Drying stand project

[RichM752]

Very nice. Are you concerned with rust with the wet items?

Not really. Metal was dyed and two clear coats applied. I guess if a chip/gouge were to happen we might eventually see some surface rust that could easily be treated. Here's a few shot of a gate with metal grape vines, that have been outdoors for a couple of years now.

 

[dragoneggs]

Rich, you obviously have the vine technique down... care to share you method? Beautiful work!

 

[RichM752]

Rich, you obviously have the vine technique down... care to share you method? Beautiful work!

Oh man, sorry to mislead anyone. It's not me. I'm nowhere as talented. A friend of mine who is a master fabricator/welder/blacksmith did the work. He puts 1- 1 1/2" round and square stock, in a forge, he has dies that he pounds and forms the texture of wood branches. He stretches the material to taper the size, then when he wants to form around something, he'll heat and bend/pull to desired length/contour. He's developed a technique to weld branches with minimum distortion, then carefully grinds the welds to meet the texture of the branch. Then lots of careful polishing.
I've got an idea for a floor lamp with same technique only with four branches for the base and no pedestal, we will start that project as soon as I find a lampshade I'm happy with.
He loves custom work and has many happy clients in the area. Gates,porches,giant outdoor lamps,fence and stair rails, anything made of steel he can do. I'm lucky to know him and he plays guitar pretty well also.