tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84020190974391484622024-03-13T22:44:46.175-05:00Pushing CopperMy thoughts and efforts on the way to becoming a metals artist.Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-26196972178832001012017-03-13T00:43:00.001-05:002017-03-13T00:43:46.349-05:00Self-challenge, self-giftJust a quick post for this week's completed item.<br />
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While I was getting things put away in the new studio storage space I came across a piece of brass that I had air-chased for a cuff a while back and never finished. So I tested how well the new layout worked by seeing how fast I could finish it. Pretty fast, as it turns out. About half an hour.<br />
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To make sure it worked I tried it on. Darned if I didn't like it. I'd never made a piece for myself and decided this one would be mine.<br />
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What do you think?Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-7382481751731485412017-03-09T23:23:00.003-06:002017-03-09T23:23:47.885-06:00While I was out...Apologies are in order. I haven't posted for nearly four weeks. The purpose of my self challenge was to push me to be more productive in the studio and to tell the world about it. It worked for a while but I think the pace of the Super Bowl Challenge burned me out. I needed to absorb the lessons and regroup. It showed me the pain points in the studio and pushed me to fix them. But I ought to have told that story to my friends on-line. So I'm going to do that. It's March, the days are getting longer and warmer. Spring is coming and I'm going to renew my art, my studio, and myself.<br />
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Here's what's happened while I've been absent from posting.<br />
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I installed a keyboard tray on my desk. That makes working at the computer a whole lot easier, particularly typing long blocks of text. It was a PITA because of the way the desk was built but now I can write without straining my back.<br />
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I also did a lot of adulting - going to doctors appointments, filing taxes, dealing with family issues. The death of a friend caused grief and care. The graveyard where my maternal grandparents are buried was the target of anti-Semitic vandalism. Their graves were not disturbed, but it was yet another emotional blow.<br />
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Toward the end of February I decided to change the jewelry bench topper and rearrange items in the shop. That took several days of clearing things from the bench, moving the topper off, moving power tools and shelving units around, rearranging boxes. I moved two sewing machines from near the bench to over by the bathroom. I made a path from the left side of the studio to the right side so I don't have to walk all the way around the hot bench and the stuff past it. I took a pair of shoe racks and put them on top of the bench to make a more useful organizer. I moved a shelving unit from its awkward location in the middle of the floor to the wall at the left of the bench.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the rearranging. Note the bench topper and the shelf sticking out on the left.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Afterward. New bench topper, Shelf moved. Stuff neatly placed on wall.</td></tr>
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After resting from that work, I started on the next upgrade by salvaging pegboard from the garage and painting it white. Then I built a support frame for the pegboard and attached it to the wall next to the bench. I added hooks and put tools on it. It makes a big difference in the accessibility of hammers, saws and other tools that were either hard to get to or ended up in a clutter on the bench.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uMI8sIxPKpM/WMIz5E3MgWI/AAAAAAAAPm0/uLRVqmI63iw4kjwYmneliK5L_r7OQ1BQQCEw/s1600/blog-pegboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uMI8sIxPKpM/WMIz5E3MgWI/AAAAAAAAPm0/uLRVqmI63iw4kjwYmneliK5L_r7OQ1BQQCEw/s400/blog-pegboard.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lovely, easy-to-get-to wall o' tools.</td></tr>
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With that done I tested the improvements by making a non-conforming die out of scrap acrylic sheet and tested it by dapping out two identical shapes in much less time than repousse would have taken.<br />
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I wanted some sort of holder for files that could be mounted under the bench top or under the shelves on the bench. They were stuck in a coffee can that was filled with a roll of carpet scrap. The files were protected from banging into each other but it made them difficult to get to. A better design would be a set of plastic tubes for them to rest in; each file in its own tube, handle out, ready to slide out and slide back in.<br />
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So I bought 10 feet of 3/4" PVC pipe for a file holder. The small pipe cutter I had raised a blister on the inside of my thumb just making the two cuts needed to get the pipe into the car. So I searched for the large pipe cutter that I knew I had but hadn't found before going to the hardware store. I sorted through all the boxes of tools and miscellany, ended up combining some, finding places for other stuff, generally clearing and consolidating for hours. But no pipe cutter. Then just as I was cleaning up and preparing to go upstairs it showed up - sitting on the shelves next to the jeweler's bench. Hours of searching, bending and standing, sorting, kneeling, all to find the thing I was looking for in plain sight. So I sat down and started cutting 8" lengths of PVC. Got 9 of them done before my arms gave out. The next day I finished cutting the tubes and hot glued them together. Let everything cool then loaded it up with files and put it in place on the bench.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uIzw97Rvdrs/WMIz4HGxe0I/AAAAAAAAPm8/m3M8kKhFxuoQyV7MCVuASw3kesw-R3oTgCEw/s1600/blog-files%2Bin%2Bcan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uIzw97Rvdrs/WMIz4HGxe0I/AAAAAAAAPm8/m3M8kKhFxuoQyV7MCVuASw3kesw-R3oTgCEw/s400/blog-files%2Bin%2Bcan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before - files in a can. Note the lazy susan lash-up on the right. That's gotta go</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PVC and hot glue, So easy (once you've got the pipe cutter.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Added a tube on the bottom to tilt everything up a little.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In place on the bench and loaded with files.</td></tr>
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I cleaned up a rotating tool carousel that I'd gotten in a batch of crafting supplies and put tools into it, replacing the makeshift that I had on a lazy susan. Cleaned the bench top and sweeps/tool tray. That put the bench in good working order.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A clean bench top.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much better now.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q0k-qK4kjNg/WMIz3r-pWeI/AAAAAAAAPm8/nIt931CWvMMjQvzU8DuK3PqIbtMEXMNtACEw/s1600/blog-bench%2Bpano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q0k-qK4kjNg/WMIz3r-pWeI/AAAAAAAAPm8/nIt931CWvMMjQvzU8DuK3PqIbtMEXMNtACEw/s640/blog-bench%2Bpano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the driver's seat.</td></tr>
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There's yet more work to do. I still want some better storage for metals and a heavy bench that can take pounding. Racks for raising forging hammers and stakes. I'm debating moving the hot bench around the corner from the jeweler's bench. I could do that if I can pull electricity from elsewhere. I don't want both benches on the same circuit. The power tools still need a home. The whole place needs some decoration.<br />
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But that's in the future and I'll be back to posting weekly.<br />
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<br />Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-2853062721506163202017-02-12T22:50:00.003-06:002017-02-12T22:50:58.114-06:00Self-challenge Week 11A <a href="http://www.pushingcopper.com/2016/11/two-vessels-little-later-on.html" target="_blank">while back</a> I posted my progress on two bowls. The first one got finished in <a href="http://www.pushingcopper.com/2017/01/self-challenge-week-6.html" target="_blank">week 6</a> of this self-challenge. And today, the second one is done.<br />
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In the time between January 8 and now, I decided to do something with the interior and finally settled on etching in a text. This is intended to be an enigmatic object, so I won't be revealing the nature of the text. LSMW-2017-EA-003 is a <i>Bowl of Unknown Use With Interior Text</i>. It was found in a non-grave context in one of the mounds excavated by the <i>Elsewhen Antiquities</i> project.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exterior patina is ferric nitrate with a little cupric nitrate.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liver of Sulfur patina on the inside.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUmh7GnSZcM/WKE543I6g3I/AAAAAAAAPG0/EVZ27V-ooDIU88Mnp1JoqVHGkenydntlgCKgB/s1600/blog-20170212_215956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUmh7GnSZcM/WKE543I6g3I/AAAAAAAAPG0/EVZ27V-ooDIU88Mnp1JoqVHGkenydntlgCKgB/s400/blog-20170212_215956.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the text. Any guesses what it says?</td></tr>
