5 weeks off for the Christmas break, itching to be back at the anvil, what could go wrong?
During the Christmas break i lasted a couple of weeks before my feet started to itch. You cannot begin to imagine the turmoil that not having made something could bring.
Solution?
Make something;
Outcome;
A single bed.
So what could go wrong? Well for starters i was on a high, the bed was a complete success, the design and execution I'm more than happy with.
Float into college with a head full of ideas for some simple fixtures and fittings for the spare room, still riding high till the first couple of heats.
My ideas are OK, just not the execution. The bloody Material does not want to play ball, a head full of the recurring frustration that is evident on most visits to the workshop, a couple attempts at slightly different brackets to add to the bed, all should be well.
All i am trying to say is the session did not work out as planned- another recurring theme at the anvil!!!
Thursday 26 January 2012
Thursday 19 January 2012
PESTLE AND MORTAR
HAND CARVED PESTLE AND MORTAR!
A present i made for my sister, very pleased with final product!!!
Off cut of rough sawn Teak rescued from the missus's Dad who was going to use it as a lump of firewood. Handle, carved Teak. Mortar finished with Walnut oil, Pestle, carved Teak with forged handle made from 20mm sq mild steel, twisted with scroll end and hidden tang. Forged handle heated and finished with olive oil, whilst hot.
20mm sq mild steel salvaged from the casualty scrap bin at college.
A great little achievement considering all components were destined for the Garbage.
A present i made for my sister, very pleased with final product!!!
Off cut of rough sawn Teak rescued from the missus's Dad who was going to use it as a lump of firewood. Handle, carved Teak. Mortar finished with Walnut oil, Pestle, carved Teak with forged handle made from 20mm sq mild steel, twisted with scroll end and hidden tang. Forged handle heated and finished with olive oil, whilst hot.
20mm sq mild steel salvaged from the casualty scrap bin at college.
A great little achievement considering all components were destined for the Garbage.
Wednesday 18 January 2012
MY FIRST SNAIL
AH BLESS, HOW CUTE!
Jokes aside, after the trip to Finch Foundry, back in November for St Clemence day(patron saint of Blacksmiths), where an annual Snail race is held, i thought i would attempt one myself.
For me this was a major stepping stone, it may not be perfect, but it sure looks good!
After watching the professional Smiths during the race, this attempt was made from memory.
The object of the snail race is to make a snail that will stay upright, resemble a snail, making it in the fastest possible time. All entries are not judged on looks, so they would not be polished like this one.
If memory serves this one probably took about 25 minutes to make then a couple of minutes on the polishing machine.
The eventual winner of the race at Finch completed in 8 minutes. Now i realise that 8 minutes is probably not attainable, seeing how my second attempt three weeks later was a complete disaster. But maybe i can practice over the coming year and get down to a respectable time.
Jokes aside, after the trip to Finch Foundry, back in November for St Clemence day(patron saint of Blacksmiths), where an annual Snail race is held, i thought i would attempt one myself.
For me this was a major stepping stone, it may not be perfect, but it sure looks good!
After watching the professional Smiths during the race, this attempt was made from memory.
The object of the snail race is to make a snail that will stay upright, resemble a snail, making it in the fastest possible time. All entries are not judged on looks, so they would not be polished like this one.
If memory serves this one probably took about 25 minutes to make then a couple of minutes on the polishing machine.
The eventual winner of the race at Finch completed in 8 minutes. Now i realise that 8 minutes is probably not attainable, seeing how my second attempt three weeks later was a complete disaster. But maybe i can practice over the coming year and get down to a respectable time.
Monday 16 January 2012
NEW YEAR GOALS
I have never been one for the New Years resolution, but this year i have set myself a couple of goals for the coming year. First and foremost is to continue the learning process at Plymouth college of Art. With one course starting next week and hopefully a place on the hot metals in March, i will at the very least continue with college to June. My first goal in the coming weeks is to attempt and complete a fire weld, a task not yet attempted, which could prove to be headache, but you never know it could also be fun!
