Constructing itwas not simple.
The vines are made of bronze brazing rod that I bent into those curves using a paint can and a large beer bottle for templates. I got them to lay flat, then laid them out on the table until I liked how they curved. I then brazed them together at the top, leaving one a bit longer so I could bend the loop it hangs from.
I cut the leaves using a bandsaw that I bought online that has a diamond blade and a water feed. I discovered that I could draw the shapes on the glass and nest them so I got a lot of leaves out of one small chunk of glass- in fact, all of it was scraps from previous projects.
I used the copper foil and solder method and foiled them all and tinned them with the solder,then laid the vines out on my work surface and soldered the leaves onto it. You'll note that some of the leaves touch- they give it structural stability.
The little red round things are those flattened marbles you get at a craft store. I used my grinder to rough the edges so it could hold the foil, then soldered them like the leaves.
All told- probably about 20 hours of work, I would guess.
And a lot of beer.
(The vines are made of bronze brazing rod that I bent into those curves using a paint can and a large beer bottle for templates. I got them to lay flat, then laid them out on the table until I liked how they curved. I then brazed them together at the top, leaving one a bit longer so I could bend the loop it hangs from.
I cut the leaves using a bandsaw that I bought online that has a diamond blade and a water feed. I discovered that I could draw the shapes on the glass and nest them so I got a lot of leaves out of one small chunk of glass- in fact, all of it was scraps from previous projects.
I used the copper foil and solder method and foiled them all and tinned them with the solder,then laid the vines out on my work surface and soldered the leaves onto it. You'll note that some of the leaves touch- they give it structural stability.
The little red round things are those flattened marbles you get at a craft store. I used my grinder to rough the edges so it could hold the foil, then soldered them like the leaves.
All told- probably about 20 hours of work, I would guess.
And a lot of beer.
The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure.,
Wed 31 Dec 2008, 14:39,
archived)
very nice indeedI'm currently finishing off a brass model here. I might post some pics up when done. I do like this though - I wasn't aware how you could foil the edges. Interesting.
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thiswasmyclone,
Wed 31 Dec 2008, 14:42,
archived)
Foil is not hard to use.If you foil light colored glass where you can see the inside of it, get the black backed stuff so the bright copper doesn't show.
I applied it along the edges (the foil is adhesive), then folded the edges over onto the surfaces, then burnished it with the body of a Sharpie pen. But the glass has to be slightly ground for the foil to stick to it- it'll just slip off of smooth glass.
I also used a patina to darken the solder and make it grey.
(I applied it along the edges (the foil is adhesive), then folded the edges over onto the surfaces, then burnished it with the body of a Sharpie pen. But the glass has to be slightly ground for the foil to stick to it- it'll just slip off of smooth glass.
I also used a patina to darken the solder and make it grey.
The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure.,
Wed 31 Dec 2008, 14:48,
archived)