Friday, January 18, 2013

Riveting Friday

It was good to get the afternoon in the garage-studio. During the week a conversation Fiona had with a fellow artist reminded me that during the Open Studio event months ago I had committed to making a cuff bracelet from recycled leather belts, brass and anodised aluminium sized to fit the person. I had forgotten about it - but today I managed to make two cuff bracelets as you can see from the photos below.
©2013 Barry Smith - Blue and brass cuff bracelet 2
©2013 Barry Smith - Blue and brass cuff bracelets 2 & 3
©2013 Barry Smith - Blue and brass cuff bracelet 2 
©2013 Barry Smith - Blue and brass cuff bracelets 2 & 3
Before beginning the cuff making process I foldformed a sheet of blue anodised aluminium cut from an old bread storage container. One has to be quite delicate fold the anodised aluminium as it is thin and the anodised splits and cracks - but in a way that is part of the beauty of using it - letting the silver of the aluminium show through the folds.

©2013 Barry Smith - Foldformed strip of blue anodised aluminium
Like quite a few of my tools I create; or adapt things I find to suit my purpose. As you can see below I use a piece of 50-60mm bamboo to form and drill the bands of metal for the cuff; I use an old piece of pipe with a welded end to rivet on; and I have made a very small rivet setting tool made from an iron bolt for setting 1.5mm rivets.

©2013 Barry Smith - Tiny rivet hammer and home made rivet setter
©2013 Barry Smith - Pipe as cuff bracelet for rivet setting
©2013 Barry Smith - Bamboo for forming and drilling rivet holes
When setting the rivets I protect the metal with a bit of gaffer tape.

©2013 Barry Smith - Rivet setting on cuff bracelet
Making two cuff-bracelets will give the person they are made for a choice.
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6 comments:

  1. Noela MillsJanuary 18, 2013 at 10:29 PM

    Amazing - what else can I say???

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  2. Anvil ArtifactsJanuary 18, 2013 at 11:48 PM

    Love the peek into your studio. You are so inventive! Never would have thought to foldform anodized aluminum! The bracelets are wonderful! The improvised tools are brilliant! Thank you for sharing.

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  3. Jo MurrayJanuary 19, 2013 at 4:50 AM

    Don't be surprised if they can't decide...both are gorgeous.

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  4. CarolJanuary 19, 2013 at 1:34 PM

    B, the blue with the silver peeking through is really lovely. Such a great idea to combine leather with the anodised aluminium. I do enjoy getting a glimpse of your work bench, and your tools. Lots of inspiration here.

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  5. layersJanuary 20, 2013 at 4:24 PM

    Thanks for the peek into your studio and work area.. looks well used... and love the cuff bracelet.

    ReplyDelete
  6. BarryJanuary 21, 2013 at 8:43 PM

    N, AA, JM, C & D - thanks for checking out the cuff-bracelets; and of course the studio-garage. I agree it is always lovely to peek into others creative spaces. Mine is many spaces - spread over inside and outside and in fat a few outside spaces depending what I'm doing: beating; heating or polishing. N - thanks. AA - as a fellow metal worker you can understand the toll improvisation. JM - we will see about decisions. C - beautiful blue fro a brad bucket!! D - when I look around my studios I find there is little that I don't use regularly. All - go well and enjoy life. B

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Comments are welcomed - it is good to connect with fellow travellers.

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