Metal Sculpture & Carvings

...and I want to replace it. The church I go to is in Kenner, Louisiana and about the only thing that separates our site from Lake Pontchartrain is a road and a pumping station. Every time a storm blows through we lose our sign. It was one of those aluminum/plastic laminate sheets in two sections that slides into a slot on the frame. We usually still have the empty frame, but I'm not sure about this time. I was told the sign is gone again, but not given any details. The sign is double-sided and sets perpendicular to the road. Due to ordinances passed since our original sign was built, we can't go any larger on the sign and if we were starting with a new sign today it woul…

A little quick sculpture I made for my daughters kindergarten teacher. She loves bees and I have seen variations on this type of thing. It was well recieved.

advice on construction of a DIY floor lamp in the shape of a stylized crane Hi, I had the unhealthy idea of building a DIY floor lamp in the style of a stylized construction crane to which to apply a spotlight or a lamp to use when necessary, but I don't know what measures to adopt and how to size it so that it is also functional, the arm it should be articulated to direct and direct the light beam where it needs to be illuminated, I had thought for the base of an old brake disc or a flywheel or a recovery gear of adequate dimensions for the upright in a style like a lattice structure for the arm crosspiece I don't know how to articulate and size it so that it is ple…

I named it so because it's head reminds me of a sperm whale. I suppose I should quit tormenting the forum with this stuff.

Heres my last face sculpture I will ever make. It's not much, but I don't mind. It remindes me of Peter Lorre for some reason.

This little guy is a few years old, but I still smile when I recall him standing on his own for the first time. As I worked on him I saw a Kokopelli-like fellow emerging but later on have begun to think he's also got a bit of a Mardi Gras flavor...who knows? There are so many neat sculptures shared here I wanted to add to the mix even if it is not recent. Some additional photos and thoughts written at the time I made him: https://www.fahnoetech.com/mr-k/ --Larry

A while back when recovering from full knee replacement surgery, I built this cane handle. After that it went replaced the shifter knob in my pick up truck.

This emerged from my scrap heap. I see many fine bird sculptures here, I hope there is room for another. It reminds me of some Rhode Island Reds I raised once. They were mean and ultimately tough to eat.

He lost his footing and the piton failed.

What elegance. What composition and workmanship. I feel I can only go downhill from this point. I shall throw all my tools into the sea and not be heard from ever again.

I guess this is the most appropriate topic for this. I still think we need a Historical Ironwork topic for old, non-blade, iron work, e.g. grates, hinges, locks, sculpture, etc.. Here is a link to an article on a 15th century prosthetic iron hand found in Bavaria: https://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/68609 I find it interesting that iron was the material of choice for prothetics, particularly non-articulated ones. If it was non-functional I would have thought that something like painted leather would have been a better choice. Maybe leather would not have been resistant enough for things like looping reins over it or holding down paper while writing. …

Not a lot of forging but it turned out pretty much like I wanted even though I’m not super happy with it. Thanks for looking.

Hello - Looking to hang a couple of lutes (the old pear-shaped guitars with the bend at the end of the neck). Could do something simple, but I'd like to get something more artistic (see the two photos). Some creative person could probably come up with something real cool. Anyone know anyone who might know someone? thanks - Rick

Hello, I’m hoping to get the forum’s opinion on how to achieve a certain effect in flat bar. I’ve recently been inspired by the work of Fred Crist. I‘ve attached a picture of the piece in question. I’m not planning to copy the work in its entirety but I do like the “folded” section he’s created. I’m racking my brain as to how to achieve this with any sort of cleanliness? Right now I’m thinking it might work to establish shallow fullers where I’d like the bends to happen, then with as even a heat as possible bend it into a lazy “WWW” shape. Then turn it on end and compress it from there? Id appreciate any feedback you guys have before I reach out …

He never did recover from the dreadful affair at Fawrnsworth Castle.

My senior party chief retires Thursday after 42 years with the company so I made him a little surveyor. He is one of the best field surveyors I have ever had the pleasure to work with and will be sorely missed, irreplaceable really. thanks for looking

I'm starting to work with sheet steel. I usually work in copper. I am dismayed at so few options for color patina in steel. Basically black, gray and rust color. As I am making flowers, I would love thoughts on how to add color and texture without spending hours trying to paint a masterpiece. Thoughts?

I'd like to make a forged sculpture of an ammonite, a "living" one, not a fossil. Not very big, 1" bar stock. I think I have all the details worked out, but am having trouble figuring out how to do the ridges on the shell, as they get progressively smaller. I'd post a picture but it's copywrited, I'm sure, so I'll put in a link to exactly what I want it to look like. I thought of hammering and chisels, edge of the anvil, etc.... but I want both sides identical. Any ideas would be appreciated.... Maybe I miss the obvious. https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RNaW48QkpnKqTo9WtrQ3WV.jpg

I’m hoping for some experienced pointers and points of view. Thanks in advance. Steel is the standard choice for armor. I fully get that. But what if I wanted to hammer up some decorative/fantasy/costume armor? Aluminum, copper, brass or other? With alumiweld and soldering instead of welding, any of these could be shaped and machined a bit more easily than steel, yes? Or am I off base? What do I not even know that I don’t know yet?

Made another jellyfish. Got the brace bits at the fleamarket recently and just had to make another one. I believe the first two I made I just posted in the "what did you do in the shop today" thread. I feel like the second one I made had the most "life" to it, but since it sold recently I needed a new one for the table. Little smaller than the last two. Saw blade dished out for the bell, old auger bits for the oral arms and heated and stretched springs for the tentacles.

hi, a friend of mine more bizarre than me would like to make a gate to close the garden in the countryside in the shape of a spider web, a sort of cobweb, he believes that with scrap iron he gets a unique and useful structure to block access to his farm. I wonder how I should do it, the loom is fine, but to baste the bars that will make up the spider's web, how do you advise me to do as I go? Do I make the frame with two doors with a rectangular door or do I really give it the convoluted shape of a spider's web? which bars do I use, smooth or shaped like concrete reinforcing bars, I have to find a solution that is easy to make, economical, robust and easy to install thank…

Here is a small chair I made for a likable grouch I once knew.

I have aged a bit though since making this one.

Good afternoon everyone! A bit of architectural forging from me.

Hi Everyone, I haven’t been around for a while, busy on farm but thought I would show my recent sculptures. Any moment of free time I try and get to the shed to get them done. Snake and Goanna where for my husband’s Christmas presents. The horses have helped me develop more muscle and the illusion of what they are. Horses! Hope you enjoy them, and hope you all had a great Christmas and will have a great year