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<br />Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-91486465182751754272017-02-09T16:49:00.000-06:002017-02-12T21:57:30.938-06:00SBC 9 -What's in a Name?The bowl I made for this year's Super Bowl Challenge is now finally, completely, absolutely, finished. The last little tweaks are done, it has its patina, the finish is sealed. Thanks to <a href="http://www.meriellentaylor.com/" target="_blank">Meri Ellen Taylor</a> it has a name. She pointed out that the shape is that of a Scottish vessel form called a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaich" target="_blank">quaich</a>. I'd intended it to be a ceremonial vessel, possibly a libation bowl. So it's now the<i> Libation Quaich</i>. Accession Number LSMW-2017-EA-002 in the<i> Elsewhen Antiquities</i> catalog.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to shine.</td></tr>
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I had thought about doing the kind of patina that's on all the other <i>Elsewhen Antiquities</i> pieces; an all-over aged, restored-from-out-of-the-ground look. But when I started to do the final prep before applying the patina I had to do some polishing. Ended up polishing the whole thing, just to see what it would look like. Oddly, I've never high polished a vessel of mine before. I found that I could not bear to cover up that shine. So the only patina it got was some darkening in the etched lines, to make them stand out a bit better.<br />
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Hope you like it.Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-77644764849683796642017-02-05T23:53:00.001-06:002017-02-05T23:53:35.760-06:00SBC 9 - Last DayThis is just a short post to let you all know that I've completed the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/2017SBC/" target="_blank">Super Bowl Challenge</a>.<br />
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Before anything else: Thank you!, <a href="https://hammerstrokeandfire.com/" target="_blank">Wendy Edsall-Kerwin</a>, for hosting this challenge. It has kicked my butt and forced me to grow as a metalsmith. I've learned a tremendous amount in the past week while I struggled to get this project completed. I'm a better artist because of it.<br />
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That said, here's the (mostly) finished piece.<br />
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This is part of the Elsewhen Antiquities project. Notionally, it's a libation bowl or drinking cup from a culture that doesn't exist in our history, but might have in an alternate time. It's 2 7/8ths inches tall, 3 5/8ths inches diameter, 5 5/8ths inches across the handles. 16 gauge brass, raised, chased, etched, and fabricated.<br />
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Today's work included masking off the interior and etching the bowl, making the handles and attachment brackets and rivets, and assembling the whole thing. Of all the things to give me trouble, assembly was the worst. I'm not used to small precise fabrication. The piece still needs its final patina and finish but I am out of time and energy. I intend to make more bowls like this, partly to see if the lessons stuck, partly to see if I can improve it with some different decisions and better tooling.<br />
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Like I said, just a short post today. I'll post an overview with lessons learned in a few days after I catch my breath.<br />
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<br />Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-50581682823473187602017-02-05T00:48:00.001-06:002017-02-05T00:48:58.549-06:00SBC 9 - Days 5 and 6When you don't know what the result will be, it's an experiment. When you think you know the result but want to check, it's a confirming experiment. When you know the result and want to show the method to others, it's a demonstration. When you need to use the result by itself or as part of a larger process, it's a technique.<br />
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<h3>
Day 5</h3>
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This was supposed to be the day I got the band design laid out on the metal and etched. Instead, it was a day of trying all sorts of ways to scale the repeating design element so that it would fit evenly into the space. Nothing I tried seemed to work. I ended up frustrated and running out of time for the day.<br />
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Finally I decided to resort to a method that I knew would work. It's not a good methond. It's incredibly labor intensive but I knew it would work because I've used it before. It's a technique, not an experiment.<br />
<br />
I spray painted the bowl with Rustoleum flat white spray paint. It works as a resist and takes pencil. The paint comes off with mineral spirits when you're done etching. That was all I got done - spray painting the bowl. It felt like I'd wasted the whole day.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Day 6</h3>
<br />
Today I figured exactly how the repeat element in the design worked and redrew it to the size I needed. I made sure that it would fit, then drew it again in ink on tracing paper. Flip the tracing paper over, redraw the lines in pencil on the back. Flip it right side up, hold it onto the bowl, and rub to transfer the pencil lines to the resist. That takes the pencil off of the tracing paper, so redraw it, hold it up to the bowl shifted one repeat to the right, and transfer the pencil. Do this twelve times. Now go over the pencil lines on the bowl and fix any dropouts, smudges, and errors. Make sure it's all linked up properly. Then - go over the whole thing <b>again</b> with a sharp tool, scratching through the resist to expose metal to be etched. Be careful not to slip or scratch through any place that should not be etched because that will require repainting the resist to repair the defect.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7UZY-1Rp3tU/WJbJlTYGWOI/AAAAAAAAO54/Dkdw3kSNVpIM0Kpm-iRhu5CizyU4pB1UACKgB/s1600/20170204_154527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7UZY-1Rp3tU/WJbJlTYGWOI/AAAAAAAAO54/Dkdw3kSNVpIM0Kpm-iRhu5CizyU4pB1UACKgB/s320/20170204_154527.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The repeating design drawn on.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--4vtbT1Lkdo/WJbJn3SiZMI/AAAAAAAAO58/WBvHvxRBkOA5cyJG2-k2Q9VSg7-UCw_WQCKgB/s1600/20170204_175021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--4vtbT1Lkdo/WJbJn3SiZMI/AAAAAAAAO58/WBvHvxRBkOA5cyJG2-k2Q9VSg7-UCw_WQCKgB/s320/20170204_175021.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The design scratched in and ready to etch.</td></tr>
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That took hours. I have vowed to find A Better Way™ so that I never have to use this method again. But at this point I can mask off the interior of the bowl and it will be ready to soak for an hour or two in an etching bath. That's time I can use to fabricate the handles. Those will get attached with rivets and it will be ready to clean up and have a finish put on.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow. It gets <b>done</b> tomorrow.Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-78370838774438707472017-02-03T13:16:00.002-06:002017-02-03T13:16:44.237-06:00SBC 9 - Days 3 and 4I've been working too hard on the bowl to take many pictures and have been too tired at the end of the day to post about it. So this is a catch-up post before I start today's work.<br />
<h3>
Day 3</h3>
I spent a little time working out how to chase in the flutes. The bowl will have 12 and they should be as even as possible. Since I'm not familiar with how this is done and my skills aren't great for repetitive motifs, I worried about putting them in consecutively. Errors might creep in and accumulate from one flute to the next. So I'm going to lay them out and then chase them lightly in an order that scatters them around the surface. Sort of like tightening the nuts on a car wheel. A drawing would show it best but the order will be: 1,8,3,10,5,12,7,2,9,4,11,6. Each one is offset by 7 from the previous one. That should keep errors from accumulating and as the flute deepen I can work to even them up. That's the plan anyway.<br />
<br />
Layout will be done using a circle grade that I have laminated up. Put the bowl top down on the grid, center it, and mark the points with a sharpie. Then I can use a piece of wire formed with the profile as a conforming straight edge to line up and mark from edge mark to kernel. Then mark the top of the flutes, the bottom of them, and the widest point level when they start to pull in at the top. That gets done with dividers. I also want a center line for each flute since that's what I'll be following with the tracing tool. That should give me all the guidelines I need. I'll number the flutes in sequence of hammering so I don't get confused.<br />
<br />
Layout seemed so easy when I wrote that out. Nope. Almost nothing I had planned for worked. I was always getting uneven divisions of the circle. I ended up doing it an entirely different way, tracing around the bowl rim, using a compass to divide the rim into 12 segments, and using a thread to guide my marks on the metal. Eventually the layout got drawn on.<br />
<br />
Then I started preparing my large pitch bowl for fixturing. That at least went well and works much better than anything I could have devised. Thank you, <a href="http://nechamkin.com/" target="_blank">Liza Nechamkin</a>, for the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be5EpRh23SY" target="_blank">video </a>that showed me how to do it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OOqWyVQk6Z8/WJTWPDgqpYI/AAAAAAAAO4w/XtPsh9aeF-ETS23V-W-hILxB_gG0GlTmgCKgB/s1600/20170201_145949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OOqWyVQk6Z8/WJTWPDgqpYI/AAAAAAAAO4w/XtPsh9aeF-ETS23V-W-hILxB_gG0GlTmgCKgB/s320/20170201_145949.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Layout done. Fixed in the pitch bowl and ready to chase.</td></tr>
