My Tungsten Cube (2019) • Hacker News Board

Re: My Tungsten Cube (2019)

#81

Post by contravariant » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 8:06 PM UTC

oxfeed65261 wrote: post #43

tshaddox wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ring avulsion is pretty scary too, and can happen with any metal ring.

I had to look this up: ‘Ring avulsion happens when a ring on one of your fingers is caught on an object and gets yanked off suddenly and rapidly. The force and pressure of the ring being pulled can strip off and damage finger tissues, including muscles, tendons, and bones. This is called “degloving.”‘ https://www.healthline.com/health/ring-avulsion

Ah, thanks, those are the kind of search queries that I'm somewhat apprehensive about. Especially with search engines that think it's a good idea to immediately show you images if they think you're searching for something visual.

Thankfully the article you linked doesn't contain any images.

Re: My Tungsten Cube (2019)

#82

Post by ghostbrainalpha » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 8:06 PM UTC

dekhn wrote: post #39

i bought a CNC so I could make my own cubes. It's very nice. I often make objects just so I can hold them later.

Wait.... are you being sarcastic?

Or did you really spend $5,000 on a machine for your hobby of making cubes just so you can hold them?

If you are serious, I think we could be friends. Maybe I should make a subreddit for people like us?

Re: My Tungsten Cube (2019)

#83

Post by tshaddox » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 8:09 PM UTC

xupybd wrote: post #71

tshaddox wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ring avulsion is pretty scary too, and can happen with any metal ring.

Yeah my work mate wears a silicone band at work after almost losing a finger. I still wear my gold band but am rethinking it.

The silicone bands are pretty popular in the “outdoors” community too (hiking, rock climbing, etc.)

Re: My Tungsten Cube (2019)

#84

Post by _2d30 » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 8:10 PM UTC

lxe wrote: post #77

I hope I'm not too late to the cube measuring party. My friend gave me the 4 inch one for my birthday, and it's been a source of constant amazement ever since: https://midwesttungsten.com/tungsten-cube/?sku=40400-03914B&... It weighs over 40 lbs and it's almost impossible to lift with one hand. I haven't smashed anything with it yet

Generous friend at $3K!

Re: My Tungsten Cube (2019)

#85

Post by kindall » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 8:11 PM UTC

mensetmanusman wrote: post #63

modeless wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How about the 4" 40 pound $2,999 one? > WHY? We thought nobody would buy our 17.6lb, 3" tungsten cube. We were so, so wrong

Once it gets large enough, it will end up at MOMA.

Imagine how much a really big cube of tungsten would weigh. Installing it at MOMA would itself be the art.

Re: My Tungsten Cube (2019)

#86

Post by Bud » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 8:13 PM UTC

My wedding ring is tungsten; my wife and I decided to go with, shall we say, non-standard metals for our wedding bands to keep the costs down. I got her the usual gold/diamond sort of ring for engagement. We figured we could always get platinum or gold rings later.

I've found that I really love it, and now we may not replace mine at all. It's hilariously heavy and has a nice brushed finish.

Re: My Tungsten Cube (2019)

#87

Post by btgeekboy » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 8:13 PM UTC

ryandrake wrote: post #10

One excellent application of a block of tungsten is as a bucking bar for metal riveting. Due to its density, tungsten bars can be much smaller than steel ones, easily fitting into your hand, and fitting into tight spaces. I’ve got a number of tungsten bars and use them almost 100% over my steel bars.

Definitely. The only time I grab one of the steel bars is when it’s in a particular shape that I don’t have in Tungsten.

Re: My Tungsten Cube (2019)

#88

Post by dharmab » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 8:13 PM UTC

devindotcom wrote: post #23

Cool cube and I want one. But a metalworking friend of mine warned against getting a ring made out of tungsten. Apparently a climber had one on and broke his ring finger, and the EMTs couldn't get the ring off because the finger had swollen and they couldn't cut the ring due to the strength of the metal. They ended up having to amputate and re-attach the finger (much longer and it would have had to be amputated anywa…

This sounds like an urban legend. "Ring cracker" tools are widely available, and can be improvised from common tools.

Re: My Tungsten Cube (2019)

#89

Post by jacquesm » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 8:14 PM UTC

Bud wrote: post #86

My wedding ring is tungsten; my wife and I decided to go with, shall we say, non-standard metals for our wedding bands to keep the costs down. I got her the usual gold/diamond sort of ring for engagement. We figured we could always get platinum or gold rings later. I've found that I really love it, and now we may not replace mine at all. It's hilariously heavy and has a nice brushed finish.

Good luck cutting it off in an emergency.

Re: My Tungsten Cube (2019)

#90

Post by frankus » Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 8:16 PM UTC

Tungsten is about the only minimally-hazardous substance I could find that could max out the 70-pound weight limit on a (US) Priority Mail flat-rate envelope, but that would be an expensive stunt.