Things have been a bit slow on the 'net for several days now so I thought I'd share with you all my latest shop project.   The propane forge I've been using for the past five years has just about run its course and I decided to make a new and better one.  The old one has been good, but it is a bit on the small side sometimes and isn't as adaptable as I would like.  I put a 2" square port in the rear of it, but too often that isn't big enough for what I need to put through it so I'm forced to build up firebricks at the front of the forge and use the exhaust heat to get something up to temperature.  Also, this little freon can forge can't accept the middle of a scroll, for instance. Such shapes are best done in a solid fuel forge, but most of the time I don't want to fire up the coal forge just to do one heat.  I've been thinking for some months now of a new design for a forge that would solve some of my issues and still not be a huge, gas-guzzling monster that would drive me out of the shop with the dragon's breath and the waste heat.  That waste heat is a significant factor in the tropics where I work, believe me!

Hey guys I just got my website up and running. I would love it if yall would go check it out and let me know what you think (HONESTLY what you think, No hurt feelings here). Its nothing fancy but its a start. The address is http://www.designermetalworks.net table 1: Table commisioned by a boat captain. Made using an actual bronze ship's wheel.The base is steel and was painted to match the natural patina.

When creating a stair railing that has a center element on the upright balusters, it is critical to have the center element raised slightly above the center-line of the baluster.

Here is an example... the collars in the center of each elongated 'O'(oval-the upright balusters), are the center elements off-set higher than mathematical middle of the 'O'.

Hi all, the Rose Garden Fence that i finished a few months ago finally got installed and the new garden was dedicated last week. There were supposed to be two more panels on each side, but I guess they ended in weird spots in relation to the paths within the gardens so they put them on the other side of the garden. Although the rail was built to be viewed from the street, I think even the view from the back creates a nice silhouette.

Hi All, I finished one of the two decorative rose garden panels yesterday. Should finish the other one and the posts this weekend then off to the powder coaters. They go with 10 more non decorated panels and are for the new Lincoln city rose garden here. The panels are 5'H x 7'L and weigh about 500lbs(275lbs for the non-decorated ones). This is the biggest project I've worked on and I am happy to on the final stretch. It should also provide me with a lot of exposure which I am excited about.