Here's the gate, in kit form.
All the elements but the latch and hinges are in place, the next thing is to work out details of anchor points so that the arch halves can be set in concrete, then I'll be able to take precise measurements for the hinges and latch.

The arch and gates take shape.

Next step is to hammer what will be the hook into a long thin point.
Here are the finished blanks marked for trimming- then it's back into the fire to shape the bowl.
When it's nice and hot, it's flexible enough to be sunk into a form, using a round ended hammer, being careful to keep all the edges even.
Then the hook is heated and bent into its final shape, and the spoon is clamped into a vise for cleanup with wire brushes.
Not shown (because it takes two hands) is all the hand hammering to clean up and refine the rough forging that the power hammer does!
And finally, here is a new little family of spoons, resting for a moment on a garden gate arch (next post!)

I thought I'd document the birth of a batch of spoons.
Here, a piece of iron bar is set into the forge. When it's yellow hot, it's hammered on edge under the 25 lb. Little Giant forging hammer, to set off the section that will be the bowl of the spoon, which is then flattened and spread sideways.
The handle is drawn out and then cut to length using a "hardy" on the anvil- basically a knife edge sticking up- the bar is laid on top of the hardy and a few blows with the hammer cut the hot, pliable iron.

Well, there it is, a finished arch in kit form. Now to lay it out and take measurements for the decorative gates!

Here are photos of the Chinese arch for the Slabaugh garden gate- you can see how it's made from thin sheet steel, there's a radius that swings from an arm welded to my work table that shows me how to lay out the many pieces to form the right shape, and a few of the finished box beam being prepared for final welding along the seams.

This wine cabinet is installed at Adrift Cafe in Anacortes- it was damaged during the remodel, and I brought my small wire feed welder to the alley and patched it up. Better than new!

Here also are a few shots of cutting arcs and laying them out for a box beam I'm building for a Chinese inspired (meaning, circular) garden gate.

I'm building the arch in two halves- those will be installed and then final measurements will be taken for gate halves and infill.

A variety of projects coming in and going out today, I love this- it's what keeps it interesting!

The Adrift Cafe wine cabinet came back for minor repairs (damaged during remodeling) and it was interesting to go over it again after five years.
Here are a couple small frames for some keepsake glass.
The patio chairs and tables are out in the sunshine for their final clear coat before delivery.
Here also are a couple fireplace covers. One needed to be beefed up to fit the firepit, the other needed a new screen cover.
And finally, two simple custom frames for keepsake art glass.
All these projects are for customers in the Guemes Island/Anacortes community.

Here are the chairs, all done and painted!

The assembly is mostly done on the new patio chairs- here they are with the side pieces of the backs ready to be coaxed into their final shape.
I love the term my customer uses to describe these: Industrial Beaux Arts! Says it all, don't you think?

Here are some shots of a small stool that's a collaboration with two other Guemes Island artists- Jess and Arlo of www.Slowshirts.com are the instigators with woodwork by Mitercraft (www.mitercraft.com)

Here are the legs being welded and trial fit, and sample stool tops with Jess' artwork laser cut into the seat.

Here's a campfire cookset for a professional cook- he wanted to be able to hook his chain drive rotisserie to the top bar, so I stole a sprocket from an old bicycle for the drive gear.
An assortment of hooks to hang pots and a swingaway grille complete the set- a do it all camping kitchen!