4JS

Thank you I appreciate the compliment

Biggundoctor maybe on the next ones but I'll have to name me some tools for that first!

So it seems a courting candle should have a moveable holder within the helix and the spirals should be almost completely horizontal at points to maintain the height of the candle. I also just just found this while researching a courting candles origins But Henry Prebys, curator of domestic life at the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Michigan, says the term courting candle is more folklore than fact. The Chicago Tribune debunks this legend nicely in a June 28, 1998 article, so I’ll quote: Although the candleholder indeed may have been used as a time-keeper for suitors, it was not intentionally made for that purpose. Origin: The candleholder with its spiral shape was popular in Germany before being introduced to the American Colonies by the early Pennsylvania-German settlers. According to Prebys, the appeal of the spiral shape was its practicality. The candle easily could be twisted into the holder. If the candle was soft, the shape of the holder prevented it from falling over. A slide connected to the holder also helped move the candle up or down, thus utilizing as much of the candle as possible. This was important because candles were costly. Prebys notes that candles were not the preferred source of lighting during the Colonial period because of their cost. Most households used fat lamps, small dishes containing fat or oil and a wick. Fat lamps were more practical and far less costly than candles. Prebys explains that candles were expensive because they required certain skills to make and were labor-intensive and time-consuming.

When I was making them the initial concept for me was something in say a witches shop so to speak. To almost make look as though they could come alive and walk away so to speak. No no too good at forge welding only tried it a couple times so far and it didn't come out very well. I have done it on a fire poker once with some success. It's a learning process for me that I've been doing by trial and error with the help of the forum, books and YouTube. Had no clue what a courting candle was until I saw it mentioned in the replies I actually had to google them to see what they were. i used the helix as the cup and seems to have a nice effect on the lighting as the candle burns down honestly. What are courting candles traditionally for and what's the significance of the helix with them?

Thank you I seem to like making things that have an almost organic/modern flow to them. Where there's slight chaos with the piece. When I started making them the two you are speaking of are the second and third. When I make others I'm going to play with forging a small cup or bowl so to speak at the bottom of the spiral. Yes I forged out the legs them welded them to the spiral. I couldn't figure out a time effective way to forge it out of one solid piece. I was thinking I could weld on metal at the base then split it to forge out the legs and feet. i like the idea of doing a scroll for the feet or even the legs entirey. I may try that on the next ones that I do.

Thank you guys very much what would you all recommend for the legs Thank you frosty I appreciate the feed back. What would your recommendations be for the legs? Also I planned on keeping these and not selling them. Just wondering what something like these would go for price wise. I seldom sell anything unless somebody asks me to make something, mostly coat racks and such. Usually just ask enough to cover my fuel costs material and enough to buy me some more material since im just learning.

Just completed these thoughts, suggestions and critiques please. Also how much do you guys think I should charge for these if I were to sell them. they take me about 45 minutes to an hour each.

I'm a police officer by profession, for the last 13 years and took up blacksmithing only a couple months ago. It's something I have always wanted to do. I've been teaching myself through trial and error, books and the occasional video. My hope is that over the next 8 years I can gain the skill to make it a second career. I find that I'm very critical of my work and I want it perfect, or nearly perfect yet I lackthe skill and experience. It gets frustrating at times and I spend more time redoing stuff.

It helps greatly. I see what you are talking about when you described it as w wobble. I'm going to try using the wooden mallet technique on the next one I make when I have to straighten things. It just so happens my wife asked me a few weeks ago what the kids could get me for Christmas and I told her a big wooden mallet. I've found that each time I make something I learn a lot and it helps that much more with you all critiquing my work. I appreciate it very much.

I actually think they look like a bend from the picture. They're actually pretty darn straight surprisingly. I was as asked to make another set when I dropped this one off by a guy who saw it which makes me happy.

Yeah welded them with a good ole mig welder. not sure on time. I'm just learning and teaching myself as I go so it definitely took a lot longer than it should have

Yeah what I'm saying is I was too light on the price. Meaning I should have charged more.

Very nice work

Thank you. I had never tied a broom before and figured I'd take a shot at it. I learned a lot and even forged out a broom needle. I would do a few things different knowing what I know now to include a different wrap on the broom. It's already sold delivering it on Friday. I think I was a little light on the price though.