Torchmate

A current project from a neighbour is to cut out a large Celtic cross for his shopfront. The Celtic cross is the easier part; it's the diagram of the ibis that he wants on top of the cross that poses the difficulty.
It's a good thing that one can actually contact and receive answers from companies that have sold you goods. It's refreshing and encouraging.

So here's to Applied Robotics Inc, in the USA who supplies the Torchmate *tm system. Well done! Great business and thanks for your support. The plasma cutter is a delight to work with.

Regards
The Machinist

Arbour Manufacture

Here are some pictures of the arbours being made, as mentioned in the last post. Firstly, - the Machinist cleaning up (grinding) the welds. He is working near the top of the arbour. (Pets are always a part of the action. In most company photos, there will be either a dog's head or butt):

Side detail of the arbour: On this particular set of arbours, a sheet of stained glass will be inserted above the metal panels.

Manufactured arbours ready to load into the trailer and taken to the powder-coaters.

Garden Arbours

Although the Metalsmithery retail shop isn't open as yet, plans and drawings for a variety of metal creations are excitingly being gathered and - well - created and sold.

They say that dentists don't necessarily have good teeth, or hairdressers great hair. Builder's own homes are never finished. And there's always an eternity of work in a professional gardener's home garden. So is the case with our metalwork. Although we are metal fabricators and manufacturers, we seldom have the time to make beautiful steel works for our own home.

Being garden lovers ourselves, it was frustrating to see a series of garden arches designed for a glass artist sitting temptingly on the workshop floor. How easy it would have been to find a place in our own garden, dig holes and cement the arbours in. What a pleasure it would have been to select fragrant climbing roses to create a blossomed tunnel!

Alas, it's not our time yet, but yours.

In the meantime, we can dream and plan and plot.

On Manufacturing

"Engineering is a great profession. There is the satisfaction of watching a figment of the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a plan on paper. Then it moves to realisation in stone or metal or energy. Then it brings homes to men or women. Then it elevates the standard of living and adds to the comforts of life. This is the engineer's high privilege".

Herbert Hoover - 1874