Metal Sculpture & Carvings

Since there seems to be so much interest in how I carve the letters and runes in the various pieces I make, I thought I’d take some time to layout exactly how it’s done. Firstly, we need to get our tools sorted out. I use a light hammer that weighs just shy of a pound. A light hammer doesn’t fatigue you and maximizes your control. Remember, while we are technically cutting through the steel, we want to do it in a controlled matter that gives us the results we’re looking for. A big whallop with a ten-pound sledge will certainly make a dent in the metal, but maybe it’s not the best option. For chisels, I prefer to keep things simple. Asi…

A friend of mine has shown interest in my blacksmithing work and has commissioned a staff from me. Here it is. As you can see it is not so difficult, the grooves are 2mm deep and there are a total of 20, 10 a side, the patrons name will be in the center and their initials on the ends. It will be 2m long and 2cm wide. The entire length of the staff will have a hammered texture to it and I think it will look very nice. The only problem is it might weigh quite alot but my friend says he wants to use it for training so I look forward to making this. Thank you all for reading my posts I appreciate it very much. Fell free to drop any comments I look forward to them.

I have enjoyed John Lopez's work for some time, but recently found this sculpture online which I missed. I thought I would share it. It was unvieled at a previous Hugh Glass Rendezvous. You can read "The Saga of Hugh Glass" by Myers and it is very good and worth your time. There is a nice historical marker btw Here's a short history. https://hughglass.org/grizzly-attack/

Made a bunch of Jack-o-lanterns out of spent helium tanks. Made these before Halloween last year. The stem is forged down pipe, and then welded to the lid. Faces and lids are plasma cut. Helium tanks are much easier and safer to work with. Propane and refrigerant tanks need more care and precaution taken. Always make sure the tanks are fully emptied, and propane and refrigerant tanks be flushed out with soap and water. Hope these dont turn out too large of images, the editor was giving me errors so I couldn't edit them smaller. I'll try to edit after posting if the images are too big.

Can anyone tell me what this is. It was left to me by my grandfather. Any help would be appreciated

I work mostly with metal sculpture and small carvings, so I’m always interested in how metal parts are shaped, balanced, and finished. Recently, I began researching the design of a California legal handgun, primarily from an engineering and materials perspective. The amount of regulation actually reminded me a lot of designing art within strict constraints. I was chatting casually with someone at Desperate Measures Firearms while inquiring about metal finishes, and we ended up discussing how compliance rules influence design choices. That part was honestly more interesting to me…

I had an idea to use a rasp as the material to form a fish with scales. I'm curious if anyone has had any experience with spreading a rasp while minimizing the loss of scale texture. Watching some videos of people making cobras from a rasp, it looks like my best option is going to be spreading as much as possible from the edges and just accepting the loss of texture in those areas. I know I can shape in a wooden stump but that won't spread it. I'm looking to spread, if possible, while keeping as much texture as possible. Any ideas?

I have a job where I need to dish 12 gauge steel into rough depressions. I am making a 36" tall Buffalo. I have been doing it in the dirt with a sledge hammer. It works but is slow going. i am wondering about a small electric jack hammer. I can stand over the steel with the hammer and drive the steel into the depression dug into the dirt. The jack hammer has 60 joules of force. I think that is a lot less than swinging a sledge but at 1900 BPM I think it will work and be easier for me. I have attached a pic of the model that I made which is 6" tall. It was mostly done with a ball pein, First textured the outside and then created volume from the back. it is two piece…

build a checkers and a chessboard out of iron using bolts, washers, nuts and adaptable metal objects as pieces. Tips Hi, a friend of mine suggested I make an artistic chessboard and checkers using metal objects as pieces, such as washers, nuts, bolts, or similar adaptable objects. Any artistic suggestions? Thanks. https://macgyverisms.wonderhowto.com/how-to/make-macgyver-style-chess-set-using-just-nuts-bolts-0144591/

Trying to figure out how to make a cat head. Can't find any examples on the internet. So here is my attempt.

I leave you with this. Make of it what you will....

Copper, steel and brass. Wished I could have had a couple more heats on the face but ran out of time. I am pretty happy with it. Thanks for looking.

Hey guys. I hope this is in the right place, and I hope you don’t feel like I am simply here on this forum for you to solve my problems and act like a sounding board. But that is what this post is… My family and I currently live in North Central Kansas on a rock road on the property of the church I am a pastor of. At the end of our driveway are two reflectors marking the width of the driveway so when it snows and is dark out, people don’t drive into the ditch. The markers are plastic pvc pipe with a reflector on top placed over some rebar stuck in the ground. Early this spring someone hit a marker with the lawn mower and ever since, I have been dreaming of …

I’m looking for advice in joining small metal components, similar to the nut and bolt sculptures you see online (https://www.google.com/search?q=sculptures%20with%20nuts%20and%20bolts&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-m), but I’m using some slightly larger components e.g. hinges, brackets etc. The components are steel (not stainless), aluminium and brass. Some are old and corroded, others are brand new. Cost is starting to be an issue as I’ve had a number of failed tries. So far I’m limited to using a soldering iron and a butane blow torch, what I had available and what was low cost, have tried soldering (does not adhere), tried brazing (cannot get a hi…

Not much to say. Found some black screws hopefully it won't be to much of an eyesore.

I hope you have a great and safe one.

Copper and steel. I am real happy with it. He appears to have disdain for the rising sun.. Here is the back side if anyone is interested. Lots of fun and thanks for looking.

Rhino head, not many pictures of the process. And I will be making some sort of a backplate. Second horn (more of a hint of a horn) is a bit squished, no way around it.

My daughter is a member of the Tucson Audubon Society and I wanted to replicate their logo in copper. I think it came out okay and I know she will love it. Thanks for looking. this is the logo and flycatcher

Last year I welded up this portrait. It's made from recycled knockouts If any of you would like to give it a vote https://sculpturewalksiouxfalls.com/vote/ it;s #54 thanks can't seem to insert a photo darn.

Currently working on this beastie. Not sure what to call it other than beastie. The horns are car hood hinges, and that is where the idea originated as horns. Couldn't decide if I liked the up horns or down horns so why not both. It will be a goaty/dragony creature with a humanoid body I think. So far the spring neck makes the head pretty animated. The length I clamp in the vise determines it based on the weight so I have to finish the head first to know where to cut the spring. No one really knows or could understand that I've been in a "writers block" as far as creating anything goes. I have ideas constantly but can't get moving on anything for reasons…

I made a fish asked for by a family member, as seen on the internet. It was a whimsical thing but I keep seeing a piranha.

Steel brass and copper. 20” tip to tip 16 gauge steel flame colored blue, about the same gauge brass -tried the leave it yellow but found out about de-zincing when I used acid to clean the brass and left it a bit rose colored. 22 gauge copper also flame colored. 1/8” x 1/2” ring left natural. I am real happy with it and cant wait to do another. here is the back side. I used my new plasma cutter, welder and rivet header to good effect. 42 total rivets. Super fun to make. thanks for looking :-)

A wedding gift for my buddy B. Hart and his lovely bride to be. I think it should go on the cake. For a bit of humor, I pointed put that my bud is a bit on the heavy side. He will get it :-) thanks for looking.

My welding is the worst so I need to clean it up a bit but pretty happy with it. Thanks for looking.