Finished making this today, Jeep engine cooling fan about 15" across, with a motorcycle clutch plate & starter gear face, it started off black, oily & rusty patches, blasted it with glass bead but not down to bare metal completely, I think it leaves a bit of age on it. It hangs easily on a single screw or nail. Hoping to make more of this style..........
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Made a few more stars today, sprayed 4 gold as requested, look okay, not too tacky as I lacquered straight after giving a slight marbled effect. And a nice mantle clock made out of a car belt pulley, bicycle sprocket & clutch plate face and 3 car valve legs, its actually a bit darker than in the photo' the lacquer was reflecting the flash.... Made this unusual commission yesterday, as I keep saying if you can dream it up, I'll have a crack at making it, steampunk fairy wand, whatever next? Also have to make some more xmas tree stars, nearly ran out...... Another commission from yesterday, V Twin Candelabra, like these myself, I'll have to make one not to sell, like that's going to happen! Peugeot pistons, Austin con rods, Suzuki motorcycle sprocket & 4 Kawasaki valve buckets for legs, they go together real well, and never hang about long. They usually sell for around £55. depending on how much the parts and candles have cost that it....... A friend suggested that I made some xmas tree decorations, jump on the whole seasonal band wagon and all that, I've seen plenty of these on the internet, they have been made for a long time. I don't usually like to make something that's not my idea, I hope I've not stepped on too many toes. Mocked one up last night and posted it on my Facebook page with quite a good response, so this morning I started working in my garage/fridge! rather than make one at a time I set myself up a bit of a production line, cut the chains to length, 10 links per star apart from one that ended up with 6 points so I'll call that one a snowflake. I dropped a ball bearing into the centre of each to weld the links to, the welding didn't take long at all about 5 minutes each including setting up, the cleaning took about 15 minutes each, that's the problem with recycling, nothing comes to me pre cleaned and chains get rather mucky. I used locking wire to make the loops to hang them on but fishing wire would suffice, but I haven't got any so locking wire it is. Made 17 in total, priced them up at £3.00 each, I am hoping that they sell well but there's a part of me that hopes I don't have to make any more, not overly fussed on piece work, its bad enough when I have to make a matching pair of candle holders. Went on to make this snowflake, its not quite even all round it wouldn't stay still for me when I welded it, the welds have a tendency to pull and if you don't pay attention the opposite side becomes distorted, anyhow it'll double up as a drinks coaster after xmas, I've priced this at £6.00. Well sold the V Twin candelabra yesterday and have an order for another, always popular and never hang around long, so normal service will be resumed tomorrow making what I enjoy........... That's it done, nothing like a deadline to make you work through your lunch! Used most of the old stereo case, used to old dome headed bolts for the eyes with a bit of welding around to give them some shape, I've not got any decent wood to make a shield so I've used a motorcycle sprocket, think it suits it, keeps in with the mechanical theme. Its off to St George's hall this weekend so if your in Liverpool Saturday or Sunday drop in and take a look at it in the flesh or in the steel........ Decided to make a start on a scaled down version of the stag I made a while ago, had some rebar left over from a joint project that I did with another artist. After a load of wire brushing and a b it of bending I had the basic antler shape, welded on some short bits of rebar, I don't bother to much with the symmetry, real ones are odd anyway, after giving them a bit of a sharpening up I welded them to a piece from a gearbox that I've had kicking about the garage for ages, found some long bolts, welded them into a basic face shape to what I welded sheet steel that I cut out of a 1980's stereo shell. These shape quite well with my panel hammer and leather cushion. Its taken shape well, need to make its neck, mouth, ears & shield. That'll have to wait until tomorrow as its too cold out there for me, you'd think welding would be a warm kind of job! Check back tomorrow for the progress, if the man flue hasn't killed me off in the mean time!! |
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