How to Make a Mobile - 5 Tips for Cutting Blades | Mark Leary Designs

In today's video mobile-making tip, you’ll score 5 tips for cutting metal blades … without ripples, ridges, puckers, bends, or dents.
Each of these tips is easy to follow, but the key to cutting out “wrinkle-free” blades is practice, practice, practice.
Cheers and keep on making art that moves!
Got a mobile-making question?
Feel free to shoot me a message, then keep tuned to see your questions answered here.
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www.marklearyde...
www.mobilosity.net

[@64maxpower]

I like using compound snips red or green handles depending the turns I need to make And your tips are great

[@marklearydesigns]

Love that! I used to use the same, but always got confused as to which direction I was turning - lol!

[@carlasmith2105]

Hmmm, never wanted to make a mobile but ran across this channel by accident. Sigh, now I want to make one. Do you have a list of where to get the metal, what gauge, wire/gauge etc? Thanks for tips.

[@marklearydesigns]

Hi Carla! So happy to hear you're catching the mobile-making bug. If you scan the comments and responses in my video (kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaiXc3ucqqZqrdU), you can piece together a good list of supplies there. I'll work on putting together a quick supplies video in the next few days, too. Keep your eyes out for it!

[@ldpaula]

Hi Mark. I'm practicing, watching your videos a lot. They are very very good! I have a question: how do you make those cuts inside the blades? they are like big holes that go inside some pieces. I imagine it's to increase aerodynamics. Some Calder's pieces have this type of cut, for example, The Antennae with Red and Blue Dots. And yours too, like The Classic Mobile, which has two blades like these, I think. In the video, you don't explain this, so if you could help me about it, I would be grateful! :) Thanks a lot!

[@marklearydesigns]

Hi Leandro! So fun to see your progress on Instagram, and glad to hear my videos are helping. I make those holes with magic - kidding! A drill and a Dremel are the secret :)

[@miriamadriana9441]

Gracias,por compartir tus conocimientos🙏

[@marklearydesigns]

De nada!

[@NanaPessoa777]

thanks mark!

[@Michael1Js]

And I used to like a groovy roll! Especially in sushi! Good tips!

[@lauragaylephillips7165]

Hey Mark, what gauge is that sheet metal are you working with in this video? I’m having a time finding thinner sheet metal- I purchased new tin snips and the metal is have is still way too thick! I’m a novice, clearly. Thanks! LG

[@marklearydesigns]

Hi Laura! A great place to look is your local big box home improvement store. Head to the HVAC aisle and see if there are any rectangles there that are thin enough to work with. Alternately, the roofing aisle might have some even thinner options. As for this video, I'm guessing it was a 28- to 30-gauge metal. Happy making!

[@lauragaylephillips7165]

@@marklearydesigns Thank you! The sheet I started with was a 22 gauge- even with new Tin snips, it killed my hands cutting and had those wonky edges.. but no worries- I hammered the Nellyolsen out of each blade to create texture and a somewhat concave shape. Both of the first mobiles looked great, regardless, but I don’t want to go through that pain again. I’m going to the Home Depot today- there’s aluminum flashing that is 30 gauge, and perhaps this will suffice. 😊

[@Noor-pl4ij]

Thank you so much for wonderful video instruction. I have been making mobiles using objects... and would like to move on to metal. 2.5 questions :-) ; In one video you show to use a file for where the wire is cut. Does one also smooth the metal edge so it is not a cutting blade (using the file/paper)? Does this change depending on the gauge of the metal? and also does the metal need to primed before painting? It looks like the answer is no but would like to confirm. I hope you are doing well and will post more! -- All best.

[@marklearydesigns]

Hi and thanks so much for your questions! It's so exciting to hear you've been making found-object mobiles - too cool! Great questions, btw, and 1) yes, I use a belt sander and a hand sander to get the edges of my pieces just right - sanding away any shards, rough spots, or imperfections and also getting the metal ready for paint. That leads in to your second question: Yes, I do actually prime the metal. It's probably not essential, but it's step I've always taken. For me, it's sand the metal, then prime it, then paint. I'd love to see some of your work, so please feel free to share!

[@Noor-pl4ij]

@@marklearydesigns thank you for your reply and the information. I will try try to send a photo. Should you ever decide to lead a workshop, please add me to the list, Im ready!

[@marklearydesigns]

@@Noor-pl4ij thanks so much and can't wait to see what you create! And roger that on the workshop - will do!

[@elenamir4835]

Hi! Please, I would like to know how many milimeters of thickness has the metal? And how many mm has the wire? Thanks!

[@marklearydesigns]

Hi Elena and thanks so much for your message. For most of my smaller mobiles I use anywhere from 27-30 gauge metal, and for my wire, I'll use 12, 14, or 16 gauge wire. Feel free to let me know if you have any other questions!

[@elenamir4835]

mark leary Thanks for your answer!! But your measures are in centimeters? Thanks and I forgot tell you thanks for the great videos you made about kinetic mobiles, are awesome! Many thanks!!! ❤️

[@marklearydesigns]

Hi @@elenamir4835! The cool thing is that "gauge" is a universal number for wire and sheet metal. For example, 28 gauge sheet metal equals .0149 inches and .378 mm. So, you'll likely find the same is true where you live as well. If not, you can find converters here: www.engineeringtoolbox.com/amp/awg-wire-gauge-d_731.html www.metalsupermarkets.com/sheet-metal-gauge-chart/

[@elenamir4835]

mark leary Ok! I’m from Spain and the measures here are in mm, here don’t have inches or gauge... so I find it that we have measures like: 0.3, 0.4, 0.5mm... a lot of thanks!!! ❤️