Later in the year if Forging Fawks is to be run again, i would like to at least finish and complete my entry into the competition, even if i come last. Last years entry was started way to late, as i spent most of the morning talking,snapping photos and generally hiding! It was only my fellow student Harry's call of help that let me overcome my fears of ridicule and attempt an entry. Last years theme was something to wear, so i made a belt, only for the pin holding the buckle to fall out at the last minute. But no the pin couldn't fall on the floor it had to land in the bloody water trough, much to the amusement of judge for the day Bex Simon who happened to be watching!
I would also like to enter the St Clemence day snail race at Finch Foundry. Last November we made the journey to Sticklpath, Okehampton for the day. A good fun day out at the last remaining water powered forge in the country, here is the link -www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-finchfoundry
The winner of the Snail race completed a snail from start to finish in 8 minutes, i have already had a go at college(photo will follow), i was no where near 8 minutes but the snail looks good and now lives with the salad in the kitchen, well the mantle above the fire!
These little goals are not a tall order and are very achievable, if i can also continue with my interest in wood, which incidentally has had a great start to the new year with a single bed being made over the last week. The bed was a success and not a screw anywhere near. A lot of joints, Mortice and Tenons, Mortice joints and Dowels were used. When completely finished, i will do a whole post on the making of the bed, as it is for the spare room that is currently being redecorated, and i also decided over Christmas that all of the furniture and fittings would be handmade.
This has already caused alarm amongst friends, who only buy high street shite made in Massive Chinese factories. Why they ask don't you just buy a bed, buy a curtain pole, buy some hooks, buy a bedside cabinet. Why i say, don't you just Feck off and leave me be. Why i say; Why because i can!!
Which also brings me to, a little project i have had on my mind for a while. Born out of the misses's moaning for myself not wanting to throw way odds and sods, this and that and bits of useful material. All this stuff has a use and can be remade or recycled. My idea is to come up with a name for the project, lets say project 52 for sake of an argument and reuse and remake 52 items over the coming year. Now i will cheat a little as i have already started at the end of the last year and remade a couple of items. This could be an interesting little project including items small and large, as long as they are say remade as a functional piece.
We will see and time will tell!!!
Later in the year if Forging Fawks is to be run again, i would like to at least finish and complete my entry into the competition, even if i come last. Last years entry was started way to late, as i spent most of the morning talking,snapping photos and generally hiding! It was only my fellow student Harry's call of help that let me overcome my fears of ridicule and attempt an entry. Last years theme was something to wear, so i made a belt, only for the pin holding the buckle to fall out at the last minute. But no the pin couldn't fall on the floor it had to land in the bloody water trough, much to the amusement of judge for the day Bex Simon who happened to be watching!
I would also like to enter the St Clemence day snail race at Finch Foundry. Last November we made the journey to Sticklpath, Okehampton for the day. A good fun day out at the last remaining water powered forge in the country, here is the link -www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-finchfoundry
The winner of the Snail race completed a snail from start to finish in 8 minutes, i have already had a go at college(photo will follow), i was no where near 8 minutes but the snail looks good and now lives with the salad in the kitchen, well the mantle above the fire!
These little goals are not a tall order and are very achievable, if i can also continue with my interest in wood, which incidentally has had a great start to the new year with a single bed being made over the last week. The bed was a success and not a screw anywhere near. A lot of joints, Mortice and Tenons, Mortice joints and Dowels were used. When completely finished, i will do a whole post on the making of the bed, as it is for the spare room that is currently being redecorated, and i also decided over Christmas that all of the furniture and fittings would be handmade.
This has already caused alarm amongst friends, who only buy high street shite made in Massive Chinese factories. Why they ask don't you just buy a bed, buy a curtain pole, buy some hooks, buy a bedside cabinet. Why i say, don't you just Feck off and leave me be. Why i say; Why because i can!!
Which also brings me to, a little project i have had on my mind for a while. Born out of the misses's moaning for myself not wanting to throw way odds and sods, this and that and bits of useful material. All this stuff has a use and can be remade or recycled. My idea is to come up with a name for the project, lets say project 52 for sake of an argument and reuse and remake 52 items over the coming year. Now i will cheat a little as i have already started at the end of the last year and remade a couple of items. This could be an interesting little project including items small and large, as long as they are say remade as a functional piece.
We will see and time will tell!!!
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