[TheForge] How is something like this made?

Mon Jun 19 17:37:12 EDT 2006

theforge!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Porter" <michael.a.porter at comcast.net>
To: "'Sponsored by ABANA'" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, June 19, 2006 5:16 PM
Subject: RE: [TheForge] How is something like this made?


> These particular heretics are already much troubled by the rise of the 
> Warm
> Glass Movement, which includes everything from slumping to cast glass; all
> hot glass work that is not blown, in fact. How fitting, since warm glass
> work predated glass blowing by several hundred years. It now promises to
> reclaim the eminent craft position which glass blowing has enjoyed for so
> long.
> Mikey
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jeffrey Polaski
> Sent: Monday, June 19, 2006 11:49 AM
> To: Sponsored by ABANA
> Subject: RE: [TheForge] How is something like this made?
>
> Damn glassblowing heretics! They're up to no good I tells ya!
>
> Jeff Polaski
> Research and Graduate Studies Webmaster
> University of California, Irvine
> http://www.rgs.uci.edu/
> 949.824.6363
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mike Porter
> Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2006 6:29 PM
> To: artgawk at thegrid.net; 'Sponsored by ABANA'
> Subject: RE: [TheForge] How is something like this made?
>
> Dan Tull and all,
> Tell your mommy to put that rolling pin back in the bakery drawer! 'Tis
> not
> a relinquishing of 'turf' I'm recommending here, but rather an invasion
> of
> the other fella's home ground; an idea that meets the full approval of
> even
> the most stringent of good union officials! Later, we may wish to
> overrun
> the glass blowers >:-)
> Mikey
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Peter Fels And
> Phoebe
> Palmer
> Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2006 5:45 PM
> To: Sponsored by ABANA
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] How is something like this made?
>
> Mikey:!
> This borders on crass blasphemy!
> We are alledgely , blacksmiths, after all.
> Let's ,at least, hammer it ito submission if at all possible.
> Files and scapers and chisels will do most of the rest.
> My mommie won't let me associate with you if you keep talking like
> that!...Pete F
>
> Dan Tull wrote:
>> theforge
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Porter"
>> <michael.a.porter at comcast.net>
>> To: "'Sponsored by ABANA'" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2006 2:59 PM
>> Subject: RE: [TheForge] How is something like this made?
>>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Jeff,
>>> Isn't the question you meant to ask "what is the practical way to
>>> make something like this? After all, it can be fabricated in many
>>> ways; some of which are hilariously inappropriate. Common sense
>>> dictates that you would be looking for the "bottom line" about its
>>> construction.
>>>
>>> That bottom line is CASTING. After creating a wooden pattern or a wax
>
>>> model (depending on whether you were doing a one-off part or
>>> intending to make many of them), you would proceed to cast it, or
>>> send it to a foundry if you had the $$$$$ to spend. Next, you would
>>> clean up the casting (sanding/filing), and then do the drilling,
>>> threading, mounting a handle, or even chasing, in accordance with
>>> your available tooling. But the bulk of the construction is a matter
>>> of foundry work.
>>>
>>> Casting; what a scary thought...or perhaps not. The metal for a part
>>> like this can be liquefied in a jewelers furnace (tabletop
>>> equipment), and cast into sand or plaster molds. How much equipment
>>> you need--and how much experience--only depends on how picky you wish
>
>>> to be about the cast part; in other words, it is merely a question of
>
>>> where you wish to expend your energy; in equipment & preparation, or
>>> in extra finish work?
>>>
>>> Why then is casting such a daunting idea for most of us? Simply
>>> because we build it up in our minds. The IT of which I speak is the
>>> whole commitment; or at least our visualization of such a commitment.
>
>>> In reality, how much of a chore every aspect of foundry work becomes,
>
>>> depends directly on SIZE. The nearly universal mistake is made in
>>> thinking big. What you want to do is think small. No matter how great
>
>>> your ambitions become casting wise, small equipment goes right on
>>> being used. The same cannot be said of large equipment. In fact,
>>> large equipment, like the LARGE mental images of foundry work, is
>>> what usually stops people from getting anywhere with it.
>>>
>>> Furnace equipment construction was included in Gas Burners with the
>>> idea of blacksmiths casting their own finials, fancy lockbox plates,
>>> handles, escutcheons, and other detail work, to set off the bulk of
>>> their ironwork in bronze and pewter. Of course, casting is one more
>>> learning process, just like all the other learning processes an
>>> artist must face. On the other hand, the benefits can far outweigh
>>> the struggle for any young smith.
>>> Visualize a scroll panel (say four to six scrolls forming a basic
>>> design).
>>> Mentally connect them by welding; not so hot. How about connecting
>>> them with forged bands; more visual interest here. Finally, set them
>>> together two at a time, within your personally designed mold, and
>>> pour your bronze or pewter connectors. Picture the cast connections
>>> as simple or fancy as you wish, because that is what casting is all
>>> about. Or, how about cast bronze center pieces in twisted pickets,
>>> and one-of-a-kind cast lambs tails? Bronze or pewter handles on
>>> forged fireplace equipment (let alone all the other detailing for a
>>> fancy fireplace screen, etc.) Need I say more? OK, than consider iron
>
>>> furniture with cast bronze connectors instead of the cheap cast iron
>>> used a century ago; suddenly, an old idea is updated into usefulness
>>> with today's blacksmithing projects.
>>>
>>> Naturally, there is another worry that springs to mind; "what if I
>>> get so involved in this foundry stuff, that I'm sidetracked,
>>> forgetting about my blacksmithing?" That is a legitimate concern, and
>
>>> all I can give you by way of reassurance is that this particular
>>> "sidetrack" is quite lucrative.
>>> Just
>>> input bronze sculptures on eBay and look at the prices. No, I don't
>>> mean garden sculptures; these are of a size to be poured from a
>>> tabletop furnace.
>>> You can hold many of them in one hand.
>>> Mikey
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>>> [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jeffrey
>>> Polaski
>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 1:24 PM
>>> To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
>>> Subject: [TheForge] How is something like this made?
>>>
>>> I was looking around some antique watch sites and came across a link
>>> to this antique medical instrument site... I've been wondering how
>>> something this ornate gets made... especially the brace and saw.
>>>
>>> Would it be roughly forged and then the flat shapes filed? Or is it a
>
>>> lot of swage work, with male & female dies to match?
>>>
>>> Has someone made something like this before?
>>>
>>> I've been really curious about how the more ornate and "fine" stuff
>>> is made, for example, European tools with little sculptures in them.
>>> It's amazing that people can do that at all. I can barely bash out a
>>> little dragon head, let alone a full iron cherub! How do they do
>>> that? I know some things are cast, but how do people make forged
> sculptures?
>>>
>>> Here's some examples:
>>>
>>> <http://antiquescientifica.com/saw_amputation_c_1750.jpg>
>>>
>>> <http://antiquescientifica.com/neurosurgery__trepanning_set__Lichtenb
>>> erg
>>> er_Strasbourg_out.jpg>
>>>
>>> I can't find a good example of the European tools I was thinking of,
>>> but I think almost everyone has seen pictures of vices or anvils with
>
>>> ornate scenes on the side.
>>>
>>>
>>> Jeff Polaski
>>> Research and Graduate Studies Webmaster University of California,
>>> Irvine http://www.rgs.uci.edu/
>>> 949.824.6363
>>>
>>>
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