Tired Iron Sculptures (more pics)

[Tired Iron]

Laughing gull, Burning Bush and Ballerina.

[Thatch]

The burning bush looks like a very uncomfortable chair, but the bird and dancer I like quite a bit. They are dynamic.

Thatch

[Merlion]

TI, how big are they?

[Tired Iron]

Thanks Thatch, the bush definitely needs placement where there are no kids or pets!

Merlion, the gull's beak is a pair of pliers and it's body a shoe last. The ballerina's body is a ball peen hammer head and her legs are 12 " adjustable pliers. The auger is 12" Does that help you size wise? These pics are actually thumbnails...when I get it straightened out you can view a close up shot which will help.

[jOe~]

Burning Bush is a great concept, but I think George's likeness needs to be more obvious.

jOe~

[Tired Iron]

Merlion, here are some larger shots...couldn't get a bigger gull yet

[Merlion]

TI, do you sand blast the metal surface ? And what surface coating or treatment do you prefer ?

[Tired Iron]

Merlion, a sandblaster is on my wish list. That is taking a backseat to fuel oil to keep the family warm right now! I want to build a sandblasting cabinet and have been collecting the materials. That is something I should work on if it would just get above the single digits! Fortunately I live an hour north of the snow belt that has dumped 8 feet (yes 8 feet!) on Oswego county last week.We only have a foot or so of snow here, still it is a hinderence and a lot of my old metal is under it. I have been wire brushing everything (wire wheel) and then hit spots with a grinder that will actually accept the weld or brazing. As far as coating, the largest pieces I let go back to oxidized metal (Rust!) , but the smaller pieces get a clear coat . Usually a gloss coat, Rustoleum paint. I have tried linseed oil and furniture polish. I like all three. Check here for snow stories...http://wwnytv.net/72k/

[Thatch]

Pissing on the work gets a rust going real fast. And I have tried a number of methods when working found object (typically spring steel) and hot or cold rolled steel rod up to 1" diameter.

Before you say UUHhhh!!!!!!! Gross! I really did try a number of different things and getting a rust layer that looks like the rust of ages on a section of plow disc you have ground and brazed isn't that easy. Besides, guys like to pee on things, and after it rusts yoy can wash it off. I usually just left it in the rain and didn't worry about it.

One of the dirty little secrets of a welding sculptor. Don't be too anxious to run up and touch the next rusty sculpture you see!

Thatch

[Tired Iron]

Thatch, you crack me up! My welding instructor back in '75 said the same thing. Especially with brass or bronze. Urine turns it that nice green color FAST!.. So if you want to make a new copper or brass weather vane and want to make it look antique......

[Merlion]

Originally Posted by Tired Iron

..., a sandblaster is on my wish list. ...

Have you thought of buidling one yourself? Something like this.

Build A Homemade Sandblasting Unit

[Tired Iron]

Merlion, I was collecting some things to make one. I really like this idea. No building a cabinet....just recycling one. Cool! Thanks!

[Paul.V]

that is soo funny!! but a great tip ! its also good to piss on your feet if you have athletes foot! im just imagining that when i complete my first huge bronze sculpture , hold a special open day where everyone climbs a ladder to the top and takes a piss!! great publicity stunt !!!

[Landseer]

I believe it's the salts in urine that do the trick, and I know back in the 80's in Brooklyn when a plumber came to repair the fire sprinkler system he left a tiny drip in a connection on a 4" ø pipe, more of an oozing that amounted to maybe a teaspoon of water a day, he told me just pack some salt on it and the rust will stop it (it did)
Road salt really rusts the cars and a sollution of salt and water is a lot easier to get and lots of... than piss

Tried salty water?

[evaldart]

Pitchforks always make good sculpture. The more the better. But you got to be in a region where there are alot of the old ones with the tapered round forks about. The flat ones just don't do it. Thats a great piece Tirediron. Nice photos too.

[Tired Iron]

Thanks Evaldart, tomorrow I'm gonna take a pic of a butterfly who's wings are made of about 14 pitchforks for ya. She is kinda frozen in next to the raspberry bushes but parts are still visable. More good stuff gets tossed out around here and I am afraid of the day when it starts to peter out. The old junk
yards are getting closed up as NY has more restrictions /laws weekly. You should see some of the old cars being scrapped cause someone decided that you should only be allowed two unregistered vehicles on your property. That 's out here in the country where nobody gives a crap too! Some of these old farmers had rows of cars that dated back to the 20' and 30's . If it was tired and it could make it behind the barn or to the back 40 , that is where it stayed. While I was in Fla. last winter people asked me why I didn't just get a welder and make my "stuff" down there. Cause finding antique iron in Fla. is darn near impossible for one thing and real expensive if you do find something. I'm in the best place for this stuff for the time being. And I don't take it for granted , thats for sure.

[evaldart]

I get hold of something good now and then but around me there are tons of roadside "antique" stores. They all think this stuff is worth money and I guess somebody is payin em for it. Not me. But I did cough-up for a 60 in iron wagon wheel the other day, really nice, a hundred bucks. Kinda puts the pressure on to make a good sculpture...not ideal working conditions.

[Tired Iron]

Here are a couple...and after you mentioned that wheel I gotta go take one more shot... here you go, some wheels fell off my stack and are buried in the snow. I see these old hay rakes at junk yards and I pass them up at this point cause I have enough wheels. The junkyards will cut them up or crush them. The other shot is of a hay wagon and a manure spreader full of stock for me. Never enough!

[Tired Iron]

Here is another rake in my yard...my son just said if I keep this up I'll have a bunch of artists moving up here!

[evaldart]

damn right you'll be gettin artists. The only thing keepin em away is probably the weather. But they have to keep moving further and further from the big cities to afford space.
Thats one hell of an enviable pile you got there. Fodder for art to come for some time. But you'll keep collectin' it. Its a disease and it aint curable. I unloaded 10,000 pound the last time I moved. Was really sorry to see it go but I'm back on the horse, applying what I like to call an "acquiring nature". So my pile is growing too. I know the pile is getting good when the wife starts to complain.
I WILL figure out this damn machine soon and get some pic up for ya (or maybe just get a new one. But the f-350 needs 6 tires and my bandsaw just crapped out. you can pretty much figure the money aint going to a computer).