Rustnstuff

Friday, August 19, 2016

A light challenge

A couple of artist friends (Christine and Noela) gave me the challenge of turning a leadlight glass suspended light shade and a large a fire hose nozzle into an Artisan Lamp for Christine.

I knew I would need to add a couple more pieces to get the height for the lamp - I added a solid steel slip bearing (nice pink and green) and a block of very old and very dark timber. Fiona thought the slip bearing would work well as it's colours would tone in with the leadlight glass shade. We tested a mock up below.

One of the challenges was to create a bracket that would convert the shade from a hanging arrangement to a supported arrangement. I started by cutting and drilling a piece of 2mm thick brass plate I ha; drilling it so that the centre pipe could be firmly bolted on; and then forming it to fit the hanging cross braces of the shade.

The bracket bolted in place; and with the piece of threaded brass coated steel pipe I was using to run through the nozzle into the timber attached.

I had to widen the nozzle outlet to allow the centre pipe to be threaded through. It all came together; and then it was taken apart again for polishing and reassembling. The electric cable was threaded through the side of the block; up through the pipe; in and out of holes drilled into the new brass support bracket; and finally into the light fitting - whew!!!

And then there was light.

The light was delivered to Christine today and temporarily sits on a corner table.

So challenge accepted; and outcome achieved.

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Hawk, moon and orchids

Yes, as the title says, this post is a bit of a mixed bag.

A few days ago we had a beautiful Goshawk visit - not sure what it was checking out from it's perch in one of our Japanese Maple tree on the terraces below the house; but it stayed there for quite some time - looking this way and that.

Early mornings do have their benefits - like seeing moonsets. The orange moon was seen a few mornings ago; whereas the moon sinking behind a bank of dark rainclouds was from this morning.

Fiona and I have been looking after her dad's orchids while he was overseas for 6 weeks - nerve racking - usually our outcome with orchids is desiccated orchids. This time we have managed to not to lose any; and have had quite a few flowers open to welcome him home today - including the beauties below.

The Goshawk and moon shots were taken with the Canon Powershot; and the orchid flowers with the iPhone.

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Piano sculture and melting process

On Friday I helped friends transport and install Steph's recycled piano frame as a sculpture in their landscape - looks good with the pond and trees as a backdrop.

I'm having problems with blogger; so I will just let the melting process images do their own talking - if I can get them to come across - already failed a few times.

Over the weekend I made quite a bit of headway on a larger Artisan Lamp for an artist friend; and did a couple of metal maquettes for a possible future commission. Always something to keep me busy on the mountain.

Friday, August 12, 2016

The magic of molten metal

I spent this morning melting 2.5 kg of small scraps silver-plated EPNS and Silver-plated copper. I thought I would share the some photos of the outcome today (cleaned and polished); and share some of the process photos on Sunday. I had a helping hand today from Gary - very useful when one is trying to pour molten metal and keep the gas torch directed onto the opening of the crucible to keep it all flowing.

The photos look ok but were taken in a rush - don't quite do justice to the textured nature off the pieces and the beauty of the metal - though I do like the Fire Within series.