality furnishings.
Our clients include architects, businesses, cities, and home owners.
