Janet,

Amazing what metal will let you do to it isn't it. Beautiful work. Impressive. For those of us that aren't taking a blacksmith route, it would be nice to see some of your techniques.

Laurie O
Anoka

I think you did a great job! (No blacksmithing skills aside....??) A lot of 'blacksmiths' use die grinders and welders.... me included.....is that a bad thing?

Paula

Very nice. Just so you know Janet , I own both a welder and a die grinder.

You did a great job Janet. Especially with no blacksmithing skills! Heck, it's probably easier now a days to get pre-manufactured components to make these types of gates anyway. The only problem I see with pre-manufactured components is that the cost of them can cut into your profits. Then again, if you price the job right, there is no need to worry about the extra costs.

I think I need to clarify a bit about having the skills of a blacksmith. The only reason to have these skills is when you want to design and make hand forged objects which are unique. In other words, making things that are not commonly found in production facilities. Many of the forms we use to make gates are traditional forms that are now made by manufacturing facilities. The average user can not tell the difference between a mass produced S-scroll and one that is hand forged with all the textures that are shown by the smithy's hand.

This misconception, or lack of understanding, is the main reason there are few blacksmith craftsmen producing artwork today. That is why it is important to educate the public in the appreciation of properly hand crafted artwork. It's all okay though. There is a place for everything. And your gate turned out beautiful! You are very talented Janet. Thanks for sharing!

BTW, I too have a welder and grinder. Use them all the time! What's wonderful about the age we live in is that there are so many more tools which help us accomplish our design objectives. I think the old timers would of loved to have lived in our modern times with all the tools we have at our disposal.

that looks great! once I get my skills up a bit, I would love to work on projects like that. Where do you get you raw materials from? One issue I have is finding metal suppliers locally that will sell retail. I have to rely on getting off cuts from friends or mail order (which sucks!) shipping=OUCH!!

Hi Frank , have you checked your local Yellow Pages? Look under "Steel suppliers" , or ask your local supplier where you get your oxy-gas from , he will know a good place to call. We have many here (Southern New Hampshire), and a couple of places will even will deliver it as long as I spend 200.00 bucks. Good luck..........chrisp

Wow! That's so awesome! Certainly would never guess that you didn't have any blacksmithing skills.

That's gorgeous Janet.
It really flows, and as far as I'm concerned, doing it without blacksmithing skills and equipment makes that more of an achievement in some ways.
Leaving a piece with splatter on it and welds that look like bird sh*t is a crime - but fabricating and finishing something to that standard is as skilful and artful as forging it.
Grinders and die grinders are just mechanical files...and I for one am very glad to have them...although the noise and dust are a pain.
Any idea how many hours you put into it ?
Will Jones, www.ironwill.org.uk

Janet, Good looking screen. Blacksmithing is just one way of doing metalwork. It doesn't own the exclusive rights to it. While I like blacksmithing and try to do as much of my work as possible using a hammer and anvil, I too have a welder and die grinder. :-)

So tell us, how'd you make the knot?

Rich, I've got the biography on Edgar Brandt and according to it, Mr. Brandt openly embraced modern tools and methods. Like you wrote, Samuel Yellin used modern tools to do much of his work, he just wasn't as open about it.

Gerald

Janet,
I like this allot. I don't blacksmith either and I try to put my own spin on purchased components. You did a great job. Do you have any in progress pics? I would like to know more on how you designed it.
Mele