Category Archives: Steampunk

Clockwork Trilobite – Part 6

Starting the carving today. Here I’ve set the trilobite (right side up this time) in Thermolock™ and drawn in the exoskeleton.  I’ve also used a tiny carbide bur to do a “scribble” texture on the gears and the surface they … Continue reading

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Clockwork Trilobite – Part 5

Today I’m adding all of the rivets and completing the engraving for the pendant back. Above are the wires I’m going to make my rivets out of, along with my blacksmith’s “nail header.”  The silver wire is 16 gauge silver, … Continue reading

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Clockwork Trilobite – Part 4

Today I need to make the last little gear, solder everything together and do the initial shaping. Above, I’m using a computer printout as a pattern for the tiny gear, and drilling the starting holes.  I used a scan of … Continue reading

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Clockwork Trilobite – Part 3

In order for the parts to solder well, I need to flatten all the mating surfaces – the top surface of the bottom plate, the bottom surface of the top plate, and the bottom of the gears (there’s a parsing … Continue reading

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Clockwork Trilobite – Part 2

Today was just a lot of sawing.  A lot…I had forgotten how gummy and resisting sterling silver could be, especially in thicker pieces.  Now I remember why I much prefer sawing, engraving and carving in steel… Above are the two … Continue reading

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Clockwork Trilobite – Part 1

Here’s the start of a commission for an engraved and carved silver trilobite, with copper gears. Above, I’m weighing out scrap sterling silver (looking for about an ounce).  The scrap needs to be clean, and free of any solder.  If it … Continue reading

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Hummingbird Art Basket – More Adventures in Press Forming

Here’s another little art basket my wife and I collaborated on.  This little hummingbird basket is about three inches in diameter. The basket itself is made from ziricote (the rim and base) and is woven with waxed Irish linen.  The … Continue reading

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Press-Forming Adventures Part 6

Above are all of the hummingbird and owl press forming works I’ve been working on…an interesting ride, I must say. Above is the completed silver hummingbird skull and titanium pendant, with leather neck cord. Available soon at BladeGallery.com Below are images … Continue reading

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Press-Forming Adventures Part 5

Today I’m working on making a pendant from the little silver hummingbird skull I press formed during our last visit.  I’m engraving a piece of Grade 2 titanium for the back of the pendant.  I’m hoping the gray color of … Continue reading

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Press-Forming Adventures Part 4

Well, the owl worked out so well, I decided a hummingbird was in order.  If you recall the “encouraging failure” from the first post in this series, I used the copper sheet pressing from that to chase a small hummingbird … Continue reading

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