Home / Recent Work / Isabelle ( a mechanical bell), 2017, Bronze and Brass, 9.5" x 15" x 9.5" / Isabelle, how it was made / Stage 1 34

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The goal of stage 1.
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1. Starting with a circular disc of silicon bronze. It's marked so that it is slightly oval, even though it is a circle, the shorter end being the face, which will end up shorter than the hair.
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2. Crimps put into it for raising. The arrow indicates the face end.
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3. The first stage of raising is always the hardest, and with this bronze, I needed the BIG raising hammer.
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4. The first stage of raising done. The bronze gets harder and harder to work the closer to the edge you get. If this was brass or copper it would look a lot neater and have a steeper angle.
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5. After annealing, working on stage two of raising. A bit easier this time; I was able to use my regular raising hammer.
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6. Done with stage two of raising. Looking much better this time. Ready to anneal again.
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7. Third stage of raising completed. To be annealed again.
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8.Fourth stage of raising completed.
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9. After annealing. Lines drawn to indicate the separation between the hair and face.
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10. The stake I used for the next step.
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11. Using the stake in the previous picture and a straight-peen hammer to one side of the stake, creating a deep crease.
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12. Progress comes in baby steps.
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13. Changing the flat top of the head to a nice rounded dome.