mark wilson celebrates the sheer power and ferocity of water with kanagawa blade

mark wilson celebrates the sheer power and ferocity of water with kanagawa blade
(above) the project exploits CNC machine defects
all images courtesy of mark wilson

design: waterjet manufacturing is a CNC machining process that uses a high-pressure stream of water to quickly erode and cut materials. as the water carves its way into the material, it quickly loses pressure and consequently precision. new zealand-based designer mark wilson has exploited this defect to forge hardox steel into the ‘kanagawa blade’, resulting in small, irregular corrugations along the edge of the material. these outcomes can be exaggerated or minimized by manipulating the feed rate of the waterjet stream.

outcomes can be exaggerated or minimized by manipulating the feed rate of the waterjet stream

the ‘kanagawa blade’ is formed through the undeniable beauty of mathematical precision and mechanical creation, only to reveal its machine creator’s faults. emphasized with a clean, geometric handle, the blade speculates on what we perceive as ideal. as precision is criticized for its inaccuracy, the undesired becomes desirable. if nature is perfect in its imperfection, then is the digitally created imperfect for its perfection?

emphasized with a clean, geometric handle, the blade speculates on what we perceive as ideal

the edge of the blade is formed at the intersection of just two linear waterjet cuts made with an increased feed rate. a kind of deconstructive interference creates an incongruent serration in the steel, exaggerated by the more prominent trail back. the ‘kanagawa blade’ celebrates the sheer power and ferocity of water. its form references the clawed waves depictions of hokusai’s great wave off kanagawa, which instilled fear and terror in those who witnessed its magnificent power. water from the waterjet machine is able to slice through one of the hardest and toughest steel composites in the world, hardox steel. with just two computer numerically controlled (CNC) cuts, an unreplicable corrugation in the steel is formed.

the edge of the blade is formed at the intersection of just two linear waterjet cuts made with an increased feed rate

a kind of deconstructive interference creates an incongruent serration in the steel

water from the waterjet machine is able to slice through one of the hardest and toughest steel composites

its form references the clawed waves depictions of hokusai’s great wave off kanagawa

stock

sample 

waterjet machine

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: juliana neira | designboom