this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2025
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Decided to make a sierpinski's tetrahedron as a first REAL project! I built a shitty angleiron workbench (with an old door ziptied onto it as the tabletop) before but I'm actually trying this time so it's different

170 welds completed so far crab-party !! So, only 346 left to go!!... doggirl-tears

This was a really good idea until I remembered how complex fractals are, like GIRL, DUH, fuck was I thinking hahaha

Its REALLY scuffed though, I'm talkin like using my stick welder to melt a half inch off the end off of the pieces I had precut to make it shorter so it will fit in the actual dimensions needed, I've been holding the smallest (~2") pieces with a wrench and holding it in place freehand. It's been a lot of fun so far, and I'm definitely improving as I go, I weld my welding stick to my stock way less often now, and achieve arc much more reliably too, which is cool to see my own progress within the project!

I hurt my shoulder a bit ago so I haven't been able to do much lately, but welding is pretty low impact in that I mostly just sit on a folding chair in my driveway next to my shitty workbench lol

Have some more views!

When it's done it'll look like this image I found on google

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My brother's place of employment did nuclear power plant maintenance. As such, all welds had to be x-rayed and certified. They hired a woman who had learned welding in the navy. The feeling artists must get when looking upon a Rembrandt or Matisse is the same feeling I had when seeing her weld beads. They were a work of art and typically on materials like SS or titanium.

[–] AOCapitulator@hexbear.net 11 points 1 week ago (2 children)
[–] QuillQuote@hexbear.net 15 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You're on the wrong website pardner deng-cowboy

[–] dat_math@hexbear.net 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

I'm not saying this to be an argumentative debate-bro, and it's been a long time since I've forgotten abstract algebra, let alone found myself able to quickly work these things out, but l think usually where there are equilateral triangles, there are hexagonal symmetries (in 2d and 3d spaces)

[–] AOCapitulator@hexbear.net 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

I'll grant you that there's a square there, but there are no hexagons on that thing, maybe you could make a hexagon out of one tho :U

[–] dat_math@hexbear.net 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

It's too late. I've already sloppily depicted my argument illustrating the flattening homomorphism between the tetrahedra and a hexagonal graph in multiple colors, without regard for anybody's eyes (apologies for the lack of scale)

[–] Nacarbac@hexbear.net 6 points 1 week ago

Sorry, but I have already depicted myself as the cool hexagonal graph, and you as the - also cool - tetrahedra.

[–] FunkyStuff@hexbear.net 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

What hexagonal symmetries mean is slightly different from a shape being made out of hexagons. If you were to take a hexagon and rotate it a certain amount or flip it you will end up back where you started. You can make a set of actions that keep the shape the same, that would look something like {60° rotation, 120° rotation, 180° rotation...}. That set is its symmetry group. If an object has hexagonal symmetries, it has the same set, so even if it looks nothing like a hexagon you would be able to do all the same things you'd do to a hexagon and keep it the same.

edit: source if you wanna learn more

[–] QuillQuote@hexbear.net 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)
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[–] BeamBrain@hexbear.net 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Oh shit Quill, been forever since I've seen you around. This is looking really cool and I hope to see it finished.

[–] QuillQuote@hexbear.net 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Hiii!!!! It's good to see you :D Thanks so much ^~ ^

never fear, I will definitely post updates!

[–] semioticbreakdown@hexbear.net 9 points 1 week ago
[–] Bronstein_Tardigrade@lemmygrad.ml 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I'm thinking, "Did you measure the door?"

[–] QuillQuote@hexbear.net 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Oh yeah its largest edge size is 18"

[–] QuillQuote@hexbear.net 7 points 1 week ago

Shoutout to my rug for co-starring in this post

[–] mathemachristian@hexbear.net 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That is so fricking cool!!! Do a rhombic dodecahedron next!!! jk haha unless...

[–] QuillQuote@hexbear.net 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

I very well might do a Menger Sponge to use as a table or stool or something, but that's a cool shape too! do you have a particular affinity for it?

Side note but I found it while googling just now and apparently this lady made this KICKASS origami menger sponge, holy shit

Photo looks weird tho, but I can't tell if bad 90s camera or editing happened

[–] mathemachristian@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago

Mengers sponge is really cool as well though. I like the rhombic dodecahedron because it has some nice mathematical properties like tesselation, symmetries, it retains a lot of the properties of a cube (since it's "made" from one) but isn't nearly as boring. I wonder if mengers sponge could be made with rhomic dodecahedra as wel... thinkin-lenin

[–] dat_math@hexbear.net 6 points 1 week ago
[–] Awoo@hexbear.net 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Cool but it's not a hexagon

EDIT: Should have known before posting that I am not an original person

[–] Nacarbac@hexbear.net 6 points 1 week ago (2 children)

...I keep saying I won't buy a cheap welder, then all these cool hobbyist comments. I don't have space. Wait till after I can build a big shed...

