Amazing as this might sound - bigger pieces of work that involve multiples take longer to create. This afternoon I set myself a target of getting as far as I could with making 25 larger (about 25-27cm long) leaf forms that are riveted to iron rods (8mm diameter and 80cm long). The final product (installation) will go to Goondiwindi for the Aspects Art Show.
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Folded copper leaf forms on iron rods |
Well - given I was starting with some seriously weather annealed copper that I cut about a month ago I knew I had a challenge on my hands.
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Badly weathered annealed recycled copper sheet |
The metal needed to be cleaned by pickling; and they came up well after a rub down.
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Lovely colour in the pickle pot - really an old slow cooker |
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Clean copper ready for folding |
The rods needed to be cut into lengths - note my substantial 'bolt cutters' (about 90cm long).
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Cut rods and a serious bolt cutter |
Ends of rods needed to be flattened with a 2kg hammer on my rough round anvil (bought at a garage sale) so that I could form the leaf over the flattened end; and then drill and rivet the rods into the folded leaf forms.
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - Cold forming iron rods |
The folded forms were then cut into the half leaf shape ready for hammering.
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - 25 leaf forms riveted to iron rods |
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| ©2014 Barry Smith - 25 leaf forms riveted to iron rods |
So that is where I left off - 25 leaf forms riveted (copper rivets) to the rods ready for further hammering tomorrow. They look like a stash of spears - I did feel as though I was in weapon production mode. Now it is time for a Friday drink.
they look good in a grouping. maybe not swords, but ploughshares?
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm....I look forward to the finished work....interesting.
ReplyDeleteLove your comment on the last photo...I'd just had a vision of a horde of yard gnomes running amok thru your lovely yard...all waving your spears. A gnome mutiny of sorts....sorry. It's early here and I'm still half asleep.
ReplyDeleteAlmost like viking oars... or weaponry at this stage, but look about the size for a rat warriors, I think.
ReplyDeleteV, JM, JQ & VA - thanks for your comments about this new work - always good to have support on the new ventures. V - or maybe copper feathers? JM - and now tis done. JQ - you must have had strong coffee to see visions of rampaging gnomes - but it did make me smile. VA - rat warriors!!! Go well. B
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