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<br />
By the time all of that got done it was 3pm and I could only get started on the chasing. I did follow my plan of staggering the order in which I chased the flutes and was able to get them all roughed in evenly.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Day 4</h3>
Today was all about chasing flutes. They got deeper, evened up, the ridges in between got sharpened and straightened. When I started, the bottoms of the flutes didn't match where they come into the foot. Now they do. In the middle of the day I had to melt out the red sculptors wax that I use for this, anneal the bowl, and refill it. That was a PITA.<br />
<br />
The pitch bowl fixturing worked well, but I was hammering very hard at times and the bowl would loosen up making it hard to control. I ended up resetting it twice. Each time I got better at it and it lasted longer before loosening up. Finally I called it done, melted out the wax and cleaned it all up.<br />
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<h3>
Day 5 - beginning.</h3>
So, the flutes are chased in, it's empty and polished (sort of), and now it's time to prepare for etching. It's also time to take stock of the piece, consider the time I have left, and see what I can do to finish it. Listen to the metal and find out where the piece is going. It's brass, not copper. If I solder on a copper rim it will look different from the rest of the bowl. It will take patina differently. If I plate the whole thing with copper before patinating it will all look the same but then I'm not taking advantage of the brass. There may not be time to gold leaf the interior.<br />
<br />
What if I skip the rim and gold leaf and put on handles? Make it a drinking cup or libation bowl? In brass, it would actually be usable. I might still put a patina on - with brass handles it would all match. I'll need to experiment with how to attach the handles. But first I have to lay out the design for etching and get it etched.Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-7880888600388920532017-01-31T21:56:00.000-06:002017-01-31T21:56:02.723-06:00SBC 9 - A New ChallengeThis is the post that I should have made yesterday and was too wiped to get it done. Read on and you'll see why.<br />
<h3>
Day 1</h3>
I'm picking up another gauntlet. <a href="https://hammerstrokeandfire.com/" target="_blank">Wendy Edsall-Kerwin</a> has offered a <a href="https://hammermarks.wordpress.com/super-bowl-challenge/" target="_blank">challenge </a>for several years - make a bowl (or complete it) on Super Bowl Sunday. I wanted to do this last year but we were in the middle of moving house. But this year I can say "challenge accepted!"<br />
<br />
On Sunday I sketched out an idea for a bowl and tried to figure out how long it would take to complete. My guess was one day to raise it from sheet, another day to chase in the flutes. A day to etch a design into the vertical part of the bowl. Another day to solder on a rim, polish, and apply a patina. Apply the gold size to the interior the same day and then a few hours the next morning to apply gold leaf. All told, a little more than 4 days. That gives me some wiggle room since Officer Murphy is always on duty and he is The Law.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-brnGUP7tYoo/WJFWoU3Ec6I/AAAAAAAAOzo/7tGQ4IsKTRscZcZgj-LG__hheInVhNatQCLcB/s1600/img127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-brnGUP7tYoo/WJFWoU3Ec6I/AAAAAAAAOzo/7tGQ4IsKTRscZcZgj-LG__hheInVhNatQCLcB/s320/img127.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original sketch. Measurements are wrong.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1MVJ02K6BrA/WJFWoTNcN1I/AAAAAAAAOzk/Xnd3XFp4zew56B3b8l8uGe7TmAxoCjGHQCLcB/s1600/img129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1MVJ02K6BrA/WJFWoTNcN1I/AAAAAAAAOzk/Xnd3XFp4zew56B3b8l8uGe7TmAxoCjGHQCLcB/s1600/img129.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The border design.</td></tr>
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There was one potential pitfall. I didn't have any half-round copper wire in a large gauge (6 or 10) so I'd have to order some or figure out something else to do. As it turned out, I ended up ordering some.<br />
<br />
I got started about 11:30 am by annealing a 6 inch diameter disk of 16 gauge copper that I already had on hand. That was the first goof. I normally use 18 gauge, a little lighter. 16 gauge is just enough heavier that I had to work harder than I wanted to get the metal to move.<br />
<br />
The first step is to lay out concentric circles as guides for hammering. The circles go on what will be the outside of the vessel. But the first pass for forming is to dish the bowl a little, working with a plastic auto body mallet and a hollow cut into a tree stump. Dishing works from the inside of the piece.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cOpURtwI_Ww/WJFXSTV2UgI/AAAAAAAAOz0/zuhuy_euzB4KhALRiKE0fMJlf4-EK89egCLcB/s1600/blog-disk%2Blayout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cOpURtwI_Ww/WJFXSTV2UgI/AAAAAAAAOz0/zuhuy_euzB4KhALRiKE0fMJlf4-EK89egCLcB/s320/blog-disk%2Blayout.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hammer guides scribed in.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JGaoWMjkaxw/WJFXqe9URlI/AAAAAAAAO0A/eg73S5Tu5P0XSpbVWkL9rALW_xry5rXYwCLcB/s1600/blog-dished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JGaoWMjkaxw/WJFXqe9URlI/AAAAAAAAO0A/eg73S5Tu5P0XSpbVWkL9rALW_xry5rXYwCLcB/s320/blog-dished.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dishing stump and mallet.</td></tr>
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After that I started raising. I didn't bother to anneal between dishing and the first round of raising. I hadn't moved the metal that much, the guidelines were still clear, and I thought I could get away with it. It went well and I bouged the shape into some semblance of regularity with a leather mallet and a large (5" ball) steel sphere stake, then took it to the hot bench to anneal and pickle it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4XJ0qV_uNLY/WJFXqfkr2PI/AAAAAAAAOz8/wSHJ9GQvYjwLnvBga743Wt-yx2Td7WabwCEw/s1600/blog-ready%2Bto%2Braise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4XJ0qV_uNLY/WJFXqfkr2PI/AAAAAAAAOz8/wSHJ9GQvYjwLnvBga743Wt-yx2Td7WabwCEw/s320/blog-ready%2Bto%2Braise.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to raise.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lJBct4Ejzww/WJFXqa_YzKI/AAAAAAAAO0E/Bs2ZQIDBcgkMM391Cq8vmglXdcTDU7cfgCEw/s1600/blog-round%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lJBct4Ejzww/WJFXqa_YzKI/AAAAAAAAO0E/Bs2ZQIDBcgkMM391Cq8vmglXdcTDU7cfgCEw/s320/blog-round%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After round 1.</td></tr>
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From then on it was round after round of raising, bouging, annealing and pickling. I tried to take photos at each round but apparently missed some. After round 2 I spent some time setting the foot and beginning to define it. I refined it a little over the next several rounds and was then able to leave it alone. As the bowl rose, I took note of where the profile was supposed to transition from hemisphere to vertical. When I got close to that point I started to planish the hemisphere part so that I could get it nice and round and smooth. I used a smaller (3" ball) steel sphere stake for that.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ErF0WpFBhk/WJFXqxX8H-I/AAAAAAAAO0I/wHU7OWAwZqIMy1QHik3H8Tqkdg1CoRstgCEw/s1600/blog-round%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ErF0WpFBhk/WJFXqxX8H-I/AAAAAAAAO0I/wHU7OWAwZqIMy1QHik3H8Tqkdg1CoRstgCEw/s320/blog-round%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After round 2.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PXnHNG_atAk/WJFXq0m6ZeI/AAAAAAAAO0M/8pyph4GbFL06ERz37N_UVwxHrfOGfoyXACEw/s1600/blog-round%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PXnHNG_atAk/WJFXq0m6ZeI/AAAAAAAAO0M/8pyph4GbFL06ERz37N_UVwxHrfOGfoyXACEw/s320/blog-round%2B6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round 6</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PqJvoE5_Qno/WJFXrNsdQrI/AAAAAAAAO0Q/EccvGHRRIvcryfGxKsM-ZJMVPVRlZ1fSwCEw/s1600/blog-round%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PqJvoE5_Qno/WJFXrNsdQrI/AAAAAAAAO0Q/EccvGHRRIvcryfGxKsM-ZJMVPVRlZ1fSwCEw/s320/blog-round%2B7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round 7</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PoHdu12kZAI/WJFXrcLO8rI/AAAAAAAAO0U/gz5FOVUQoDYqCAf1jCrPq2N0aGb-MuF6wCEw/s1600/blog-round%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PoHdu12kZAI/WJFXrcLO8rI/AAAAAAAAO0U/gz5FOVUQoDYqCAf1jCrPq2N0aGb-MuF6wCEw/s320/blog-round%2B8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round 8</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PmN8C6H14y8/WJFXrRD6D-I/AAAAAAAAO0Y/48aGMcMiAP0hqgqzhU4wlTh9UKwizwDxwCEw/s1600/blog-round%2B9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PmN8C6H14y8/WJFXrRD6D-I/AAAAAAAAO0Y/48aGMcMiAP0hqgqzhU4wlTh9UKwizwDxwCEw/s320/blog-round%2B9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round 9</td></tr>
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By 7 o'clock I had raised the bowl through nine rounds and was exhausted and hungry. It was obvious that I was not going to get the raising done in one day. Rather than push myself when I was too tired and risk making a mistake, I called it a day.<br />
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<br /></div>
Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-46647926961040669632017-01-31T21:55:00.000-06:002017-01-31T21:59:57.491-06:00SBC 9 - Day 2Today was supposed to be putting in flutes but the bowl was no where near ready. I got to work about 10 am and went through 7 more rounds of raising to pull the walls up to vertical. Luckily I had essentially finished the hemisphere portion of the bowl yesterday so I didn't have to go over that area any more. That makes the rounds go faster. But it's still slow going to get that much metal to come in and form a smooth vertical surface. I should note that this is the first time that I've tried to do this kind of shape. I'm used to conical or egg shapes and a cylinder was new to me. But it went pretty well and finally got to a point where I could start the next phase.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nbrd98KN-vc/WJFaJnNicwI/AAAAAAAAO08/F8Mi6CSCcsM7zY9bSQ1LXMzXwdH3JmpBACEw/s1600/blog-round%2B10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nbrd98KN-vc/WJFaJnNicwI/AAAAAAAAO08/F8Mi6CSCcsM7zY9bSQ1LXMzXwdH3JmpBACEw/s320/blog-round%2B10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round 10</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PuUW1FHzzL0/WJFaJbh8CwI/AAAAAAAAO04/-Cglzc2yvpI-FcLMTgwyOlMfTRQDzF0DwCEw/s1600/blog-round%2B11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PuUW1FHzzL0/WJFaJbh8CwI/AAAAAAAAO04/-Cglzc2yvpI-FcLMTgwyOlMfTRQDzF0DwCEw/s320/blog-round%2B11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round 11</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NVCQt76doL4/WJFaJ8hRzxI/AAAAAAAAO1A/rhOAPe8iYgYAmWeQ_A0kVdnkC9pxesJQQCEw/s1600/blog-round%2B12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NVCQt76doL4/WJFaJ8hRzxI/AAAAAAAAO1A/rhOAPe8iYgYAmWeQ_A0kVdnkC9pxesJQQCEw/s320/blog-round%2B12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round 12</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jgghx5fc5o0/WJFaKsoknAI/AAAAAAAAO1I/RCeShx6YodUIYELP_Hml1OGOUoQGGBatACEw/s1600/blog-round%2B13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jgghx5fc5o0/WJFaKsoknAI/AAAAAAAAO1I/RCeShx6YodUIYELP_Hml1OGOUoQGGBatACEw/s320/blog-round%2B13.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round 13</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X_HlhESyMN0/WJFaKogXI3I/AAAAAAAAO1E/KEjaJix9jyMTR4mMVRAhl2UVkbRFMLd3ACEw/s1600/blog-round%2B14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X_HlhESyMN0/WJFaKogXI3I/AAAAAAAAO1E/KEjaJix9jyMTR4mMVRAhl2UVkbRFMLd3ACEw/s320/blog-round%2B14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round 14</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yg-ft291HAo/WJFaK33MJGI/AAAAAAAAO1M/_d7FQ7LJ5oUOWIhdS9IC3CK-K_2ljh96wCEw/s1600/blog-round%2B15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yg-ft291HAo/WJFaK33MJGI/AAAAAAAAO1M/_d7FQ7LJ5oUOWIhdS9IC3CK-K_2ljh96wCEw/s320/blog-round%2B15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round 15</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6cLHZnU-ZE8/WJFaLmW3OaI/AAAAAAAAO1U/oK_Ks7O9pRgGdqrLnXnr9hqlxyJluUteQCEw/s1600/blog-round%2B16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6cLHZnU-ZE8/WJFaLmW3OaI/AAAAAAAAO1U/oK_Ks7O9pRgGdqrLnXnr9hqlxyJluUteQCEw/s320/blog-round%2B16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round 16</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Raising makes an uneven edge at the top and I wanted to cut that off so that the shape was ready to planish. I used a surface gauge instead of the dividers I had been using to scribe guide lines. That's so I was sure to have the edge parallel to the foot. I cut off the excess with shears and then evened and flattened the rim with a file and a belt sander. A little sandpaper to smooth the rim and the basic shape was done.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fVinivlRkvs/WJFaIyvabcI/AAAAAAAAO1c/zW9_O8N-QGADj8SpnDhQJkZqzh8foWi0ACEw/s1600/blog-rough%2Bedge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fVinivlRkvs/WJFaIyvabcI/AAAAAAAAO1c/zW9_O8N-QGADj8SpnDhQJkZqzh8foWi0ACEw/s320/blog-rough%2Bedge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rough edges must go.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-afcz0-LBANY/WJFaLhB2fXI/AAAAAAAAO1c/NefbTWpMFLYN9LC8Y7fqzcmxbxQU5mkNwCEw/s1600/blog-surface%2Bgauge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-afcz0-LBANY/WJFaLhB2fXI/AAAAAAAAO1c/NefbTWpMFLYN9LC8Y7fqzcmxbxQU5mkNwCEw/s320/blog-surface%2Bgauge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using a surface gauge to mark the trim line.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V8GptkuJ6w4/WJFaL9CwobI/AAAAAAAAO1Y/KNZGBBANok0REebA7XrX0m6VS7aabQvYQCEw/s1600/blog-trimmed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V8GptkuJ6w4/WJFaL9CwobI/AAAAAAAAO1Y/KNZGBBANok0REebA7XrX0m6VS7aabQvYQCEw/s320/blog-trimmed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neatly trimmed.</td></tr>
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<br />
Then it was on to planishing the cylinder portion of the bowl. The hemishpere was pretty well done yesterday but there were a lot of raising marks that needed to be smoothed out. In the process I also made sure that the cylinder didn't have any dips or bulges or waves left over from when the shape was being formed. Normally this would be done on a cylinder stake of a size that matched the curve. But I don't have one and didn't have time to make one. So I improvised with the 3" sphere stake, my large raising stake, and a process where I gridded off the cylinder into 8 columns and three rows and worked them over in sequence by columns from bottom to top. As each area got planished it also got blended with the areas below and behind it. By the end of the process, I had a smooth cylinder. Then the foot got a little attention and the whole thing was planished and ready to prepare for chasing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XbRoS_rW1wc/WJFaInUiwbI/AAAAAAAAO1c/kaPyEZOuVTU0RTMxVmZUD2cJuNU8YH9LQCEw/s1600/blog-planished%2Bbrass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XbRoS_rW1wc/WJFaInUiwbI/AAAAAAAAO1c/kaPyEZOuVTU0RTMxVmZUD2cJuNU8YH9LQCEw/s320/blog-planished%2Bbrass.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All planished and shiny.</td></tr>
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I want to be able to start up tomorrow ready to lay out the flutes and get right to chasing. To do that, I have to fill the bowl with chaser's pitch or something like it. I've been using red sculptor's was for this instead of actual chaser's pitch. I'm following David Huang's recommendation in this and have found that it works quite well and causes fewer problems for me than the pitch. Before filling the bowl, I annealed it one more time so that it would be soft and workable for the chasing punches. That's when I got a surprise.<br />
<br />
I'd been annealing this bowl frequently for two days. Somehow it had escaped me that when it was quenched after annealing and before pickling it didn't look the way copper usually does. After pickling it looked like normal copper, a lovely pale pink. But before that it looked oddly bronze-ish and mottled. Well, after this pickling I wanted to scrub it up nice and clean so layout lines would show up well. That's when I noticed that the scrubbed parts looked golden yellow, not coppery. What the...? A quick check with a file on a piece of the sheared off edge confirmed it. I've been working 16 gauge brass for two days. No wonder I was getting tired!<br />
<br />
Yep. I'm an idiot.<br />
<br />
With that out of the way I filled the bowl with wax and left it to cool while I had dinner. Tomorrow I'll do the layout of the flutes and see if I can get them chased in before the day is done.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtOcgqUf8Rs/WJFaIX-dfFI/AAAAAAAAO1c/0SNKgIvVRvIP2YiYLi0YDEAcn8euIudBACEw/s1600/blog-ready%2Bto%2Bfill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtOcgqUf8Rs/WJFaIX-dfFI/AAAAAAAAO1c/0SNKgIvVRvIP2YiYLi0YDEAcn8euIudBACEw/s320/blog-ready%2Bto%2Bfill.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to fill.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A1HCTlS9qPk/WJFaId9D8-I/AAAAAAAAO1c/7T6fQZpb0zUYtFUoL_xRF91_EObx9g-HgCEw/s1600/blog-filled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A1HCTlS9qPk/WJFaId9D8-I/AAAAAAAAO1c/7T6fQZpb0zUYtFUoL_xRF91_EObx9g-HgCEw/s320/blog-filled.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filled and cooling.</td></tr>
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It's been a long fun day. See you tomorrow.<br />
<br />Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-53594824783600124032017-01-29T22:48:00.001-06:002017-01-29T22:48:02.841-06:00Week 9 - Working on the Chain, GangThis week's finished project is an extension to <a href="http://www.pushingcopper.com/2017/01/week-8-steel-on-my-mind.html" target="_blank">last week's</a>. A focal needs something to hang from so this week I made a chain for '<i>Don't Leave Home Without It</i>'. <div>
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<div>
The setting for <i>DLHWI </i>is made of iron binding wire, so I thought I'd continue using that for the chain. It was a challenge because I'd never made any chain before. I started by making a single link and then trying to duplicate it. No luck. Could not get the links to match. Then I tried to make a batch of links starting with cutting a set of identical length blanks. That worked, but didn't match the original link that I had made and liked. </div>
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<div>
So I measured out a piece of wire that I knew was too long, Starting at one end, I went through the steps to form the link carefully matching the length of the link I wanted. When it was done, I cut off the finished link and checked to make sure it duplicated the original. It did. I measured the remaining wire, subtracted that from the original wire length and that was the length I needed to make the links I wanted. Turns out I needed 2 and 7/8ths inches for a link.</div>
