ElementFe is my trade name for the Guemes Island blacksmith shop; designing, forging, and building handcrafted forged steel and iron furniture, gates, railings, candlesticks, spoons, kitchenware and all manner of repair and fabrication.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

Swoosh

I hope nike doesn't sue me :-)

Friday, July 29, 2011

Loft access ladder- 11' tall x 15" wide, light square tubing

Machine stand

Machine stand, mild steel tubing fabrication

Wednesday, July 27, 2011


Back to back twist damascus, 15n20/1095 carbon steel, ebony grip, brass furniture. 8.5" blade, 13.5" overall


Latest of the K-pod knives, 440c stainless, ivory handle

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Wednesday, July 20, 2011


Interesting grind geometry on this model.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

5" kitchen knife- 440c stainless steel, purpleheart handle. Made for my son Isaac, who is working in a kitchen.

My neighbors enjoy their deck and new fire bowl


This fire bowl is made from a surplus propane cylinder- 24" across, with 8" legs and side handles. I welded a 4" rim onto the top to better contain the sparks and ashes, and used a cutting torch to cut playful figures into it. Top is made from woven fireplace screen on a steel frame.

Saturday, July 09, 2011

Friday, July 08, 2011

Top to bottom:

"Albacore" pattern, high carbon steel, .125 thickness, Bubinga handle, 4.5" hollow ground blade, full tapered tang, brass rivets, 8" overall

"Albacore" pattern, 440c premium stainless steel, .125 stock thickness, hollow ground, 4.5" blade, full tapered tang, brass rivets, South American Lacewood handle, 8" overall

"K-Pod" pattern, 440c premium stainless steel, .125 stock thickness, hollow ground 3" blade, full tang with lanyard hole, red Padauk handle scales, 7.5" overall.

Bottom one is living on my belt now- everybody has one of my knives but me, I was still packing a box cutter! Bout time I kept one.

Bike Rack

The bike track for the Guemes Mountain trail head is finished!

Monday, June 27, 2011

Friday, May 27, 2011

This is about four feet tall, made to hang on a wall. Hooks for your coat loops or you can put the coat collar over the horseshoes- Stetsons go up above!

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Here's a closeup of the top of the rack


Thursday, May 19, 2011

Building code requires the railing ends to go right up against the wall- I made a series of angle cuts and TIG welded them all together. This will get the same bluing/blacking patina as the cabinets below.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Stainless steel installed beside and behind range


Yes! It's a tiny cleaver! The railroad spike knives are completely made from a railroad spike- some are an alloy that can be hardeded enough for a serviceable knife- and the MiniCleaver is 5160 steel, hardened, tempered, shaving sharp.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Swirly texture on stainless steel backing

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Table parts


Textured steel shelves for a neighbors table project

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Spike knives

Made these today while the forge was lit for some job stuff...came out kinda nice!

Thursday, May 05, 2011

Railing frame

Sunday, April 24, 2011



This table uses green slate from a dear friend's kitchen counter. Many happy memories!
Steel tube, blackened and lacquered.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

New table for Jackie

This will go in the entry at our city house, with shelves and a tile top.
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Friday, April 15, 2011

End cabinet

This cabinet fouts by the range, for handy storage of flat cookware . Finish is a blackened oxide similar to gun bluing, finished with museum wax.
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Mid cabinet

Ready to go!
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Thursday, April 14, 2011

Sink cabinets

Ready for delivery
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Tuesday, April 12, 2011


Concept sketch for hand railing.
Jackie and I were kicking ideas around and she suggested glass waves, something like this:

Monday, April 04, 2011



Here is the Insta-Blak 333 finish on flat panels.
Truly an antique, rustic look, very different from a painted surface, a blackening patina.
There is some variation in shade and reflection, from a deeper black to more of a gun blue, though the general impression is that of blackened antique steel.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Nicole's cabinets

Here, the frame is staked in place for initial welding
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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Monday, February 07, 2011

Ok, what is it?


Computer stand!



Its an adjustable stand so my wife can watch movies comfortably on her net book! It elevates it so the fan can do its job, and it has to have valentines on it!

Thursday, February 03, 2011

Bar railing



We installed this railing in cafe Via Vita, Bellevue, WA

Trailer



We built a 28 foot trailer for a young family's temporary dwelling while they build their home

Raw



Sculpture base being oxidized

Sculpture stand



A display base for one of Leo Osborne's lovely Prayer series creations I