Naked Blacksmiths..... I'm not the only one

This might be my favorite example of "naked blacksmiths" depicted in art. The truth, however, is that they are not blacksmiths. They are "Mechanics" using a giant punch press. The statue is called "The Mechanics Monument". It was created by Douglas Tilden, and installed in San Francisco in 1899. In the 1906 earthquake the city was virtually destroyed around it. The Monument was relocated in 1951, and again in 1973. I believe it sits today at the corners of Bush, Battery, and Market Streets, in S.F. The statue is 180" X 108" X108", weighing 10 tons. The base is in two stages 132" X 132" square, and weighs 30 tons. It is, in my opinion, one of his finest works. The dramatic view of the monument, taken after the 1906 quake, surrounded by the destroyed city is truly amazing.

You light up my life... So, I thought I'd do the same for you.

This project was this year's Christmas present to my daughter, Jenny. Many years ago I had made a lamp out of a hubcap. My son ended up with the lamp, and I'd always promised my daughter that I'd make one for her. This year I finally got around to it. It's not a hubcap, but it's definitely recycled, and interesting iron. The shade is made from a very old toy wagon wheel, a gold mining pan, and a large bandsaw blade. The base is a timing pulley, and the post was forged from a one inch steel pipe.

Tanks..... You're welcome... Don't toss em... create something.

These are well pressure tanks. I decided to make a Christmas present for my son and daughter-in-law. They had talked about putting a fire pit in their back yard. The old pressure tank that I turned into their gift was just right. I cut an old tank that I'd lugged around for the last 20 years in half. Then, I cut 18 points like a crown. I bent them down so that it looked like a big Sunflower. I made a ring out of a piece of re-bar, and bent the points of the crown around the ring. The result was a place you could rest your feet on to get them warm. The base is an old plant stand that I bent out to accommodate the pit, and be stable enough not to tip when leaned on. I added a few holes with the torch for decoration, and a coat of 1000 degree heat resistant paint. They loved it.

Two Bells for the Bizarre Bazaar

Every year my neighbor, at "The Brandybuck Ranch", opens her pottery studio up for a Christmas Fair. It's known as "The Bizarre Bazaar", and items offered sometimes live up to that name in spades. I try to have some items for the Bazaar when ever I can. This year, it's these two bells.

Raven in The Wind

This project was done for my neighbors. It presented a bit of a challenge in regards to the pivot point of the weathervane, and a means of giving the Raven some depth on a flat silhouette.
After many searches, I found a wood block card that had two Ravens printed on it. I was able to copy a pattern, and enlarge it. Then,... a little creative torch work for the details, and the Raven emerged. He faces the direction the wind is blowing, and the arrow points the direction the wind is coming from.

Diane's Mystery Container

She found this old wooden container, and although she didn't know what it was for, she made another one out of clay, and then asked me to make the handle for it. Bending the eyes through her ceramic version presented a few interesting problems, but I managed not to break it. It's my guess that the original wooden one might have hung under covered wagon as a grease container for the wheel hubs. What do you think?

Now Here's an Artist: Cory Fuhr

A friend of mine turned me on to Cory's work. I was awe struck by the symetry of his design. To see his work check out "WWW.coryfuhr.com". It is truly amazing.

The Fireman's Forge

After working under tarps, I couldn't stand it any longer. I had to build a space to get out of the rain. This was the first "Fireman's Forge". I built this building out of old garage doors. The old time facade front was inspired by Ron Scofield's "Red Mule Ranch", in Jackson,Ca. A hold over from the old west. It was a little like working in a boxcar, only smaller. It was fine for a while, but eventually I outgrew it. The first time I worked on a railing in this building, it became a tedious task everytime I needed to turn the work around. I had to get help from my wife to carry the work outside, turn it around, and then carry it back in. It's a good thing it wasn't longer, or we wouldn't have been able to lift it. For every piece that got added to it, it got heavier. It became apparent real soon that the size of my work space was due for an up grade. One with a hoist.
Here's the new "Fireman's Forge". As you can see, I'm living up to my name.

