I absolutely love this screen, I too love that genre of metalwork....I could look at this all day, there should be no problem in selling this piece. People should be fighting over it. Amazing!!! Janet R.

The patterns are cut with a cnc plasma cutter on 16 gauge steel.

I don't think I will be giving a workshop on cnc plasma cutting, but I will likely put together a three-day blacksmithing workshop for next spring. Once I get the specifics set up, I will post the event here on ArtMetal.

The bead work is a 1/4" thick steel cnc plasma cut pattern which is then turned on edge to show the face of the "bead" cut.

Glad you noticed! 

QuiQue:
Do you have any experience with CNC water-jet cutting? I always preferred to use that rather than CNC Plasma. Why did you choose plasma cutting? Was it just because it was CNC and available?

Nic East, Jim Thorpe, PA USA
Creativity begins with a novel thought.

A few years back I started a limited production wholesale business with my son to sell functional art to galleries. My son and I put together a cnc plasma cutting system using the Torchmate kit. This particular design was designed using CAD software and was cut using this plasma cutting system.

My son ended up going back to college to get a degree in economics. Even though he enjoyed this type of work, he realized he could probably make a better living as a bank manager. So, the short story is that I have this wonderful machine that can reproduce the same design over and over just sitting in my shop without any use now. If there is anyone interested in acquiring it, let me know.

As to water-jet cutting. Way too expensive for a small shop.

Nic,

I've used a local guy to do some CNC waterjet cutting a couple of times and in doing so learned some things that would make me steer clear of it for my shop.

First, his machine, an old Rhino, I think, has cost him nearly as much in replacement parts as a new machine, over the course of several years. That isn't the biggest issue, though.

The last job I had him do for me was cutting some chain links from 1/4" silicon bronze, and it was horribly expensive. On the order of ten bucks a link. That was due to the agonizingly slow speed at which waterjet cuts silicon bronze. Stainless is really bad too, he tells me. He primarily uses the machine to cut glass for his wife's art business, and it really excells at that. Goes through glass like a hot knife through butter. Great for cardboard, too. Not so great for any metal that is at all abrasion resistant.

I also thought about laser cutting, but some types of lasers, (Co2, I think) can't cut copper due to the wavelength. On the whole, plasma is probably the way to go for metal work, albeit that it is dirty and dusty.

Since there is no one in the Territory who has a plasma cutter machine, I'm considering investing in one to do job shop work. Something to pay the bills, mostly, and only occasionally use for my own work.

I guess I need to negotiate with Enrique about delivering his machine to me and teaching me how to use it. I really want the O/A torch tractor and I'd just get the plasma as a means to getting a "free" torch drive. (grin)

copper sulphate is applied in liquid form using a sea sponge. Once dried, we put a linseed oil mix to seal it. Today, I would use WD-40 instead of the linseed oil mix. Note this finish is only good for indoor work.