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Piece 23 / 50Abstract2026 · Oakland, California

Boring Tool

16” x 10” x 8”Available · $1,800Kinetic · interactive
Boring Tool
TitleBoring Tool
Year2026
Dimensions16” x 10” x 8”
CategoryAbstract
StatusAvailable · $1,800
Made inOakland, California
The story
This absurd project is a vintage electric drill, painstakingly disassembled, cleaned, drilled almost out existence, then reassembled with internal LED lights.

A record player speed governor has been inserted in the chuck to provide visual feedback as the motor speed is adjusted on the dial.

Every element was found — scrap yards, second-hand stores, dumpsters — then cleaned, stripped, sorted and rebuilt. Found aluminum is TIG-welded and sanded seamless; nothing is cast. The electronics are salvaged from consumer devices, repaired and rewired so the piece does something when you touch it.

Boring Tool in motion
IN MOTION
Boring Tool · running2026
Parts list

What it used to be

Everything in this piece had a previous life. Nemo’s own inventory, in his words.

Electric drillmotor controllerspeed governorLEDsaluminumsteel
Boring Tool$1,800 · 1 in stockAcquire