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I cut one to that length and formed it to make sure that it matched. Once I was sure that it did I went into production. Here's the steps:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Cut off a length of wire about a yard long, enough for a batch of links.</li>
<li>Secure one end in the vise and use a green scrubby to scour off the black oxide coating of the iron binding wire. This also helps straighten the wire.</li>
<li>Mark off the link length on a piece of wood and use that to mark and cut link blanks; as many as can be gotten from the length of wire. A set of diagonal cutters was used to cut the blanks.</li>
<li>Grab six or so blanks and align them so all the ends on one side are even. Use a disc sander to sand them all flat. Flip the stack over and sand the other side so they are all flat and even. Now all the blanks are the same length and have trimmed ends. Do this until all the blanks in the batch are done. Note, you will want to quench the first end in a dish of water before flipping it around and grabbing the freshly sanded (hot) end. Ask me how I learned this.</li>
<li>Using a pair of bail-making pliers (or a marked pair of round-nosed pliers) turn the eye on one end of each blank. Make sure that you get the cut end of the wire to touch the shaft of the link and that you reverse curve at the base of the eye so it's centered on the shaft.</li>
<li>Use a mallet and bench block to flatten the eyes and make sure that they are on the same plane as the link shaft. Take the opportunity to straighten any kinks or curves in the shaft at well.</li>
<li>Turn the eyes at the other end of the link. If you want them to be like the one's I did, make sure that the second eye is at right angles to the first eye.</li>
<li>Look them all over and make any tweeks needed to get them just right.</li>
</ol>
That's one batch of links. Lay them out and see if you've got enough. If not, go back to step one and make another batch. I ended up making three batches and have several left over.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once I had enough links I used Birchwood Casey Cold Gun Bluing solution to patina each link a nice dark black. I dried them and applied Renaissance Wax to coat and seal them. After they were dried and buffed the links were ready to connect to each other and to the loop of the pendant. I wrapped my pliers jaws with tape to protect the links from scratches while I opened and closed the eyes to join them.</div>
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And this is the result.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MM7vohKRaFI/WI7DvtX1ULI/AAAAAAAAOrA/rjdscq-dlHMJOfrN4SnLeHk0mJAUqDzdgCKgB/s1600/20170128_172914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MM7vohKRaFI/WI7DvtX1ULI/AAAAAAAAOrA/rjdscq-dlHMJOfrN4SnLeHk0mJAUqDzdgCKgB/s400/20170128_172914.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm pretty pleased with my first chain.</div>
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Here's the whole thing. Remember, it's your brain. Don't Leave Home Without It.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VSR8wLqTBDI/WI7D8Ab81NI/AAAAAAAAOrE/CUJP0W0zkpMvdWqZFmad4kT_N6uVbC28gCKgB/s1600/20170128_172905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VSR8wLqTBDI/WI7D8Ab81NI/AAAAAAAAOrE/CUJP0W0zkpMvdWqZFmad4kT_N6uVbC28gCKgB/s400/20170128_172905.jpg" width="395" /></a></div>
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Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-35041615286478548362017-01-22T20:52:00.002-06:002017-01-29T22:51:16.712-06:00Week 8 - Steel on My MindThis week I have two finished items to show. More than that got done, but these are the ones I took photos of.<br />
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First is the piece I had hoped to finish <a href="http://www.pushingcopper.com/2017/01/week-7-studio-clean-up-in-progress.html" target="_blank">last week</a>, then gacked when I was closing the last prong. It's fixed, has a new patina, and a new prong mount. May I present <i>Don't Leave Home Without It</i>. Copper, chased and repousséd, cupric nitrate patina, sealed with Renaissance wax.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sGLa_6AiRDE/WIVkgj7A2VI/AAAAAAAAOms/KQFuLIKAYyogENlSrV8zeZxeVXcc8eKbACKgB/s1600/20170122_122313-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sGLa_6AiRDE/WIVkgj7A2VI/AAAAAAAAOms/KQFuLIKAYyogENlSrV8zeZxeVXcc8eKbACKgB/s400/20170122_122313-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is your brain on jewelry.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B420sq_eGCE/WIVkgiLZRDI/AAAAAAAAOms/tyr_pN2xckEGt2wZZBbTePkwubxGtZsMACKgB/s1600/20170122_122326-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B420sq_eGCE/WIVkgiLZRDI/AAAAAAAAOms/tyr_pN2xckEGt2wZZBbTePkwubxGtZsMACKgB/s400/20170122_122326-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back side showing the steel setting.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The setting is steel wire soldered together. I owe a debt of thanks to <a href="http://www.pegfetter.com/" target="_blank">Peg Fetter</a>, who was kind enough to field my phone call full of questions out of the blue and who pointed me in the direction of a book which had clear instructions and photos on how to solder steel. That's <i>The Penland Book of Jewelry: Master Classes in Jewelry Techniques</i>. The chapter by Rob Jackson covers fabricating jewelry with steel. Thanks Peg!<br />
<br />
When the focal was done I decided to try fabricating a chain for it. That's currently in pieces on the bench.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Second is a bit of tool reclamation. While clearing out boxes from the studio I came across this poor thing. It is a mason's chisel (I think). You can see that it's in terrible shape; heavy rust all over. Just steel brushing wasn't going to bring it back to usable condition.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QSzERGN6s3s/WIVmde2Tn6I/AAAAAAAAOnM/mDLlbf7zHT0AgE96Dozu9NSm1qU5080yACKgB/s1600/20170114_200847-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QSzERGN6s3s/WIVmde2Tn6I/AAAAAAAAOnM/mDLlbf7zHT0AgE96Dozu9NSm1qU5080yACKgB/s320/20170114_200847-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So I stuck it on a bath of white vinegar (the cheap stuff you can buy by the gallon) with some table salt thrown in it. Left it there overnight. The next day I fished it out and brushed it off under running water. This is the result.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mbn96zFF9o4/WIVmhFlCieI/AAAAAAAAOnQ/c-fcfRv8HYw_wHFty-jQ7x5_m72V9A2wACKgB/s1600/20170120_122659-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mbn96zFF9o4/WIVmhFlCieI/AAAAAAAAOnQ/c-fcfRv8HYw_wHFty-jQ7x5_m72V9A2wACKgB/s320/20170120_122659-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It was pretty obvious that the rust pitting was very deep and there were a couple of spots that looked like they might be cracks. Some other spots looked like a bad weld job. In any case I didn't need a mason's chisel. But a hatchet stake could be useful. So it was on to a 60 grit flap sander in a 4.5" angle grinder. The surfaces were taken down to bare metal and the edge got reshaped a little to reflect its new use. That got it to this stage.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9YuvrtaZs34/WIVmlypbvaI/AAAAAAAAOnU/3X1LStkLlL0A698v9-xJYb_dMGJpjWk7ACKgB/s1600/20170120_124810-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9YuvrtaZs34/WIVmlypbvaI/AAAAAAAAOnU/3X1LStkLlL0A698v9-xJYb_dMGJpjWk7ACKgB/s320/20170120_124810-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Finally, I taped off the edge and gave it a good coat of enamel spray paint to protect it from further rust. Ready to join the other stakes in the rack.<br />
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A good deal more got done on cleaning up the studio but that's enough for now.Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-42148109780320223962017-01-15T21:33:00.002-06:002017-01-15T21:33:52.888-06:00Week 7 - Studio clean-up in progressIt's been a rough week here. We narrowly missed the brunt of an ice storm. Various other things went on that disrupted the daily routine so less got done than I would have hoped.<br />
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I had hoped to show you a completed pendant - a chased copper brain I was going to call "<i>Don't Leave Home Without It</i>". It was almost done last week. Then on Monday I was closing over the last prong on the setting and the prong pusher slipped. It put a dent and a gouge in the chased copper and knocked off a bunch of the patina. I had to cut off the setting and take the whole thing back to bare metal before I could repair the damage. I need to go through a number of finishing steps and remake the setting before i can get it back to the point it was. Perhaps this time I can close all four prongs without mishap.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I decided to take a break and do some work on getting the mess in the studio cleaned up. When we moved in all sorts of stuff got stuck in the basement. Some of it should have been there but some really belonged elsewhere. It was a mess.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nFqgYu6ZQas/WHw7Kq5qHXI/AAAAAAAAOhY/YR84Ql97ktMCIGg70nN3J-9swGK4iGlKACKgB/s1600/20170107_161520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nFqgYu6ZQas/WHw7Kq5qHXI/AAAAAAAAOhY/YR84Ql97ktMCIGg70nN3J-9swGK4iGlKACKgB/s400/20170107_161520.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a jumble and no floor space to move in.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There were a bunch of woodworking and blacksmithing tools that ought to have gone into the shop space in the garage. So I wrestled them out of their various hiding places and set them aside to get moved into their proper location. I was also able to go through several boxes of mixed items and sort them into bottles and boxes, labeling them as I went. I was able to move a shelving unit which held a lot of miscellaneous stuff and get it better arranged. Various other items got moved out or rearranged and now the west side of the studio is looking a lot better.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O2GeO3FKK2M/WHw7597J0dI/AAAAAAAAOhg/sKgUHBuK_5Ub73pIaopaAaF2zoH_qSpMgCKgB/s1600/20170114_201721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O2GeO3FKK2M/WHw7597J0dI/AAAAAAAAOhg/sKgUHBuK_5Ub73pIaopaAaF2zoH_qSpMgCKgB/s400/20170114_201721.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look! Clear floor!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's not finished by any means, but I now have this side of the studio in better shape and I know what is actually in the boxes. Almost all of them are now labeled.<br />
