 |
| ©2015 Barry Smith - Daisy? |
I have been toying with the idea of doing a bit of chasing and repouse' on metal. I bought a book and a basic set of tools sometime ago. Today was the day - I decided this morning that it was time for me to give it a go - what could happen apart from producing something ugly.
I intended to work on a flat piece of metal and a bowl. I decided to use a silver-plated piece of EPNS that was the inner part of the base of a bowl (about 5-6cm in diameter); and the bowl part of a trophy cup (silver-plated brass) (about 6cm in diameter) - both in pretty bad shape.
Normally metalsmith work on a pitch pot when they are doing chasing (hammering from the outside) and repose (hammering from the inside or backside of the work). But the pitch is a little toxic. I had a vague memory of someone using beeswax so I thought I'd give that a go. So the first thing today was to create a wax pot and fill the 'bowl' I would work on with wax. Fiona's wax-wok was borrowed for this purpose. Photos of wok; and wax filled bowl follow.
I need to melt more wax and fill the wax pot but it served its purpose today.
 |
| ©2015 Barry Smith - Daisy design on the bed of wax ready for work |
I did both chasing and repouse' on the flat circular piece of metal - a freehand drawn daisy shape. The wax was still a bit soft in the early part but hardened as I went along.
 |
| ©2015 Barry Smith - Early stages of chasing |
 |
| ©2015 Barry Smith - Some chasing and repose on the wax bed |
 |
| ©2015 Barry Smith - Polished daisy piece - front |
 |
| ©2015 Barry Smith - Polished daisy piece - back |
The daisy is still a bit rough - but if I were willing to put the extra time into more cycles of hammering and planishing it would be a good piece - still it is a good training piece.
I did not have a lot of time on the bowl; but you can see I have made a start on a series of freeform leaves that radiate from the base. I'm liking how the leaves and stems are standing out in relief.
 |
| ©2015 Barry Smith - Wax filled bowl on a sand bag - chasing hammer and tools on the left |
 |
| ©2015 Barry Smith - The leaves and twigs begin to emerge |
A good beginning. I hope to finish the bowl over the weekend. I will then re-read the book and see where I went right; and where I went wrong. The lessons will be applied to future test pieces until I develop the skills. My goal is to do a hand formed and chased pod bowl.
Fiona has a grand curry made - so I'm off to enjoy that with a glass or two of white.
wonderful result - but i like that you have worked past the pitch - that was what held me back from buying the tools as well. well done! i think it really goes to show that the time arrives for everything and that experience is worth more than we ever realize. i look at the things you figure out and admire you greatly for it.
ReplyDeleteOh this looks really interesting. Another string to your bow.
ReplyDeleteWax not pitch has to be a good move, B and your results are fantastic. You're a true craftsman, constantly learning and working out ways and means.
ReplyDeleteHi MJ, P & C - thanks for your support and encouragement - this was new territory for me and anything could;d have happened. MJ - the pitch was a problem for me. The beeswax worked pretty well. I might need to find a way of making it a bit harder. Thanks for your positive support. P - something new to stretch the creative mind? C - thanks - just keep on trying. All - go well and have a go. B
ReplyDelete