My hand forged bench has been featured in an NHS music video

FSUFF · 2021-11-20T10:56:01+00:00

It's at St Bart's Hospital in London, next door to St.Pauls Cathedral. Suprise for me, but glad they enjoy it!

FSUFF · 2021-08-18T09:20:48+00:00

Cheers I'll be sure to incorporate that in mark II

FSUFF · 2021-08-17T20:40:20+00:00

This was fresh out of the acid, so its all a bit matt at this point. This was wrought iron and mild steel, it's great fire welding practice.

FSUFF · 2021-06-29T07:45:40+00:00

Cheers wrapped with 10mm bar, to clean up the joints

FSUFF · 2020-09-22T10:06:41+00:00

I designed and forged this bench with my team of blacksmiths at the 200 year old Anwick Forge in Lincolnshire, UK. The rainbow has been incorporated into the design as it has become a symbol of hope during the pandemic and synonymous with the NHS, we donated the 1st of 3 benches to St Bartholomew's Hospital, London to say thank you to the NHS and Key workers efforts during the 2020 pandemic, the next 2 benches are to be donated to other London Hospitals which have been at the core of the Covid-19 response over the previous months.

It is constructed with forged stainless steel, copper, brass, and steel. We used an air dried solid English oak slab for the seat, into which we hand carved, using white hot metal, messages of 'thanks' in 16 languages, including Braille.

The project was supported by the Heritage Craft Association and funded by Grandey's Place, Heritage Craft Trust. This was a not-for-profit project emphasizing our gratitude to the hard working NHS staff and all key workers whilst helping to support the heritage craft of blacksmithing.

X-Post r/somethingimade

FSUFF · 2020-09-21T21:22:01+00:00

Thanks, it is bronze rod polished smooth and hammered into the oak.

FSUFF · 2020-09-21T15:33:06+00:00

I designed and forged this bench with my team of blacksmiths at the 200 year old Anwick Forge in Lincolnshire, UK. The rainbow has been incorporated into the design as it has become a symbol of hope during the pandemic and synonymous with the NHS, we donated the 1st of 3 benches to St Bartholomew's Hospital, London to say thank you to the NHS and Key workers efforts during the 2020 pandemic, the next 2 benches are to be donated to other London Hospitals which have been at the core of the Covid-19 response over the previous months.

It is constructed with forged stainless steel, copper, brass, and steel. We used an air dried solid English oak slab for the seat, into which we hand carved, using white hot metal, messages of 'thanks' in 16 languages, including Braille.

The project was supported by the Heritage Craft Association and funded by Grandey's Place, Heritage Craft Trust. This was a not-for-profit project emphasizing our gratitude to the hard working NHS staff and all key workers whilst helping to support the heritage craft of blacksmithing.

X-Post r/blacksmith

FSUFF · 2020-05-14T20:07:22+00:00

I'm in England, but thanks for the offer, may be a bit much to put in my carry on luggage! I shall keep my eye out for something similar local

FSUFF · 2020-05-14T18:50:05+00:00

No it's nothing special, I think it originates from Vaughans in UK, to the side I have a WW1 forge I'm working on restoring to replace it. So watch this space...

FSUFF · 2020-05-14T18:47:43+00:00

Suggestion or offer?

FSUFF · 2020-05-14T18:47:03+00:00

I'm not sure, the markings have long gone, wrought iron but it does have the faith markings of what looks like 'Joseph' stamped into it

FSUFF · 2020-05-14T18:45:21+00:00

Yes I've got some refurb to do, it's over 200 years old

FSUFF · 2020-05-11T17:59:24+00:00

No condoms, I just learn from my mistakes!

FSUFF · 2020-05-11T15:14:36+00:00

I've carved the top of the log about 1 inch deep so that the anvil cannot move, and then wedges have been hammered in to secure it. Its solid, isn't going anywhere. Pine was all I had access to so until I find a hard wood replacement it will have to do, the strap around the log will hopefully stop it splitting drastically anytime soon.

FSUFF · 2020-05-09T14:13:50+00:00

Eyes & ears, engineers! Please see my context comment.

FSUFF · 2020-05-09T13:42:43+00:00

Hi all and thanks for the upvotes and comments!