<br />
I had hoped to move all the stuff that had to go to the garage but only got it to a staging area upstairs. The ice interfered but another complication came up that made things worse. There were two bulbs out in the side area of the garage which left it pretty much in darkness. I figured I'd replace the bulbs, rearrange a few things to make room, and then move the woodworking and smithing tools into their proper places. Easy, right?<br />
<br />
Not exactly. When I got up on a ladder to change the first bulb it briefly lit, then popped and sparked. Then the socket came off in my hand. It had been installed badly and was waiting to fail. Okay - try the second bulb. Same thing. So now I have to replace two sockets in order to have light so I can put things away. I can see that the coming week is going to be more interesting than I had wanted.<br />
<br />
But I've got floor space in the studio!Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-91991340659811544722017-01-08T22:31:00.000-06:002017-01-08T22:31:20.240-06:00Self Challenge Week 6 Several days were unproductive this week because I was laid low by some passing micro-organism. While I began to feel better by Thursday, there wasn't time to complete very much.<br />
<br />
Still, I was able to move things around in the studio and get a little more organized and I was able to put the patina, sealer, and gold leaf on an <i>Elsewhen Antiquities</i> piece that I showed back on <a href="http://www.pushingcopper.com/2016/11/two-vessels-little-later-on.html" target="_blank">November 5th</a>. The patina is Liver of Sulfur. It's sealed with Renaissance Wax and the three spots with gold are 23 kt leaf.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KHXy02pVnZs/WHMReOES4EI/AAAAAAAAOeQ/crkw83G0xkM0Xv9htsMY5FZpnwpUUiRxwCKgB/s1600/20170108_013420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KHXy02pVnZs/WHMReOES4EI/AAAAAAAAOeQ/crkw83G0xkM0Xv9htsMY5FZpnwpUUiRxwCKgB/s640/20170108_013420.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The patina actually has more reds and iridescence in it, but my photo skills are't up to showing it.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9rjbyfy9mk4/WHMReNRno4I/AAAAAAAAOeQ/d3o-5Q0Vh2UnV6NBdVw86dm6MCMKtUAjwCKgB/s1600/20170108_013356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="604" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9rjbyfy9mk4/WHMReNRno4I/AAAAAAAAOeQ/d3o-5Q0Vh2UnV6NBdVw86dm6MCMKtUAjwCKgB/s640/20170108_013356.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
I'm still working out how to mount this on a wooden plaque for display so I suppose there's a question as to whether this counts as a finished piece.<br />
<br />
What do you think? Finished enough to count?Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-36648538836149115752017-01-01T17:43:00.000-06:002017-01-01T17:47:15.403-06:00Thoughts on New Year's DayWell it's been a year. What a year. My personal fortunes have risen while the nation's fortunes have been battered and beaten. A year of many deaths great and small. A year of precious archeological treasures destroyed by a band of heartless, zealous thugs. A year of tumultuous politics culminating in the election of the worst candidate it has ever been the misfortune of this country to see. A year when I moved house, retired, and began to build a new career as an artist. The contrast makes my head swim.<br />
<br />
No great revelations occurred to me at midnight on this first day, not even a quiet epiphany. But there was the sense that a line had been crossed, if only because we had survived a difficult year mostly intact. <br />
<br />
The Zen saying goes: Before enlightenment: chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment: chop wood, carry water. Yesterday I wrote morning pages, cleaned cat boxes, and worked in the studio. Today I shall write morning pages, clean cat boxes, and work in the studio. I will post to my blog about the<a href="http://www.pushingcopper.com/2017/01/self-challenge-week-5.html" target="_blank"> cuffs that I finished this week</a>. There will be the little rituals of beginning a new year - eating herring, taking down old calendars and putting up new ones, doing a little of everything that one wants to do in the new year. There will <strong>not</strong> be the making of resolutions. I have my hands full trying to keep the ones I've already made. There <strong>will</strong> be the continuation of daily life which is, after all, what we wish for when we celebrate the new year. We wish that the sun will continue to come up, that we will have enough to eat, that we will have shelter, and that we may hope for improvement.<br />
<br />
Chop wood, carry water. Maybe a better axe, possibly a better bucket, but chop wood, carry water. If we do not chop and carry then we are done. No more scent of new cut wood, no heft of split logs tugging arms down. No texture of the ground below while walking to the woodpile. No sound of water splashing into the bucket. No crisp cool taste of well or stream. Chop wood, carry water. Live life in all its sensory detail. Even the smallest, most pedestrian things can have savor if we pay attention to them.<br />
<br />
Having carried water thirst will be quenched. Having chopped wood fire will fire warm us. Having done both we may have soup. And there yet may be warm weather and soft breezes and birdsong in days to come. Chop wood, carry water, take care of your needs. Pay attention to the world and be nourished.<br />
<br />
And more - make art. Daily. Nourish your soul and celebrate the world. Chop wood, carry water, make art. Hear the axe thud and the wood crack apart. Watch the glint and play of water splashing into the bucket. Savor the warmth of the fire, the tension in muscle, the flavor of food, the relaxation of sleep. Turn it all into music, dance, clothes, jewelry, pottery, paintings.<br />
<br />
Chop wood, carry water, make art.<br />
<br />
May your year be full of days, may your days be full, my friends.Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-61662058044520528092017-01-01T17:41:00.001-06:002017-01-01T17:41:28.900-06:00Self Challenge - Week 5Lots of little things got done this week. New vise jaw liners for the smaller vise on my raising stump. That vise got remounted so it doesn't wobble any more. I mixed up a batch of Edinburgh etch solution in preparation for some experiments. Several boxes of miscellaneous stuff got unpacked and put away properly. And I finished two more cuffs.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FI7rZQRKpAk/WGmScAXpc0I/AAAAAAAAOZU/BIDVnQ-4iVM4-FCGSIMXKfDodxATngSCACLcB/s1600/100_3518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FI7rZQRKpAk/WGmScAXpc0I/AAAAAAAAOZU/BIDVnQ-4iVM4-FCGSIMXKfDodxATngSCACLcB/s640/100_3518.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left is brass, right is copper.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Both cuffs are fold formed and air chased. The left one is brass, no patina, tumble polished and sealed with spray lacquer. The right is copper, liver of sulfur patina and brass brush plating on the center forms. Also spray lacquer sealed.Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-44935647785585149042016-12-24T15:18:00.000-06:002016-12-24T15:20:00.759-06:00Pendant from Another TimeThe project for self-challenge week 4 is this pendant. It's a piece in the <i>Elsewhen Antiquities</i> series. From the excavation catalog:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Presumably a decorative plaque or mount of some kind, this chased and repousséed copper piece has been stabilized and tab set in a brass holder to serve as a pendant. From Mound 5, age unknown because it was located in surface screening as part of the site survey.</i></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4dRsa6VWsnU/WF7j3sKZUBI/AAAAAAAAOUw/VzkLiJWEAcAK91YG7J-R99ZaZqf5w83PACKgB/s1600/20161224_142858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4dRsa6VWsnU/WF7j3sKZUBI/AAAAAAAAOUw/VzkLiJWEAcAK91YG7J-R99ZaZqf5w83PACKgB/s400/20161224_142858.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q-yr9oAmRwE/WF7kKrngqSI/AAAAAAAAOU8/M0-Wus8Ay-kwJoZ33FAEBwjH3D8FwI3agCKgB/s1600/20161224_142810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q-yr9oAmRwE/WF7kKrngqSI/AAAAAAAAOU8/M0-Wus8Ay-kwJoZ33FAEBwjH3D8FwI3agCKgB/s400/20161224_142810.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-28777170174329748482016-12-16T20:27:00.001-06:002016-12-16T20:27:56.512-06:00Finished Piece for Challenge Week 3This week my finish-a-piece challenge is met by a small vessel. It's one of three that I made several years ago when I was just starting to learn how to raise bowls from sheet. I didn't have proper stakes, just some large dapping punches that I had to jerry-rig a method of holding in order to use them like stakes. Not knowing any better, I used 16 gauge copper and a 4 inch diameter starting disc so I had very little leverage to use in holding the disc against the stake while I hit it. This little guy took me a week of evenings to get formed!<br />
