Forged Plant Stand Part 4

Well it’s finally finished, and like a parent I don’t want my child to go out into the world and leave me. But I know it’s going to be loved in its new home as a gift for a special person. Thank you Mr. D. for believing in me and allowing me to express myself. Enjoy!

Ah, if I could put into words that music which I hear; that music which can bring tears to the eyes of marble statues! – to which the very muscles of men are obedient!

Henry David Thoreau

Forged Plant Stand Part 3

The leaves and vines are welded together and have entwined themselves around the legs.

After forging the base and stem I weld them on to the back of the flower. Then I will forge the stamen and weld it inside the flower.

Scale forms on the outside of all objects that are forged so I strip it off with a two hour bath in muriatic acid.

I apply several coats of patina to the raw metal to get the flower the color I want.

Now that’s what I call a flower! Tomorrow I will weld them to the vines and patina the vines, leaves, and flower stems together. Later in the week I will patina the stand one more time and then finish it with several coats of clear polyurethane. It's almost done!

Forged Plant Stand Part 2

After I finished forging the other two legs I forged the cross braces.

This is the first test fit-up for the major elements.

To create the illusion of thickness I emboss some flat bar and curve it to fit under the top.

I forged the ends of the cross braces and weld everything together then moved the stand outside into the bright sunshine. I really like the combination of the rough surface texture and changing contours.

Today I finished forging the vines so I made a symbolic offering of thanks to Vulcan and ask him to guide me on my final quest. Tomorrow the flowers and leaves will begin to become part of the vines that will encircle the legs of the stand.