This article is a sub section from the transcripts of "Working with an Artist Blacksmith" - originally published in hard copy by BABA - the British Artist Blacksmith Association.

Good forged metalwork interprets the design idea through the medium of the forging process, It is necessary therefore to "think with the hammer" in order to design for the process. Simply passing bars through each other using a punched hole for example (figure 1) provides a far more powerful sense of joining than simply butting bars together. On an elevation drawing, however, this joint will appear as in figure 2, which might also be understood to be constructed as figures 3, 4, or 5. Not only will these look different, but the costs of making and finishing will differ. It is often acceptable commercial practice for certain types of work, to leave the weld bead visible, as shown in figure 3. If a higher quality of finish is required, a ground but invisible welded joint can be produced by chamfering the metal before welding, allowing the weld to be ground flush. Clearly this involves more skill and labor time to achieve.

The fact that there are so many alternatives, gives rise to fundamental problems in quoting for metalwork of this kind. If the original design drawing is open to such a variety of interpretations, the quotations received are unlikely to be directly comparable.

Very many commonplace details are open to similar choices. One other example illustrates this point. A simple right angle corner may be made by any one of the methods shown (figures 6-9), offering a different appearance and quality in each case. The sharp rightangle corner (figures 6 or 7.3) - easy to draw - requires expensive forging, or grinding and welding, while the hot bent corner (figure 8) with its small radius - more awkward to draw - may be simpler and cheaper to produce.

It is crucial therefore that the specifier is clear which option is required. This article is not intended as a catalogue of standard details, and indeed much of the creative input of the craftsman lies in an inventive approach to such constructional problems. Consultation with the craftsperson at the design stage can lead to a far more interesting and useful solution to the problem. A great deal can be gained by using craftspeople in this way. By encouraging interpretation of the original design, the specifier can gain from the creativity and experience of the craftsperson and conceivably save costs at the same time. It may well be better still to directly commission the artist blacksmith to design and produce the required piece of work.

Author: Peter Parkinson

ArtMetal Editor/Curator: enrique

Last Updated: Tue, Nov 14, 1995