Another Frog

[blacksmithstris]

Was asked to make a frog for a lady for her husband's birthday. I dreaded even starting, frogs I find really difficult and of course put it off til the last minute! I based it on a UK frog, not sure I got the shape quite right, I had a nightmare with the eyes, First I just slapped a steel ball on there, wasn't happy with that but tried a few ideas, I thank my workshop neighbour, a woodworker who I showed all the eye ideas I had, he gave me the idea to chop the hemispheres in half and weld a washer in.

 

[blacksmithstris]

 

[chunkolini]

Thats great.
it is always the eyes that cause problems.
Half ball and washer does the job, I will file that one away for possible future use.
Like the flowing lines and the feet.

 

[blacksmithstris]

Thanks, was a bit of a challenge, got there in the end! I had put the hemispheres for the eyes in the forge and bent them around so they made oval eye sockets, they looked cool like that, but didn't suit this frog, will use that for something one day. I seem to have one way I make animals - "scroll-o-rama" i want to try to make more work out of sheet but never seem to have the time to just experiment. Frog is sitting in a barrel of vinegar to descale then I'll rust it up tomorrow and give it a lacquer. Ribbit!

 

[strada]

Lovely
something nice made with scrolls in it.
what size is it ?

 

[chunkolini]

Well put that man.
Were you baiting me?

 

[blacksmithstris]

Stands about 25 cm tall and about 45 cm long.. just the size to sit beside a small pond.

Have been trying to get it to rust all day yesterday with the ammonium chloride, isn't seem to be working, maybe it's too hot and dry? Frustrating anyway.

What, Don't you like scrolls?????

I hate cold bent scroll work, like what you buy at brundles etc. A nice forged taper is a different thing, and I suppose to be fair I'm more influenced by celtic art and maori art than (and nature) than traditional ironwork scrollwork. My partner hates it, he hates scrolls, just says they're done to death. lol. must be a man thing.

 

[dippy]

Get your dog to pee on it, if you want it to rust over night, now that will work, as I have found out with the boot pullers

 

[chunkolini]

Tris
To speed up the rusting business try pressure cooking it.
I had to do this a few days back.
Scrub the frog with chloride solution, then sit it over a bowl of hot water and cover the whole thing in black plastic to make a sweat box.

These door handles had been in for a day.

 

[strada]

My partner hates it, he hates scrolls, just says they're done to death. lol. must be a man thing.

yep,that's how i feel about them,lol
I actually turned a job down for some railings for on top of a wall because he wanted scrolls.its how i started back in the 80's when i left school, done my bit for the scroll brigade, lol

 

[blacksmithstris]

I gave up on the ammonium chloride, i have no idea why it wasn't working, I reused an old sprayer bottle, maybe had twash residue in it? Or maybe the vinegar before the ammonium chloride affected each other? just went back to plain old vinegar and it's seemed to be doing the job now.




Those are ace handles, chunkolini, look like octopus tentacles.

lucky you to be turning down work Strada! Wish I had that luxury sometimes!!!

My last gate which is at the zinc sprayers now has some scrolls, not too many though!!

Am totally frazzled as had 24 15-16 year olds through the forge today with a school group.. my brain is numb!!! I need beer!

 

[strada]

[QUOTE just went back to plain old vinegar and it's seemed to be doing the job now.

][/QUOTE]

Is it normal mart vinegar you use or white ? how long does it take ? and do you use water to neutralize the rusting ?

Love the gate, I don't see any scrolls, I see waves, lol

 

[blacksmithstris]

It's actually a mix of white vinegar and malt, as the bucket I keep it in (a large animal feed container that has a lid) was a bit low so i popped down to the local supermarket and they didn't have any white, so i just bought big bottles of the malt stuff to top up. Seems to do the trick, normally i just use it for de-scaling work.

Waves is exactly what I was going for Strada

 

[blacksmithstris]

Froggy gone off to his new home today, I think he'll be happy there...

 

[pondman]

Looks awesome, I love your use of scrolls here to create the shape of the body, it's got amazing movement! It looks like it's taken ages?! Are you feeling more confident about it now?

I saw this the other day and thought it explained the process perfectly

Awesome job!

 

[blacksmithstris]

Thanks Pondman!! That is it exactly!!! Froggy didn't take too long, I did him in 3 sessions of about 2 hours each, maybe a bit longer, and that is the making time, as usually if I'm doing something it's mulling over in my mind when I'm not working... you know, while doing something else or watching telly and you turn to your partner randomly and say "I think I could just make the feet like V's flattened a bit and welded together" and the good part is that my long suffering partner usually knows what I'm on about even if I haven't mentioned the frog or whatever it is for ages! This morning I got a message from someone else wanting a frog.. had no idea frogs were so popular!!

 

[chunkolini]

Good quote Pondman.
I am always pleased when I leave something at the end of the day and come in the enxt day and it has gone from being crap to being ok/excellent.
Tris, if people are liking stuff and asking for more put your prices up.

 

[pondman]

Thanks Pondman!! That is it exactly!!! Froggy didn't take too long, I did him in 3 sessions of about 2 hours each, maybe a bit longer, and that is the making time, as usually if I'm doing something it's mulling over in my mind when I'm not working... you know, while doing something else or watching telly and you turn to your partner randomly and say "I think I could just make the feet like V's flattened a bit and welded together" and the good part is that my long suffering partner usually knows what I'm on about even if I haven't mentioned the frog or whatever it is for ages! This morning I got a message from someone else wanting a frog.. had no idea frogs were so popular!!

I know exactly what you mean! That never switches off and is often when the clear visions appear! I'm not sure if my wife knows what I'm on about half the time though
You must be super efficient with your forging and makes sense really, I forged a spider the other day and that took more than 6 hours! I'm still pretty green with my forge though.
It's awesome that you are getting more orders for them

 

[blacksmithstris]

I quoted the lady more than the first frog, but she hasn't got back to me so who knows.. sometimes people never get back.

I am super efficient forging tapers and scroll work like this, i've done it a zillion times! It's the thinking out how it's going to be done that takes the time. Its made from 6mm round and that is really easy to forge as it's so small.

Chunko you must have some awesome workshop elves as usually the crap stuff I leave overnight is still crap when I come back in the morning!!!!