Hello all,

  I'm finally getting back into the game after I took a 2 year sabbatical to build myself a new shop. here's my latest...

 

Fabricated steel, a little forging, a lot of welding and grinding!

Fantastic detail...  Are you sure ya didn't cast it....     THAT TAKES PLANNING   I'M IMPRESSED...

 

Glad you have your shop up and running 

 

Jim

Wow! I really like that.

WOW, very nice piece, good effort and it shows..... B) ...Some dementions please......

Thank you all. I have a ton of process photos, and you know i never put a tape measure to it but he's about 18" tall.

WICKED KEWL!

 

Okay, where are the pics of your new shop or did I miss them in the "show us your shop" thread?

 

Glad to see you back.

 

Frosty The lucky

That is very fine work with the extra effort worth the time. Fine job!

Dave

Simply amazing, incredible detail, you are truly talented.

 

Cheers Ian

Hey, Your not monkeying around! That is killer sculpture, from idea to execution you nailed it. I would assume you'll have to empty that little bowl often though B)

I love it. Would you please tell us a little about how you built it? Is the body hollow? Maybe solid arms? Looks grand.

Thanks again everybody! This piece is primarily 1/8" sheet and 1" sch 40 pipe. The mouth area started out as a steel ball as well as the eyes. The tail was a piece of 1" solid round and all the digits 3/8" solid round.

I have been inspired by this site to try forging more of the elements of my work, I enjoy the process but it really slowed me down, sculpting this took 82 hours.

Frosty I need to get some shop pics up, but I have to admit I'm a little shy after seeing some of the smithing equipment around here!

 

Danger, maybe we should make an 80' tall version so it will have a proper bowl :P

All it needs is wings! That is a fantastic looking monkey, you done good! B)

Kinda spooky, flying monkeys, I like it :D  The real trick would be to drop the change in the bowl and have it disappear down into the body? Again beautiful work Karl, the expression in the face and hands is amazing.

Flying Monkey? Hmmm, think I could come up with a pair of wings! Thanks for the comments, I struggle with whether I'm making art or not, by modern standards. The positive reinforcement tends to make me think I'm heading in the right direction with my creations.

I'm going to add some progress shots and I apologize in advance if this is too image heavy, I'm not the best editor!

 

#1- 2" hollow ball with mouth detail hot chiseled in, 5/16"? solid eyeballs w/ 1/2" solid bar wrap, 1/8" plate nose w/ built up weld nostrils

 

#2- top and side profile of skull shaped with 3/4" x 1/8" flat. forehead and cheeks formed from 1/8" plate

 

#3- all fill in plates added and head ground

 

#4- refining the head.  pupils drilled, side burn pieces added, fill in weld added to shape face

 

#5- pretty close to done with the head. eyelids carved in

 

#6- 3/4" sch 40 pipe arms forged and ground. pipe thighs and calves forged. stomach plate forged

 

#7- bent pipe for spine shape, parts added with solid balls for knee joints

 

#8- body plates added, arms cut off to allow finishing of the body

 

#9- all welded, ground, and texture, texture, texture!

 

#10- arms back on. I changed the position of the left arm, and these are the original hands and feet that I shaped out of 1" x 1/2"flat bar. They will eventually be trashed.

 

#11- forging the tail. 1" round bar and yes that is my POS anvil and my lil' homemade single burner forge in the background.

 

#12- pot made from hollow ball

 

#13 parts coming together

 

#14- new fingers and toes die ground from 3/8" round bar

 

#15- all cleaned up an ready for patina and lacquer!

 

 

 

 

Amazing work! Please keep it up and keep sharing!

Right direction for sure. Thank you for posting. Keep up the GOOD work.

thanks for the photos, it's nice to see the various progress shots, thanks again!

It's atr,arty and stunningly beautifull!

Thanks for sharing!

Wow ! Every hour shows, the detail is fantastic.

Denise

Outstanding piece! Like the subject and every detail is well made specially the adorable face and hair. Impressive work! Great progress shots as well.

Great art

Thank you all, I really appreciate the encouraging words and especially coming from peers who understand the joy and curse of working with metals! I will try to post more projects here, as I have said before I'm new to blacksmithing but I think there is a shared understanding of how to move metal whether under a power hammer or with a torch and masons hammer. I also have photos of my work at   kustomsteel.tumblr.com  if you are interested.

Sorry no website yet!

Hi Karl,  just went to the other site, absolutely amazing work!  Anyone interested in metal artwork will love it.  I live up in Frederick and currently taking an art welding class at FCC.  You have inspired me to up my game.  Thanks!  Kent.

I appreciate you taking the time to look at my work Kent, and I'm humbled by your comments. Good luck with your class and hopefully I'll see some of your work soon!

Just amazing,  I am not a pro, but have worked a lot of metal and know how much work, attention to detail and planning that would take:  truly inspiring!