<br />
Later, after I'd learned more about raising, it became my first practice piece to learn how to patina and how to apply gold leaf. The patina was good. The leafing job was... barely acceptable. Lots of weird spots and lumps where dust or something had contaminated the gold size (glue) or the leaf itself. So it sat on a shelf. Then, in this fall's class at Flo Valley, I had a chance to try commercial gold plating on a piece. This was something I'd been interested in for a while. So I took off the gold leaf, polished up the inside, masked off the outside, and sent it off to get electroplated. When it came back the patina was ruined. Lesson learned - plate before patina.<br />
<br />
I wanted to see how well the plating would hold up to a hot patina process so this week I removed the old patina and re-applied ferric nitrate which goes on at about 212 to 220 F. The result is that the gold is unharmed but slightly darkened. I suspect that there may be some alloying of copper from the substrate to the plating. It's a nice look though. Unlike the gold leaf, this interior is safe to drink from.<br />
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Unfortunately, the plater missed a spot so I don't think this piece is saleable. But it's a good end to an experimental piece and I'll hang on to it as a reminder of where I started and how experimentation is always a good idea.Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-75494900805863976352016-12-11T11:31:00.001-06:002016-12-11T11:31:37.807-06:00Weekly Challenge Dec 11, 2016I've been laid low by a bad back this week, so there isn't much to report.<br />
<br />
A picture on the web got me interested in trying chasing on air so I went to the studio and turned this out from a piece of scrap 22 gauge copper. First time I've tried a bracelet. I've since chased three more but haven't gotten them shaped, trimmed, and patinated. So just one piece this week.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xQLwZn5FDLU/WE2NJdxZ-UI/AAAAAAAAOQI/0VdsKZpmnCIaoLB20V-zLbcK0tZH1xfZQCKgB/s1600/20161211_111047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xQLwZn5FDLU/WE2NJdxZ-UI/AAAAAAAAOQI/0VdsKZpmnCIaoLB20V-zLbcK0tZH1xfZQCKgB/s640/20161211_111047.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-69279105199244075532016-12-04T23:31:00.001-06:002016-12-04T23:31:47.152-06:00Challenge Week One - Achievement Unlocked!Despite some setbacks I was able to finish eleven pairs of earrings this week. They were UFOs* from a while back.<br />
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The three egg-shaped repousse ones are brass with a commercial patina, Birchwood Casey Cold Blue for Steel. It's intended for restoring gun bluing but I found that it makes a beautiful iridescent dark blue-purple on brass. I think it looks like beetle elytra (wing covers.)<br />
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The photo doesn't do it justice (because I'm not a very good photographer.)<br />
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The other earrings are copper. The skulls are jewelry saw exercises I did about two years ago and never turned into anything. The slender drops are a shape I call earfinger (that needs a different post.) Half of the copper earrings were patinated with vinegar and salt and the other half with ammonia and salt. They've been sealed with a spray urethane so the patina won't rub or flake off.<br />
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All eleven are on commercial earwires. I'm not certain if they are brass or gold-plated brass.<br />
I'd intended to make my own wires but it turned out that I had the wrong wire and the jig I was going to use was a failure. I was in despair thinking that I was going to fail my challenge the first week.<br />
But Carole managed to locate some earwires in her stash of beading and jewelry findings so I was saved. Thank you for hauling my butt out of the fire, dear.<br />
<br />
There are only nine pairs showing in the photos because I took them all to the bluegrass jam at the Schlafly Bottleworks to finish putting them on ear wires and two pair sold before I had a chance to take a photo. So I'm a happy metalsmith!<br />
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On to week two!<br />
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* UFO = unfinished objectsLew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-10874301164549886572016-11-30T18:00:00.000-06:002016-11-30T18:07:14.504-06:00I Just Hit Myself With A GauntletAs part of my ongoing development as an artist I need to set some goals and work towards them.<br />
<br />
I want to challenge myself to do two things each week. They are:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Finish at least one art project a week. </li>
<li>Post to this blog at least once a week. </li>
</ol>
<br />
Here's the fine print defining what that means.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Art projects don't have to be big but they do have to be complete.</li>
<li>For the next six months, getting something done to upgrade the studio is going to count as a art project. That way I can take some time to continue to work on the studio projects that need to be done before I can tackle some of the art projects I have in mind.</li>
<li>At the very least, the post should tell you what art project got done.</li>
<li>Weeks start on Mondays because it's easier not to split the weekend. That means I've got til Sunday night to finish something and let you know about it this week.</li>
<li>More than one project or post in a week doesn't mean I get to skip the next week.</li>
</ul>
<br />
There's a problem though.<br />
<br />
I've found that just deciding to do something isn't enough to make sure I do it. There's a devious little part of me who insists that just because I decided something doesn't mean I can't undecide it. He tells me, 'No one will know. It's OK to skip it this time.' And then I do.<br />
<br />
Once that happens, it's easier the next time. Pretty soon, the resolve is gone and it's all over.<br />
<br />
No, if I really want to commit to doing something, I have to make it embarrassing to fail.<br />
<br />
What can I say? It's not a trait I'm proud of but it seems to be ingrained. I just have to learn to work with what I've got.<br />
<br />
So, I need your help.<br />
<br />
If I miss a week, call me on it. Let me know that I messed up in the comments.<br />
<br />
One caveat (see how sneaky that inner guy can be?)<br />
I give myself the right not to finish an art piece or post to the blog in a given week if there is a real emergency. You know, if I'm truly ill or there's an emergency in the family. In that case, however, I have to tell you all why it happened.<br />
<br />
And you guys get to tell me if my reason is sufficient or not.<br />
Don't be shy about it. The embarrassment is part of the way this works.<br />
<br />
Can I count on you?<br />
<br />
Gauntlet's down, self. Time to get to work.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-10208476456398600452016-11-28T21:39:00.001-06:002016-11-28T21:39:59.370-06:00Doing the Happy Hammer DanceThere's all sorts of things that I could write about but this has to go first.<br />
<br />
My new heavy chasing hammer from <a href="http://nechamkin.com/" target="_blank">Nechamkin Silver Studios</a> arrived today! I've wanted one of these since I took a chasing and repousse workshop from Liza Nechamkin two years ago. At the time I bought her standard chasing hammer and the standard set of tools plus the matting tool set but couldn't afford the heavy hammer. So when I saw that they were going out of stock I splurged and ordered one.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iaQ9hX0zwEY/WDz12yJcxVI/AAAAAAAAODg/tGCJw7HlqmQmGAdgJt93UB0BiD2f_cy2wCKgB/s1600/20161128_200345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iaQ9hX0zwEY/WDz12yJcxVI/AAAAAAAAODg/tGCJw7HlqmQmGAdgJt93UB0BiD2f_cy2wCKgB/s400/20161128_200345.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Isn't it sweet? Walnut handle, forged steel head with a lovely blued finish.<br />
<br />
Works beautifully too. Fits my hand as comfortably as the original Nechamkin pistol grip hammer but the extra weight and stiffness of the handle mean that I can strike a deep mark with much less effort. Less effort makes for greater control and longer working time. I <b>love </b>it.<br />
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Here's a comparison with my other chasing hammer.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M9C6meyF5JI/WDz2Qu705pI/AAAAAAAAODk/uOOY5f8K4yI4d5TecT87Z4Oh6cb42_OawCKgB/s1600/20161128_202253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M9C6meyF5JI/WDz2Qu705pI/AAAAAAAAODk/uOOY5f8K4yI4d5TecT87Z4Oh6cb42_OawCKgB/s320/20161128_202253.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yKwW4IDQuGI/WDz2QtljJaI/AAAAAAAAODk/BPalZhMPKD02CstTfyhxwhSeK3Zk5FHZgCKgB/s1600/20161128_202305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yKwW4IDQuGI/WDz2QtljJaI/AAAAAAAAODk/BPalZhMPKD02CstTfyhxwhSeK3Zk5FHZgCKgB/s320/20161128_202305.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Thanks Liza! </div>
Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-77446869438368653452016-11-05T23:28:00.000-05:002016-11-05T23:28:38.239-05:00Two vessels a little later onThe two vessels that I
<a href="http://www.pushingcopper.com/2016/10/been-busy.html" target="_blank">posted about on the 20th</a>
are getting closer to done.<br/><br/>
Here's the high relief vessel.<br />
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The shapes are lots crisper now.
I soldered the hole that it had and was able to chase over the repair.
So it's a good solid repair.<br/><br/>
The solder repair from the back (before it gets scraped down to the minimum amount needed.)
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The solder repair from the front. Practically invisible.
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What remains is to decide how to handle the eye.
There are some dings in it that interrupt the smoothness of the plain copper surface.
If the metal were thicker, I'd sand and buff them out.
But that won't work in this gauge metal without making it too thin.
So I need to chase a texture into it that will obscure the dings
and, ideally, enhance the look of the piece.
That will have to wait for a new day and a fresh eye.<br /><br/>
This is where I've gotten to on the low relief one.<br />
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There's some more texturing to do
but it's pretty close to the point where all the hammering is done
and it's time to patina it.
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All in all, I'm pretty happy with the way these are going.
They've presented some interesting challenges
and I've learned a good deal from them.Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-75096609018532305842016-10-20T15:14:00.000-05:002016-11-05T23:30:56.127-05:00Been BusyIt's been several months since I last posted something. My bad - I need to post more regularly. In the meantime I've been busy.<br />
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I have a new bench for hot work now. Much better than the make-do I was working with.<br />
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It's a Harbor Freight special, but it has a nice wide surface, drawers and pegboard storage, lighting, and a lower shelf for extras. I'll be able to safety-chain the acetylene tank to the leg.<br />
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The whole bench frame is metal so I can use magnets to add features.<br />
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That round thing on the overhead shelf is a magnetic stick-on timer so I can put something in the pickle pot or other solution and have it tell me when it's ready to come out.<br />
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There's also two new vessel projects in the works. These are the first in a style I'm calling <i>Elsewhen Antiquities</i>.<br />
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First is a piece in thin (22 gauge) copper. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of the earliest stages. It's being done in high relief. Right now it's on the second pass of repousse. The initial stage was dishing to make a smooth, shallow bowl. The design was drawn on freehand and the basic lines put in with chasing tools. I filled the bowl with red sculptor's wax for this stage. Some of the larger shapes were simply hammered into place, no chasing tools needed. That speeds things up. I did manage to poke a hole in one spot while I was trying to deepen the major spiral of the piece. I'll solder that closed when I've finished this repousse pass. For now, I'm just avoiding that spot.<br />
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In place on the pitch bowl. Not all of the piece is supported, so I need to be careful where I work. But this way I can use the pitch bowl to advantage in tilting the piece and I don't need a pitch bowl bigger than the piece I'm working on. That's good because I only have one large pitch bowl and it's got the second piece on it.</div>
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Top view before the second pass. My intention is to sharpen up the lines that form the crests and valleys of the shapes.<br />
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After the second pass of repousse. See how much crisper the lines are?<br />
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Front side of the piece after I popped it off the pitch.</div>
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The second piece is in 18 gauge copper and will be done in lower relief.</div>
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Here it is after being dished and having the design drawn in Sharpie.</div>
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And here it is after I've scratched the design in with a scribe and set it into my large pitch bowl. Scratching the design in makes it fairly permanent. The Sharpie would have worn off of before I got the whole thing lined in with chasing tools for the first pass of chasing. Pencil is no better. The scribe lines are harder to see, but they don't rub off and they're narrow, so I have a very clear idea where the chasing tool is supposed to go.
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Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-15658578097045230722016-07-18T22:06:00.001-05:002016-07-18T22:06:26.631-05:00The Fire This TimeFor now, this is the torch setup in the studio. I planned something more elaborate, but the lack of a torch was really getting in the way. So I used a portable bench that I had, found the pickle pot, pumice pan, and torch, and got a temporary hot work station set up.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It'll do for now.</td></tr>
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Pickle pot on the left, quench bucket underneath, pumice pan in the middle, igniter and torch on the right. The pickle pot is a crock pot from Goodwill. The pumice pan was a cookie tin and sits on a lazy susan that I picked up somewhere. (No, honest, I didn't make off with one from the kitchen.) Quench bucket used to have kitty litter in it. The torch is my trusty Smith Handy Heet air-acetylene rig. I love it.<br />
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Ventilation is not what it will be, but that has to wait for a place to install a hood. So for now I can anneal and solder indoors. Anything that produces lots of smoke or vapors will have to get done outside. That would be filling and emptying vessels with pitch and doing hot patinas.<br />
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But at this point I can actually get back to raising vessels.Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402019097439148462.post-2052279712192240092016-06-10T11:01:00.001-05:002016-11-29T22:45:58.978-06:00Why Pushing Copper?I call this blog pushing copper because that's mostly what I do in my work. I push metal around with hammers, punches, stakes, pliers, my fingers, anything that will do the work of shaping the piece from its original form into the form I want. Metal is plastic, like clay. Really stiff clay, but still plastic. Hit it and it deforms. It bends, squishes, thins or thickens, all depending on the direction of the force applied. The tools just make it possible to apply that force in the desired direction and location. <br />
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Iron and steel are cheap and readily available. But they have to be heated to make them soft enough to work by hand. That adds a level of difficulty to the task; you have to be able to hold the work as well as the tools and you can't get too close or you risk getting burned. Silver and gold can be worked by hand at room temperature. That's an advantage. You can hold onto your work and get very close to it. Or you can fix it into something like wax or pitch. That leaves both hands free to hold the tools for shaping the metal. But precious metals are expensive. That makes mistakes expensive.<br />
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Copper and its alloys are a wonderful compromise. They are relatively inexpensive and they can be worked at room temperature. Copper, brass, and bronze have beautiful warm colors and can take a wide range of patinas. Copper is particularly malleable. It works easily under the hammer and the experience of shaping it is relaxing, almost meditative.<br />
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Copper is also the first functional metal that humans learned to work, around 11,000 years ago. It can be found in native form, as metal not ore, so early humans learned the uses of metal before they learned how to smelt it. Silver and gold can also be found this way, but they are rare and are too soft to make functional use of. Around the same time that humans began cultivating crops, some 9,500 years ago, they learned how to smelt copper from its ore. Humanity was on its way to civilization.<br />
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The work I do in copper and copper alloys is based on the tools and techniques learned in this deep history. It gives me a sense of connection to the artisans of the past; knowing that they would recognize much of what I do as their craft.<br />
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Copper is one of the seven ancient metals: gold, silver, copper, tin, iron, lead, and mercury. The ancients associated each of them with a deity and a bright feature in the sky. The names and sometimes the genders change depending on the culture. Of the seven, only one was always female: Copper, the Queen of metals. <br />
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<br />Lew Shieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07999694321066614519noreply@blogger.com04051 Phillips Ave, St. Louis, MO 63116, USA38.5907497 -90.25620470000001238.5905557 -90.256519700000013 38.590943700000004 -90.255889700000012