[–] TraschcanOfIdeology@hexbear.net 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You know what you can build the shed with? A welder.

[–] Nacarbac@hexbear.net 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Hmmm... you devil.

Welp, no choice but to watch five hours of shed-welding videos and gauge my chances of hilarious DIY accidents.

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[–] QuillQuote@hexbear.net 3 points 1 week ago

if you have a patch of grass you can put a folding table on within range of an outlet (mine is plugged into a long ass extension cord that is plugged in IN MY KITCHEN cause I don't have outside outlets) then you have the space!

[–] Hestia@hexbear.net 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That’s really neat! It’s been a while since I’ve welded, but I did go to school for it. If you have any welds you’re not fully satisfied with and want some constructive criticism, feel free to post some close up shots and I’ll do my best to help you out. (I also just like looking at welds)

I’m more familiar with MIG welding than stick, I ditched that shit as soon as I could. Props to ya for pulling this off with stick!

[–] QuillQuote@hexbear.net 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (15 children)

Thank you for the offer! I will definitely take you up on that once I get a chance to clean up the welds with a grinder to see how bad they actually are lol

I am REALLY looking to ditch stick also! I bought the CHEAPEST welder I could to see if I liked it and I do so definitely fuck this method lol

Could you recommend me a specific mig welder that's not super expensive but you know is quality? There's like 10000 different ones available and they all look like identical slop to me

[–] Hestia@hexbear.net 3 points 1 week ago

Honestly couldn’t help you with the shopping aspect of it, I’ve only really used the welders in my class or workplaces.

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[–] joaomarrom@hexbear.net 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Oh wow that's really cool! I'm going to start learning how to weld next month, but it's mostly as a support skill for my woodworking. Clamps specifically are insanely expensive where I live, so being able to make my own clamps from cheap flat iron bars will save me a preposterous amount of money in the long run. Your tetrahedron looks sick, way beyond the level of complexity I think I'll aim to achieve in welding lol congrats!

[–] QuillQuote@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

It is HUGELY useful with woodworking projects so far.

Plus, unlike when you glue wood stuff its instantly strong so whipping stuff together for even a jig or such can be really really fast, and super sturdy.

My next practical gambit here will be making some tools for myself, I've also been learning blacksmithing (I have an adorable little 20kg anvil and I turned a pressure cooker into a forge) but with my shoulder hurt I've been.... not blacksmithing for the time being :(

P.S. please share your design for your clams when you build them, I too could use more clams and I LOVE making shit instead of buying it if possible

[–] segfault11@hexbear.net 5 points 1 week ago
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[–] Carcharodonna@hexbear.net 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Nice work! I’ve always wanted to learn how to weld but never really had the chance. Maybe someday.

[–] QuillQuote@hexbear.net 5 points 1 week ago

Got everything I used for like 200$, not including the steel used, you definitely should if you get the chance!

[–] thelastaxolotl@hexbear.net 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Hello quillquote ralsei-wave

Very cool tetrahedron

[–] QuillQuote@hexbear.net 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Hello! Long time no see comrade!

Thank you very much :3

[–] john_brown@hexbear.net 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I've been holding the smallest (~2") pieces with a wrench and holding it in place freehand

a very cheap quality of life improvement here would be some welding magnets so you don't have to hold the work

[–] QuillQuote@hexbear.net 3 points 1 week ago

YO, THANK YOU

[–] CrawlMarks@hexbear.net 4 points 1 week ago
[–] UnityDevice@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

What sticks are you using?

[–] QuillQuote@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago

uhh, the blue ones!

[–] Infamousblt@hexbear.net 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

This is super cool.

Also welcome back

[–] CarbonScored@hexbear.net 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

This is some baller stuff, I'll join the sea of voices and say I also want to try out welding. Maaaybe I will if I can make something half this cool.

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[–] pierre_delecto@hexbear.net 3 points 1 week ago

that's awesome!

[–] cinnaa42@hexbear.net 2 points 1 week ago

love the triangle triangle, very cool

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