Dillon Sculpture

Will it become Omniversable?

Pretty cool! Looks undetectable by radar... :D

If you do enough of them you won't need one and you would have many appreciative friends :D

What he said...

You can work all the way around my 500lb. Bradley but it does not require a driver either. Still no pictures... <_<

Great work Dale, thanks for posting. Is the Bradley a 200 and what is that little air hammer?

Are you keeping track of how many shoes you have used? ^_^ I really like the flexible joints, at what point do you lock them in? Have you ever used kinetic motion in the finished work (motor, wind driven)?

Making any progress Woody? I'm almost over the top of the paying work, time to play soon...

Inspiring work indeed, can't wait to see it finished. I have been involved in memorial ironwork, it has allowed me to remember the person with others through my work, physically showing the immense love we have for that person. Thanks for sharing Larry.

Thanks Andrew, it is a commissioned work. I gave them a few options, cast a copy in bronze, fabricate a piece inspired by the original in bronze and replicate the original in steel close to the original as I can. I was hoping to build a Dillon but I'm appreciative for the work and I have learned a bit along the way. I am looking to do more sheet work and am stoked about my new tool. The new direction of cutting plate in house has inspired many ideas, preforming 2"-4" plate for forging has become ingrained on my brain :P :D B) :ph34r:

Tongs for 4" billet I hope, Stelco didn't do anything small... Pictures please!

Every shop needs a motorcycle lift, 100 ton press and a platen table... Looks like good fun!

Its kinda hard the way I've tooled up and all B) Maybe when a wear out a bit more.

Share away! As a matter of fact I just started sculpting the figure in clay, broadening my senses...

Nope, I guess that is an advantage of the computer, I like the directness to material it offers though, the by hand gesture of the line.

I picked up the tracer for $600 off Craigs :rolleyes: I hate computers! It is an amazing tool but you have to babysit it. I have a hydraulic tracer mill as well, I don't think you will ever turn me... Good to hear your at it Mac! Stop in when your in the state.

Sure why not, this sculpture is a remake of an original fiberglass that lasted 15 years. Building this new one from 3/16" plate has been pretty straight forward, cut, shape and weld. Finally got my optical tracer up and running which was a big advantage. I laid out what sections I wanted, made a rubbing of the edge and then trace them on a new sheet of paper with a sharpie. The tracer does exactly that, follows any line you draw cutting the shape. I bought a small solenoid to control the plasma cutter automatically. Wow! this may open some doors... Most of the shapes I was able to roll but the front had a reverse curve and took a bit of time to figure. I made a sandwich die for the 100 ton press to give me a start then stretched the edges, again under the press. I may have to build me a hydraulic wheeling machine in the near future...

No problem, keep us updated I would be interested in pictures of the work at hand.

These are both open dies, bottom one has the closed sides. I forged 3/4" x 2" x 48" to make the cap, drawn out over 5' and the brackets. Sorry its hard to to see the top :( Its on my website. The top one open sides to forge in 1" round, much smaller section. I would agree to just send it through the opposite way, may even be able to do it cold.

Closed sides? If not it will probably always curl to one side or the other. I forged a pretty hefty section in bronze with closed sides, they didn't come out straight but neither was the job. I placed the bronze in a piece of pipe in the forge to even the heat.

Working John working, unfortunately not on the steam hammers... As you know being a one man operation, there is only so many hours in the day and bills need to be payed. The last hurdle is the forge as well.

Rusty, I have set and forgot mine, it is on 5. The 500 is a different beast though, I would find it helpful in fine control if you had the need. I have some real good literature from Bradley PM I'll get you what I have. Setting the point of impact is more important in my mind. bradley.pdf bradley,.pdf

Right on! Sweet sword great presentation :D I wish they would have shown more of the shop :(

Would you ever consider sheet metal work under one? Thumbnail die...

Good to see your doing well Mark, hope you have a speedy recovery. I have always liked that hinge method but would be concerned about the pinch point of operation, I would hate for a small child to get a part snipped off. :(