Between Gates

It’s been a while since I made an entry in the blog. Here is some of what I’ve been up to in the studio for the last 5 months.  

Forged Letter Openers.



I participated in Hillsboro’s first Open Studio Tour and demonstrated some leaf forging for a garden screen I was making at that time.

Here’s the completed garden screen waiting for some plants to grow all over it.

I forged more stainless steel bracelets. This is a new design that I forged for my neighbor Sven.

This week I started a new commission for a courtyard gate so come back soon to view my latest adventure.

The Gate finds It's Home

The gate is now installed and it's owners are enjoying it.

The little shop elf magically appeared again and gave the final “kick test” approval.

Iron Vines Grow in the Summer Heat

Well here we go again. It’s time to finish the garden gate. Remember the gate?

After I finish forging all the pieces I put them in vinegar for 2 days to get rid of the mill scale.

Then I weld the basic design together.

Afterwards I melt solder into places I can’t weld to prevent water from getting in the joints and rusting them out.



















In my world, iron vines grow in the summer heat.

But they need a little guidance from friendly scroll benders.

Otherwise they don’t know where to go.

Ahhh, now that’s better.

After the vines have been welded to the gate a little shop elf magically attaches the leaves and flowers to their correct places.

In the heat of a dark summer night the gate waits for a cooler day to be sandblasted and painted

A cool day did help but the sand blasting was very dirty work.