Today, I’m stoked to share the Aussie-inspired adventure of crafting two identical diamonds. With our country’s emblem, the kangaroo, as the star, and a touch of post-processing magic, this DIY project had its fair share of twists and turns. Buckle up as I spill the details on my transparent journey, including some epic fails and what I’d do differently next time.

Step 1: I ‘roo’ strator design

First things first, I designed my diamond using a kangaroo design from The Noun Project. After I was happy with the dimensions of how it looked, I grabbed a 12 x 12 aluminum sheet and prepared for my diamonds to be cut.

Step 2: Waterjet Cutter

Now, the waterjet cutter experience didn’t go as swimmingly as I would’ve thought. On my first go, the cutter didn’t fully cut through the aluminum; it just etched the design. I thought it was to do with the water level or the distance between the nozzle and the aluminium sheet but after some tests, I figured out the nozzle was clogged. I tried to disassemble it but had no hope so it needed to be fixed by a lab TA.

After the waterjet cutter finally worked, here’s where things got a bit ‘roo-diculous. I was so happy that the waterjet cut through the metal that I forgot about where the holes below the aluminium sheet were. I watched my design fall into the water jet cutting machine immediately after opening the lid due to a sneaky hole beneath the aluminum sheet.

Step 3: Post-Processing Party

After cutting out another 2 pieces, it was time for post-processing. The post-processing techniques I chose were sandblasting, filing, sanding and spray painting. I spent around 30 minutes sandblasting, filing and sanding, getting rid of any scratches that came from the sharp edges scratching the surfaces of each diamond, and to smooth out the surfaces.

Once I was satisfied with the feel of the diamonds, I began spray painting. The first attempt at spray painting was uneven so I sprayed again, making the layers even thicker which is something that I should not have done and just left it as it is as the surface was still sticky even after leaving it over night.

Step 4: What Could’ve Been Done Better

I wish I started this project earlier. With the plenty of time we had, I could’ve avoided a few heart-skips.

Total Cost Breakdown:

• Aluminum Sheet: $11.47
• Red Paint: $6.48
• Blue Paint: $6.48
• Metal File: $7.99
• Water Jet Cutter: $12.00/hour * 3
• Sand Blaster: $45/hour * 1/4
• Graphic Designing: $19.02/hour * 1
• Personal Labor: $15/hour * 3
• Operating Sandblaster: $19.38/hour * 1/4
• Operating waterjet cutter: $15/hour * 1

Grand Total: $163.54

Conclusion

Crafting kangaroo-inspired diamonds turned out to be a wild ride! From waterjet hiccups to kangaroo plunges, this DIY journey was an absolute adventure.