West Seattle Summerfest featured something new this year called HackCycle in which old bikes are dismantled and cut, fitted, and welded into highly creative and unique new vehicles. It's the project of HazardFactory an Industrial Arts studio in South Park that as they put it "produces work in which risk and the artistic re-direction of technology are key components."

They created a human powered band saw, though for most of the cutting, power tools were used.

A full range of tools were provided for those taking part. The founder of HazardFactory Rusty Oliver whose title is Chief Executive Lunatic talked about how it got going. "A long time ago I stopped into an industrial arts collective in San Francisco and I was exposed to radioactive isotopes and welding fumes and as a result I went into hibernation for about six months. When I came out of that I found myself compelled to collect every metal working tool possible and create a band of disciples that would help to spread the metallurgical ways."

People were asked to donate old and unwanted bikes and the work on them continued into the evening resulting in some pretty remarkable combinations by these dedicated and talented metal workers. The public could get involved after signing a waiver to create bikes too but as Adam Hendsch of Hazard Factory and large signs on site proclaimed, doing this work is inherently risky. Even dressed in full safety gear, it's possible when dealing with grinding and welding metal to get a nick, cut or burn. Still, the lure of creating something unique has a powerful allure.

There were tandem bikes, tall bikes, bikes with carriages, mismatched wheels and high handle bars.
Those bikes made their way out into the crowds at Summerfest, wowing people as they passed.

To learn more about Hazard Factory, visit their website at www.hazardfactory.org.