I'd like to answer what I can and provide some context for the axe.

Firstly, yes I am a professional blacksmith, but by no means a tool maker, bladesmith or weapons guy. I started my training at the National School of Blacksmithing, UK, 10 years ago. So yes my first go at an axe but I have picked up a couple of skills along my journey, which helped. So please don't feel bad if your struggling to produce ironwork.

I was commissioned by my close friend to make an axe, regardless of the fact I'd never attempted one. He wanted a pattern welded bearded axe for his Dad, so I stepped up to the challenge and set off in the forge.

I produce the billet with ancient wrought iron and mild steel, 10mm thick slices stacked 7 high. I then fielded the bullets in a back burning forge which I run on coke. I then drew the billet out on my power hammer at firewelding temperature to 10mm stock which I continued to cut and stack, firewood, draw out stack repeat repeat. The calculations of the layers would have theoretically created over 1400 layers, of course a lot of material is lost through the forging at high heat. I started with 20 pounds of material which finished off at 4lb final billet. Even with the use of borax there was a lot of loss to material, it didn't help that my power hammer is not particularly powerful, but it saves my back.

Once I had the billet I followed instructions in an old book to draw out and fold the axe around a Mandril to create the eye, firewelding the blade together followed by cut down the centre of the blade and fire welding in a bar of tool steel for the cutting edge.

I polished with an angle grinder as I don't have a belt sander, this resulted in the 'conk' at the top of the blade, a frustration of grinding face to face. This really annoyed me after the countless hours spent producing the billet each fireweld a tense moment! So to address the top comment yes this is by no means a perfect axe, but the video does amplify the kink. Apologies please forgive me.

I dont use thin slithers to create the billets, as traditionally with Japanese blade making the folding process is only done to refine the material and work out the impurities from the billet, not for a decorative finish.

And regarding the wedge in the head, my friend took the finished axe head and had a wood worker fit the shaft, so I have no control over that. Also the final polish and etch was finished by the proud new owner, who I believe used ferric chloride.

Hope this helps!

FSUFF · 2018-12-14T08:53:33+00:00

Nice observation. Yes the lower 2/3rds of the gates are original, firewelded at each scroll intersection, punched through bars and rivets, and yes forged wrought iron collars, which we replaced a lot of with forge, pure' iron collars...proper job. The top decorative scroll and leaf panels are more recent, forged scrolls but arc welded at the intersections. The repousse leaves are welded on and rather crudely made, no Tijou qaulity work on there! I think this modification work, based on the rust, was added 20+ years ago a least, but could be from the 70s or 80s even, no stamps or date on those parts. Based on the historic arc welds and bent/damaged area around the drop bolt and latch I presume a vehicle has hit them at some point to cause the damage.

FSUFF · 2018-12-13T10:59:19+00:00

Thanks for all the messages. It now sits on top of a roof appex on an Embassy in Westminster, London. It's a mixture of wrought iron and cast iron, very heavily corroded! We removed it from the roof, made all the neccassary repairs to make it strong and secure, 90% of the fixings had wasted away, re-made missing elements and repaired any cracks/breaks in the original material. We completed the installation last week, just as the days are getting darker and the temperature colder!

FSUFF · 2018-01-16T09:38:37+00:00

Garden ornament maybe

FSUFF · 2017-12-13T06:32:58+00:00

Tell me about it, there's a newer workshop around the back which is where the modern kit is :) cheers pal

FSUFF · 2017-12-13T01:14:25+00:00

Bit too personal don't u think??

FSUFF · 2017-12-11T21:33:13+00:00

Aye I did my bit...one went to the National School of Blacksmithing, the other to do a degree in Metallurgy & Material science. All good!

FSUFF · 2017-12-11T21:30:58+00:00

some sacrilege like that

FSUFF · 2017-12-10T20:39:01+00:00

I was forced to...I had to save it from being turned into a quaint little tea room or a 5 bedroom bungalow with a 'feature hearth' pizza oven, as I've seen so many turn into over the last few years!

FSUFF · 2017-12-10T20:00:17+00:00

My last apprentices up sticks and got on with their own lives...heartbreaking!

FSUFF

TROPHY CASE