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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MobileUsers -
The goal of stage 1. -
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. -
2. Crimps put into it for raising. The arrow indicates the face end. -
3. The first stage of raising is always the hardest, and with this bronze, I needed the BIG raising hammer. -
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. -
5. After annealing, working on stage two of raising. A bit easier this time; I was able to use my regular raising hammer. -
6. Done with stage two of raising. Looking much better this time. Ready to anneal again. -
7. Third stage of raising completed. To be annealed again. -
8.Fourth stage of raising completed. -
9. After annealing. Lines drawn to indicate the separation between the hair and face. -
10. The stake I used for the next step. -
11. Using the stake in the previous picture and a straight-peen hammer to one side of the stake, creating a deep crease. -
12. Progress comes in baby steps. -
13. Changing the flat top of the head to a nice rounded dome.