Dillon Sculpture

I use Moo cards, they are a premium card but for me it is better promotion for my work. With a different image on each card I have a mini portfolio! How many customers do I get through cards? Not many... I do feel any image of my work out there is an advantage.

Not a percentage, but overhead should be in proportion to your market, right? Obviously the lower the overhead the more profit, more profit, more growth, more overhead, what then? Better your market! Where is your best potential for income? I think that is the larger question than overhead... Having been in the architectural business for over 20 years I have seen glory and destitution. I then sought out work that is fulfilling but without much profit, so my overhead had to decrease to very little. I have been patient and spent many hours of research to find my market, one I feel has the most potential for profit and fulfillment. 

Having one the largest and best equipped shops, one would hope to have the larger a more demanding jobs to support it.  Larry, I think you are one of the most creative and hard working smiths I have met. Following your work I have had a hard time understanding why other work besides industrial smithing has not been more accessible? It seems any large metro should have many jobs in entertainment and restaurant business- props, interiors, signage, sculpture, fountains, cars, motorcycles, etc. Maybe the market in Seattle is flooded with artisans as well? I can defiantly see your shop as a premiere artisans studio where anything could be possible and profitable! I really am pulling for you as well as the rest of your friends here are, we all wish you success.

Michael

I would love to see Mr. Evans set up along with all the other stuff he does! I used the Johnson 133 (big one) to forge parts of my sculpture Aileron, 3" x 8" x 20" plate never felt like it could reach a good forging temp. I also forge 5" round in my 6 burner with little room around the material, it was not practical either. I think this will have the extra BTUs needed to get the 6" hot in 45-60 minutes. I'm pretty surprised I didn't get any offers to run the big hammer!  :P

Yep thats the plan, the pics are of them both on for 8 minutes round about. Wasn't sure if the forced air would influence the NC burners...

250 gal. tank, I just hope gasification will happen quick enough, if need be a second tank should do the trick! I do like the idea of an air curtain, I am working on moving all my forges outside undercover which will help. If the test run goes well I will build a larger platform to stack wider and taller. I'm sure more combustion space for the big stuff will help and it will be nice to have a configurable forge. Trying to figure what I can forge with a limited crew is the problem at hand, anybody want to run a steam hammer! 

Wow! Thanks for the tutorial, I've got to give that a go.

Killer Monster... Love the new touch mark as well!

Well I figured I would give it a try... The pic of the inside is after 8 minutes of fire. I will eventually build a support for the top that will raise and lower independently. Hoping I'm around 800,000 1,000,000 BTU to forge some 6" square B)

Thug

Just making a bit of bacon :P  

Thanks Dodge, cool piece looks fabricated not poured. I'm working my way up to 15 ton of bronze! 

Those Bradley helve hammers still laying around? 

Thanks Matt, I lacquered the benches.

I guess thats the point of my post. This was my first job after finishing Ascension, a pretty major commission. I don't normally turn away work if it fits my time schedule and I can make a profit. This job had to be cost effective for the client so it was just another challenge to be creative with the material and the process.

I am not sure why you would assume this. I have also seen hammers' anvils made from train car axle. The big heavy (5", 6" diameter?) shaft the wheels are attached to. Makes, IMHO, the finest solid anvil. Its heavy (much heavier than rail), its round, and good quality steel. They are available (as one suggested) at railroad shops as they are routinely changed out as necessary and sold as scrap. I've even seen it turned into sculpture (Probably not done on a home made hammer LOL) OTOH, I could be completely wrong but as Rich Hale pointed out, the OP hasn't been back in 2 years to confirm or deny ;)

Hey Dodge, where did you find that image? I saw some stuff like that in Omaha near the Bemis but have not figured out who forged them.

Quick build for Peach & the Porkchop (slightly north of south)

The gates have self closing hinge to keep them rolling through and I left the pig tail rivet a bit loose to give the kids something to play with :D

Also built some seating for the wait to feast, fabricated from two 3/8" x 6" angle (rolled lintels) someone had junked. They just need a pig skinned cushion!

Cost effective doesn't have to be boring...

Your the best! B)

Wow John, Im dumbfounded... 

I talked to the guy selling it and he currently wants 3500 for it. He does not know the last time it was ran but figures it was about 15 years ago.

Fair but on the high side, maybe do some dickering. 

I am surprised they shipped it with the ram on? If that piston gets bent your in a heap of dodo...

All you need is a big hole and little bit of crete, you can do it!

Thats what I figure BPM for my 800 at, maybe a bit faster @ 100 psi  :blink:  Hope you wear some clean undies when you crank that Bradley up to 200 BPM Patrick! Be sure to have the camera on you front side :lol:

Thanks for the compliments! You all are making me feel old with the Mr Dillon though...

Next sculpture up- big forge for some 6" billet, cant wait!

I've been working on this one a spell... The city of Duluth wanted to keep the project under cover until the unveil so here is the finished sculpture. Also a link for a bit more in depth look at the construction.

Thanks,

Michael

http://dillonforge.com/component/easyblog/entry/public-sculpture-ascension?Itemid=435

Very cool! I'd like to see a red one.

I seem to be stuck on wings...

Suhner or Klingspor

I use 2x72" 36 and 50 grit mostly for heavy stock removal to scotch brite for finishing bronze.

Depends what your grinding wood, metal, stone?