Hi Gerald,
Your Alter set is timeless.Its rich in symbolism and not pretentious. How did you make the finish?
Frank

I love the design.. don't think I'd have come up with that in a million years ! And of course designing the things is only the start - they turned out great.
Will Jones

Frank, the finish is Linseed oil and clear paste wax (bowling alley wax) I melt the wax and add about 1/4 the volume, boiled linseed oil. This is just about the only finish I use.

To apply, I wire brush the iron clean of loose scale and heat it up on my wood stove. What I've found works best for me, is the iron is not so hot that I can't pick it up, but is too hot to hold. When applied, the mix should lightly smoke, but not bubble or burn. It dries in a few hours, but I normally let it set for a day and then apply a topcoat of wax. For indoor ironwork, this finish is pretty much forever, if needed a light rubbing of paste wax will renew the finish. If the ironworks for outside, I'll bake on a coat of linseed oil first and then apply the mix. Eventually it will still rust, but slowly and if waxed, will stay good for along time.

Some folks like to burn it on. It gives the iron a more blackened look, but it's also shiny and I like the matte finish better.

Hope that answers your question.

Fair Winds
Gerald

Great Work Gerald, the pieces look like they're from another period, which is the point. Did you cut the cross shaped base out with a chisel? If so, that's dedication. I'm with Frank, I love the finish as well. I've used it a couple of times but it didn't turn out so black, which i might like better. If you can grab picts, I'd enjoy seeing these in their church setting.

Hope all is well.

Jake

Jake Balcom
Mettle Design
Lincoln, NE

Absolutely beautiful.Thank you for sharing with us. It's the heart of the forum.
Bobbie

Perhaps you didn't notice but alter is altar, please don't take this the wrong way - I think the cross and candle holders are beautiful, your work is awesome, congratulations! I think the design works, I do like the way the stand flows from the cross. madeleine

WOW, that is truly beautiful, inspired work.
I just returned from two weeks in Ireland, and love the Celtic trinity knot on your pieces.
I hope the congregation appreciates this lovely addition as much as we do here.
Thanks for sharing.
jodi
Northern California

Madeleine, no offence was taken :-) I've never been a good speller and I first started writing on forums as a way of improving my skill. Trust me, it has improved!

The sad news, the cross was rejected. I forgot, on the memorial cross I did last year, I had done slightly different ends. It wouldn't have mattered, as the two are in different rooms, but the cross arms are the same height as the thick black band on the stained glass window. As a result, the arms of the cross disappear. So we decided to redo the cross a little larger and the ends the same as the memorial cross. I've until Lent to have it ready, plenty of time :-) The good part, the Father wants to buy the first cross for himself.

Here's the photos of the memorial cross and Advent ring I did last winter. The Cross is four feet high. Stained glass may look good, but it plays havoc with taking photos.

Gerald Boggs

Advent ring close-up:
Advent Ring
Memorial Cross

Hi Gerald!

I really like what you did with your Cross and candle stands! I love the Triquetra symbol that you chiseled into them...very Celtic! They are very rustic and Medieval as well. One of my favorites!

Jamie Santellano