On the work bench

©2018 Barry Smith - The light globe for this lamp will come out the the circular aperture in the centre.

I have managed a bit of time in the garage-studio progressing a few more of the planned Artisan Lamps. Before heading over to the grinding-polishing bench I usually try a mockup of the lamps. This can include using a bit of bluetac to hold pieces together. It gives me the opportunity to see if the pieces are fitting together and/or are complementary.

I find it amusing that though the core elements of planned lamps can remain the same there is always the chance-need to add other bits and pieces into the mix. For example with the lamp above the wheel and the centre section were in the original design; but I have added the tap and brass bits on top in place of the heavy steel rods you can see in the bottom righthand corner of the photo.

Following are some of the other mockups on the workbench today.

©2018 Barry Smith - I love the organic sinuousness of this mockup - not sure if I will stick with the small bakelite light fitting or add a larger one - that decision can be made at the point of assembly.

©2018 Barry Smith - I could not find a suitable frame for the cogs and wheels - in the end I've gone  with an industrial look using a polished aluminium sample I had made for a job a couple of years ago - it is definitely a work in progress.

©2018 Barry Smith - The plotted brass should look good against the 'riveted' polished aluminium

©2018 Barry Smith - Definitely looking at a pressure piece here

©2018 Barry Smith This lamp is based on a very solid bunsen burner plus an antique garden hose nozzle - still needs another element to the base to give it more gravitas at the bottom.

Obviously there is quite a bit of grinding and polishing before the lamps are ready for assembling. Hopefully the weather will fine up enough over the weekend for me to get to the outside grinding area. But enough for today - a red wine beckons.