Dale Russell Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 G'Day all , below is some work by Denise Axelsen ( aka ) female_blacksmith who lives in Queensland Australia . She is a card carrying smith from England who ain't too " computer smart " ( sorry Denise , but .. :) ) so asked me to post this for her ........................................................................................................................................................... My heaviest hammer is 2lb and I own a single burner gas propane forge and 4 pairs of tongs and usually make small stuff, but then someone asked me if I could make two identical 'horse themed ' fire tool sets for two fireplaces in their home. Now there is a challenge and this is the results. It took me fifty six hours to make both sets and a lot of gas. My forging abilities are pretty rusty and slow but I got there in the end ! How am I going to price the customer realistically ? The design was based on the limitations of my forge and the one thing I discovered was the amount of scale on my work from my gas propane forge compared to previously having only used a coke and charcoal forge, which although I used a twisted cup brush attached to my angle grinder did not remove all of it so the finish, for me is disappointing. It is a black finish with wax at the customers request.Should I burn off all the coating and try soaking in white vinigar for a few days and reaply the wax at black heat? My attempts at forging a horses head were poor so my design solution was a mask which then needed a mane to balance it out.The idea came from remembering my childrens ' hobby horse.' The mask is made from 3mm plate, ( actually angle iron hammered flat ) and the mane from 25/10mm bar and attached by a tack weld hidden under the mask and a rivet the other end. The mask was attached with a rivet too. I sunk a 12mm round bar to create the ditches to rest the fire tools and also one on the underside to help bend the back end. The base was made using 25/5mm flat bar and was not really successful in as much as I could not fit it into my forge opening and had to resort to hiring oxyacetylene equipment to finish the bends. This shows my inexperience on the corners where they are a little thin in places. Because I knew the head would be ' top heavy ' the base was designed to be spread in all directions to stabilize it and it does. The kinks were supposed to be just one but I forgot and made two and were added to break up the monotony of the base, not sure that was in keeping with the horse theme ! I thought I wanted a smooth minimal finish but feel it's a little unforged and maybe needs texture ? I acquired a horse shoe after I made my horse shoe ends for the fire tools, think I should have had it first. The twists are chiseled down the centre of the square bar first and then twisted. The shovel was heavily textured with a ball pein hammer and attached using rivets in counter sunk holes. Not sure if there is a reason for attaching the handle to the back or front of the shovel but I liked it on the front ? The broom is made by Warren Olney from the Broom Shop and I love it. The poker is very simple deliberately but wonder whether I should have had a double end for better fire management ? I would welcome any feedback and really appreciate any comments to help improve my skills. Many thanks. Denise Axelsen ( aka ) female_blacksmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Hi Denise, Nice job, and client should be happy with the unique result, I think you have done a good job under the circumstances that you had at your disposal, makes you appreciate the open forge Particularly like the horse face No wonder its difficult to keep track of you, but good to see you are still forging ahead. Here's a picture from the past come back to haunt you, North Somerset Show 2004 being observed By Hugh Adams, from the Worshipful Company and Eddie Payne, Deputy Master of the Blacksmiths Guild Looking forward to seeing more of your work. And Thanks to Dale for posting it for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
female_blacksmith Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Wow John, so lovely to hear from you ! I have been trying to inwardly digest this website and all it's amazing information and with Dales help can finally participate. Could really do with help and advice on my finishes though ? The photo you posted certainly brought back plenty of memories and boy do I miss all you guys ! Many thanks, Denise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Hi Denise, depends on what type of finish you are looking for, and what facilities you have had your disposal. Whatever finish you want, preperation is the key, sand/shot blasting, pickling, wire brushing, filing, sanding, buffing, electrolysis, degreasing Then apply the finish Natural finish, waxed, oiled, polished,, armour bright, matt, painted, gilded, plated, galvanised, hot zinc or other metal sprayed eg brass, copper, aluminium, plastic coating, stove enamelling, for starters. May I suggest you start a new topic; How do you Finish your workpieces? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tzonoqua Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Denise, I love it, it's so unique!!! I just wish the pics were a bit bigger so I could see it better. I have a gas forge too, but it's a metal artist one from diamondbacks, with open ends and a side that hinges open, so it's great for odd stuff, but sometimes it's still a challenge to make things in sequence so they can fit and be assembled without having to get the oxy/propane fired up!! I'm planning to get a solid fuel forge going at some point, probably in the easter break or summer holidays when I have more time. I can see how you might want to put some more texture on the head, but I think it's nice as it is too, kind of primitive, and I like that!! I often soak my work in vinegar overnight, then give it a bit of a wire brush and wax finish, comes out pretty good! Welcome to IFI !! Hope to see more of your work!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWHII Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Very nice and interesting set. I paticularly like your handles and you are right, the broom is special! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
female_blacksmith Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 John, thanks for those finishing ideas. Presumably if I start a new topic on ' how do you finish your work pieces ' that would be started in the ' Problem Solving ' forum ? I definitely would like to do that. Colleen, thank you for your comments. I have had a look on the website at your type of forge. The idea of all 3 sides opening at once if necessary sounds great. My forge is the ' Tabasco ' from chiliforge.com which although has a double ended opening and very efficient I might add, is a little too small for me personally sometimes, but certainly helps you think differently to get round problems ! I agree, the pictures are too small to see detail which is what I wanted to show so shall have to re submit some of those. Harold, thank you for your comments too. I think Warrens brooms add ' magic ' to my fire tool sets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Hi Denise, I think that would be the best place as we are talking general 'smithing There is already a Finish and Polish section in the bladesmithing section, but that is a specialist area. Could do it for you, but now we have coaxed you out of the lurking area, I am sure you can cope, and you wouldn't learn a lot if I did it.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
female_blacksmith Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Thank you for that John. I will do that ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
female_blacksmith Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 As you know I am not very computer savvy, but I think I have loaded on some larger pictures to show more detail ? we shall see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Hi Denise, any particular reason for the twists not all being the same hand? Quite like the way you got the head bulked up with the cover plate for the face. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 wow - have only just clocked all this - i really love that horse head, how youve made like a mask - something i think about a lot with horse armour etc, thats what it remeinds me of, and i think the mane is wonderful, so tactile. welcome to the forum, you can find such a lot of information on here - youve obviously got the lovely Mr Russel on hand over there in oz, i really look forward to seeing some more of your work :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
female_blacksmith Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 The odd twist was a mistake which I then repeated for the other set too, oops ! Thank you for your comments Beth. I did look at pictures of horse armor for inspiration. The information on here is phenomenal and for whatever stage you are at or ready to take on board. And yes, I have met the great Mr. Dale Russel a few times now, always very encouraging, always very helpful and I would never have got on here without his help. Blacksmiths are the friendliest people no matter where in the world you go ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale Russell Posted February 26, 2012 Author Share Posted February 26, 2012 Denise , glad to see you finally got bigger pix up :) " And yes, I have met the great Mr. Dale Russel a few times now, always very encouraging, always very helpful and I would never have got on here without his help ." . . . . . :unsure: Just tryin' ta help out a fellow blacksmith Dale Russell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanR Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
female_blacksmith Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Hi Ian, been on holiday hence the delay in responding back to you. So glad you introduced yourself, I would never have guessed who you were. Lol. Thanks for the website info. I shall investigate. My finishes should be much improved with all the information I have generously been given on this site. I shall look forward to seeing some of your work too. Happy with the positive comments I have had on my fire sets, was a little unsure. May even contact the customer to let her know I have finished them. It must be starting to get chilly in the evenings down your way now. Lol..... love the tropics here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ten Hammers Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Denise, very nice work indeed. You are in good hands with Dale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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