Terreno Verde

When Kenny and Robert built their victorian house on 160 acres, it was like stepping back into another era. Then, they added a beautiful trellised entrance gate. Every time I drove past it I would think..."This entrance needs a sign to proclaim its name". I approached Kenny with an idea for a sign made from horseshoes. He gave me the spelling for "Terreno Verde", which is "Green Land" in Spanish. The sign was born, and if I do say so myself, it looks marvelous.

Vulcan forges lightning

Here's an image of Vulcan that adorns the entrance to my shop. It's an old bronze plaque that originally must have been an architectural decoration to some sort of industrial building. I found it on Ebay, and it seemed way too appropriate to pass up.

Diane's Railing

This project started when my friend, Diane, whose famous for her "Garden Goddesses" cement sculptures, was building her extension on the charming little cabin she lives in. She had tried to find some unique sort of uprights for a wood topped railing. After having a ton of samples sent through the mail, she found one that was "almost what she was looking for". We took an element from one of her samples, and uncurled it, just enough to give it a "yinyangesque" quality. The results you see here.

Welcome to the Hotel Bizarro

In 2001 I decided create something from the left over tank end of a garden bell I had made. The top of the cylinder was from an old Co2 fire extinguisher. I'd been trying to come up with a useful and functional bell. Finally it revealed itself as a "hotel", or "tap" bell. I dismantled an old desk bell, and enlarged it through trial and error for the right balance. I showed it to my neighbor, a local successful artist. I told her it was "a hotel bell". Her answer was "yeah,... if your checking into the Hotel Bizarro". That seemed like the proper name. I entered it in the Mendocino County Fair as a sculpture. It received an honorable mention award for its originality. The other two bells followed. If you've got a hotel/motel, or any business that's in need of an extremely unique desk bell, these are available.

Here's a couple of older projects

When I made these candle sticks I got the true meaning of "Too many irons in the fire". While trying to forge all six pieces at the same time, I withdrew a couple of them, only to find they had melted away about 3 inches from one end. OOPS! Live and learn.

Welcome to The Naked Blacksmith

This photo of me was taken by Bill Apton, for his book "Mendonomans".. "The People, The Land". I was honored to be part of his "rogue's gallery". I'm page 76, if you run across it. Thanks Bill.

Point Arena..... Where the hell is that?

Point Arena is approximately 120 miles north of San Francisco, in Mendocino County. There is a lighthouse that was rebuilt after it's destruction in the 1906 earthquake. If you look real close, you can see it on the horizon, in the center of the photo. It is of a design that's completely unique. I've never seen another like it. So,... if you're in the area, stop on by.

Sandra's Finial Lamp Hooks

The interesting thing about these hooks are the "acorn" finials. They match finials on the bottom of the lamps, exactly. They were salvaged from an old clothing store display rack for hanging suits. Not my favorite style, but they turned a couple of bargain swag lamps into a nice pair of sconces.

Marty's Lamp

I made this lamp from a scrap piece of 6" square tubing. The slots were milled in, and white milk glass was later added behind them. It hangs in my friend's backyard in Santa Rosa. It puts out a nice light for sipping magaritas in the evenings.

From the scrap bin springs new life.

The Original "Naked Blacksmith", Vulcan

I use these coins as my alternative cards. If you'd like one, email me, and for a nominal donation of $4.00, including U.S. postage, I'll send you one with Fireman's Forge & the phone number hot stamped on it, and a ring through it, so you can put it on a keyring, necklace, ear ring, or whatever. It will be darker than pictured, due to heating of it for stamping. It's slightly larger than a quarter.(aprox. 1 inch) It's pretty cool, if I do say so myself. Contact me at "firemansforge@hughes.net"

First Church of Hot Iron

This was the result of some play time in a friends blacksmith shop, on a resurrected 150 pound power hammer. The result ended up mounted on my shop, and has given forth to the name "The 1st Church of Hot Iron". It may be a lightning rod, but so far... no strikes. The Gods must approve.

Why am I called "The Naked Blacksmith"?

Throughout history blacksmiths have been depicted as working in various states of undress. Is it the element of danger, working so close to the fire that gives this romanticized aspect to blacksmithing? Or,.... is it just the fact that to stand the heat, one must be dressed, or should I say undressed, for the occasion? With that idea in mind, I try to work in the traditions of Vulcan and the ancient blacksmiths. Whenever weather permits and the fires are burning hot, I try to earn my nickname.