bowls

Heavy Salad Bowl

Stephen Fitz-Gerald — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 21:03:50 -0500

I have been making handmade sinks and bowls for many years.I've never been satisfied with manufactured stainless tableware because to me it seems always the pieces are too thin,easily bent,and lack the heft I admire in an heirloom handmade item.Thus I generally work with 10ga.stainless steel and use an 85ton hydraulic press with many male and female dies of different sizes to "seduce" the form from the material.Over the years I've learned to a degree how to control the crenelations or distortions.This bowl is nearly completely round but I've left a couple of wobbles for interest and to remind the viewer that the piece is handmade and one of a kind.

Heavy Salad Bowl

Stephen Fitz-Gerald — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 21:03:22 -0500

casting singing bowls

jiminycricket — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:54:25 -0600

Hello all,

I am near completing my first forge and have the ultimate goal of casting a singing bowl (or rather casting a plate and cold-working it into a bowl). HOWEVER I am running into trouble determining the composition of these bowls. Copper and copper alloys are a major component. Some of the more traditional methods call for gold, silver, mercury, copper, iron, tin, and lead. As I am not comfortable working with mercury or lead, mine will not include these.

Where can I learn about fold forming?

B.J. Severtson — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:35:37 -0500

Where can I learn about fold forming?
Well you started here. How about staying here a little longer? Many of us here do some fold forming, with a wide variety of results, viva la difference. There is much to learn. Hang on here we go!Over the years I've referred to myself as Artist, Jeweler, metal-smith, craftsman, and goldsmith. I've earned those titles. But always found them to be a bit pretentious, Real conversation killers and not very accurate. There needed to be a better term. I found A name for my career field quite by accident. I am a butterfly farmer. It's a difficult career choice to get ones head around. But basically I take something the rest of the world doesn't even see: an egg on the backside of a leaf, a caterpillar, or a piece of copper and I watch it change. When it becomes something cool, beautiful I release it. It's very hard work. but I've found it very freeing. Should you decide that you too are a butterfly farmer then here is my suggestion. Rush (it's the last time you ever have to rush) out and buy a spray bottle that will make a mist. fill with water. Use this to spray your forehead, arms, upper body before anyone sees you working. It helps. Ah you laugh. That's good It's easier to see and learn when we stop taking this stuff and ourselves so seriously. Promise me right now that you'll never tell any one how much fun this is. It's work. Remember that. It's important, you know? For your first lesson you will need A sketch book, If you can't afford that, find a paper bag. The weight of the paper is important. Some Chinese take out food delivered to you in one of those paper containers. The biggest sheet of copper you can buy. Not a foil but just thick enough that you can still bend it with your fingers with a little effort. a pair of scissors and a tin snips are also handy to have. Has the take out food arrived yet? Ok in the mean time we can get started. Make your self a stack of papers about 4" sort of square. Fold one of the sheets in half, open it up easily lay it on the table in front of you and stare at it until you see that it's not flat anymore. Make two folds on another sheet parallel is good, open it up. Bring two edges together. Observe that from flat (bad) and straight (bad)you have made curves good. Take a break..Eat the Chinese food if you must. I don't care I want you to see the paper container that the stuff came in. If yours came in a styrofoam thing that's vacuum forming and will not be covered in this class. Reorder until you get a box thing. Stare at the empty box thing pick it up let your mind digest it. Make one out of paper. It's a 3D solid it's a cold construction, it's origami. Origami is not where we are going. Make yourself some copper rectangles squares circles ect. 3" sort of. Fold one in half. A hammer is a good thing, a mallet good..open it up..That's origani not where we are going Yet. Take one of your pcs of copper Long rectangle is best. fold it in half lengthwise. Hammer the folded edge. don't straighten it out you want it to curve.

fold formed vessels and bowls five interior

B.J. Severtson — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:37:37 -0500

interior interior of 5 fold hanging bowl Brad

fold formed vessels and bowls five b

B.J. Severtson — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:57:03 -0500

The exterior small fold formed bowl.

fold formed vessels and bowls four b

B.J. Severtson — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:40:04 -0500

folds line and T, T fold gathers wall to close up vase.

fold formed vessels and bowls four a

B.J. Severtson — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:36:08 -0500

interior 8 inch vase Line and t folds

fold formed vessels and bowls three

B.J. Severtson — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:33:40 -0500

an incense burner line folds

fold formed bowls and vessels two

B.J. Severtson — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:30:33 -0500

a six line fold