IanR

Handsome devil......Moony looks ok too I guess.

Thank you very much for your comments, much appreciated. Still no decision on the finish yet. Cheers Ian

A client asked for a gate with an espaliered tree design, just finished it today. There is a fair amount of mig welding in it so I decided to add some more traditional joinery by passing the ends of the branches through the side of the gate then wrapping them around, while this is not Horticulturally correct I think it adds another dimension to the piece It's at the finish stage now, the client wants matt black but I'm trying to convince her to have black patina lightly rubbed with fine steel wool to highlight the forge work then a clear coat of Permalac.Sorry about the picture quality I will try different light conditions to achieve some better images.

My son-in -law gave me a few car coil springs so I made him a bottle opener from a section of one of them.

This is a dragon hook I made for a friends son, for his school bag. He was most impressed.

I'm interested in watching the process Corin, but wont have the money for all the bits as I will probably want to make a two or three burner as we have talked about. But if you can bring a forklift tank, if available, I can get started on legs, a stand, cutting it open etc when I get home. I'm actually going to be in Picton on Saturday if that's easier, depending of course if one can be sourced that quick. Cheers Ian

Welcome to OZ Lee, hope you enjoy your time here and I'll catch up with you at Get Hammered.

Beth, that is gorgeous, really,really lovely. I'm jealous as!!!! I've been quiet lately and pieces like this really inspire me, thanks for sharing Cheers Ian

Dale, would it be possible to move the Get Hammered thread to Blacksmiths groups or something, it keeps getting swallowed up now that its been moved. This may help Aussies who dont know about it, those of us who do can click "follow this topic" at the top and be notified when somethings posted. Cheers Ian

Being a complete landlubber my thoughts are that it may be cast iron and possibly not suitable for hammering one.

I love it Beth, I think the texture on the petals looks fantastic. I wouldn't worry about the use of the welder, It's just another tool we use to increase our productivity, innit. It should not be be seen as something that lessens our creativity. Ian

Thanks for your comments guys, John B, the landscaper requested that the legs met at a triangle and the sphere sit flat on that. the spheres are actually plug or blind welded to a bar (20mm x 10mm) which bisects the triangle, this enabled the sphere to sit on top rather than in the triangle. Thanks for tip on the 8 into 3 doesn't go issue, I plan to have a bit of a play with that and get it sorted out in case I'm asked to do something similar. I still think even if it was a solid sphere the problem would still exist, I will do an experiment and take some photos. Cheers Ian

Thanks for all your kind words everyone and your insights and observations on art shows. I will definitely be entering next years show with renewed enthusiasm and a different outlook. Dave I managed to find a leaf photo I had taken earlier, I hope it shows enough detail. I also included a photo of the inside of the flower. The leaves were made from 16mm x 3mm flat ( the bottom leaves 16 x 5 ), the tip was tapered on edge to a short point and the base tapered to a width that would wrap half way around the flower stem, then the sides were spread one at a time on the edges of the anvil. Then the centre vein was chiseled in and the leaves given a slight roll using a v block and a cross pein with the base being hammered closed to a curve that fitted the stem. I then used the horn to get a slight curve on the tip and a few light taps here and there to give them a bit of character. The leaves were attached by filing a recess in the stem, which gave me enough area for good depth of weld, they were then welded on with a MIG, ground back with a flap disc and smoothed over with sandpaper. Cheers Ian

Thanks for your kind words Beth, if it doesn't sell while on exhibition my wife has claimed it, she loves it! Cheers Ian

Love the fireset Denise, a truely unique design in the world of firesets. It was great to meet you at "Get Hammered" last year, I really admired your workmanship and attention to detail. That must be very tenacious scale for it not to be removed with a twisted cup brush, I dont think it matters too much on this piece, although an artist is his /her own worst critic. I have just discovered this place http://barnes.com.au they have all sorts of sculpting supplies such as patinas, waxs and a wonderful product called Permalac, which is a clear lacquer which dries quickly to a tough weather resistent finish. Although expensive it is said to last 10 years, its website has some interesting case studies http://www.permalac.com/ . Barnes have a branch in Brisbane, still a long way from you but they do online as well. Cheers Ian

This, your paperweights and your trinket boxes all beautifully crafted. Thanks for sharing Cheers Ian

Thanks 781, I found out I didn't understand art either the day I took mine in. If only I had entered one like the guy who had two old cafe tables (by old I mean sidewalk rubbish collection old) with a half a log on top of each and called it "Brothers", I could have got a Highly Commended too. :)

Sounds good Phil, I will be watching for more news. PS thanks for the earlier comment, I certainly have sold things I've made, posted a couple of pics today. Cheers Ian

These are three tripods and an obelisk I made for a lanscaper. The curves on the spheres on top of the tripods were made in the fly press then welded and then dressed smooth. I had a problem with the spheres not so much in the attachment (they were blind welded from underneath) but in the positioning, because the landscaper wanted a triangle at the top of the tripod as opposed to to a point. When the spheres were positioned dead centre of the triangle the apex of the triangle was forward making the sphere look like it was sitting at the back. If you moved the sphere forward it would only accentuate the problem on the other two apexs. If they had 4 legs this would not have happened, in the end he just accepted them as they were. This may be something to watch if your ever asked to do something like this.

Heres a flower sculpture I entered in the districts art society indoor sculpture competition. Unfortunately I didn't do any good, seems it wasn't "arty' enough..Ha! Cheers Ian

Thanks for clearing that up Dale, I really look forward to "Get Hammered" and seeing the blokes. I also appreciate Glenn opening up his place for us and letting us use his equipment and learning from his experience. So it's all systems go for 3 great days in October :) Cheers Ian

Only have a name for one hammer, my 9 pound cross pein - "FBH".

Is it still for both professionals and amateurs? I'm hearing rumours to the contrary.

I dont think I missed something, but I dont think postleg's question was answered

Well said Grant, I see lots of items on Ebay here in Australia and it appears that the term "Antique" applies to anything made before 1999 :wacko: