Some Things I’ve Made

 

Hooks

These coat hooks were made in a batch of 15—for practicing mass production. I started with a set blank rods, heated them to 2500 degrees Fahrenheit and then started bending the tip-end first. After that, I turned the main hook, then added a decorative leaf—and a twist. Finally, two holes punched at the top for screwing into the wall.

Sword

This was, um, an experiment. Mike had never made one before. I certainly hadn’t. But my friend, of course, wanted a sword. So, challenge on! This sword was made from four separate pieces, welded together. The blade first, then the guards, then the handle. It’s sharp; it might appear in the Lord of The Rings. The friend likes it.

Kitchen Knife

We got a truckload of old farrier files from a friend of Mike’s. What better use than to pound them into knives? First Mike and I flattened them, which left behind a cool fish-scale pattern. Then we used a plasma arc to get the pieces into a general knife shape. I then shaped a handle out of wood, polished the whole finished knife—and gave it to my parents for Christmas. They call it The Potato Cleaver.

Wall-Mounted Candle Holder

One thing I never expected about becoming a blacksmith was the slow metamorphism of my house into a vampire castle. This is exhibition #1. This piece matches the toilet paper holder below in the organic crawling vines up the wall. The large plate holds candles big enough to light all creepy activities.

Door Knocker

Let’s just say this is for those those without glass doors. This knocker is sure to be heard from both inside the house as well as the farthest reaches of the basement or perhaps even the neighbors basement.

Tie Clip

It was prom season. My date had a tie. No tie clip. No money. Enter stage left: the blacksmithing prom date. The decorative front was made with a ball-peen hammer to give it a kind of topographic texture. That was easy. Welding on an alligator clip from the drug store wasn’t. After the third try, I did get the job done. And he danced with it on.

Hanging Plant Holders

These are funky, decorative twists of metal for holding a hanging plant, indoors or out. My dad promises that he’s going to put these on the porch for my Mom’s beautiful fuchsia hanging baskets, but it ain’t happened yet, you know what I mean?

Toilet Paper Holder

This is for shit.

Large Candleholder

This piece follows a design of Mike’s and is 18 inches tall and has a pleasing, chunky heft. Good for Viking feasts. I started with a 2.5 inch-thick rod and tapered it out, keeping both ends thick but the middle thinner. The toughest task was pounding the hole for the candle; that took several afternoons of taking turns driving a punch into the very hot metal.

Decorative Wall Hook

One of these went to my Aunt Claire; she uses it for her handbag. Another is destined for my cousin who is getting married in LA. The defining features of this are a leaf end, a choatic twist, and a delicate turned-over tip—all giving this a pleasing organic form, IMHO.

Barbecue Fork

This might be better called my mastodon fork, since it’s kind of primitive and I made it so long ago; it was one of my first products and it looks it. I’m proud of it though—and like to think it shows where I began. With a fork.