J W Bennett

Nice Job on the mask, something the two of you will always remember. Well done on all fronts, John

I've been playing with copper the last week or so. I made a rose tonight. Copper rose with mild steel stem and leaves.

The ladel was shaped on my trunnion swedge block. But a stump or a modified piece of pipe with the lip rolled will work. I cut the pattern for the ladle bowl with the two spouts and then used a v-swage and a narrow cross peen to shape the spouts.

Forged these yesterday just to give them a try. The ladel bowls are 10 ga. and the handles are 3/8" square stock.

Been in a tool making mood the last few days. Started on a bowl adz today. I have made them from claw hammers and brick hammers but I wanted to forge one from scratch. This started out as 7" of 1-1/8" square disk axle. I am still undecided as to whether I should use a wooden handle or a metal one with wood grips riveted on so I can curve it to my liking. Any way it has a ways to go but I thought I'd throw it out here for comments/suggestions. I do have a couple of woodworkers/bowl choppers coming on Friday to critique it and help me refine it. John

I have a friend that is a woodworker and wanted a couple of holdfasts. I forged 4 plain ones out of 3/4" hot rolled round stock yesterday. They worked but I wanted to try forging an english holdfast. It is forged from 20" of 3/4" hot rolled round stock. We'll see which one she prefers.

Colleen, First bunch took about 4 hours, the branch maybe 3 hours. I forged another today about the same size in about 3 hours.

I got the first branch forged today, 32" long by 22" tall with 7 blossoms and 4 leaves. Leaves are forged from 3/8" sqaure, blossoms are cut from 10 ga. hand textured and formed. The branches are forged from 1/2" square stock. This one is flame colored and clear coated. Actual railing will be Antique bronze powder coat.

I used two different size spring swages.

Dave, Flower and stem..probably 20 minutes or so. The whole piece took about 4 hours total.

I have a client that wants dogwood blossoms incorporated in her railing. I forged these today to give her a better idea of the possibilities and me a good reference for time required. I have never done dogwood blossoms before. Blossoms are 10ga. stems are 1/4" round and the leaves are 3/8" square.

Finished this the other day, weather was nice so I took it outside to get some pictures. Vine is 3/4" mild steel, Grapes are 3/8" & 1/2" square mild steel, leaves are 14 ga. My first try at forging grapes, I usually just weld ball bearings together. I have to admit it's worth the extra effort in my opinion.

Bigfootnampa, I forged the end down until it cut in half, rounded it off...no welding needed. I am thinking about doing another and experimenting with a ball swage on the handle butt.

A client wanted a hand bell for her daughter, she just started teaching elementary school and wanted a bell for her desk. The bell is forged from 1-1/2" sch 40 pipe. The handle and Bell are one piece. Finished bell is 6" tall with brass finish and clear coat. Clapper is made from 2 pieces of 1/8" rod and a 3/4" steel ball. Ball was annealed then drilled 7/32 the rod inserted and then the two brazed together. The two rods were looped together the inserted in the handle and brazed. Fun project John