A tall narrow door (27″ x 106″) is set rolling on this custom built track and steel wheels. Hot rolled sheet metal with a clear finish.

Not a bad start for some FLUX signage. This is actually an early mock-up for a custom steel window/ skylight sash that we are currently building.

I forged these stylized ginkgo leaves to use as an inlaid bracket for a series of ornamental picture frames. The joinery of the corners is very simple but is locked together by the incorporation of the steel braces. These frames were made as wedding gifts for some very dear people. I used salvaged fir that still bears the marks of the saw mill, old nail holes, and knots. Selectively milled, this wood adds visual interest to the piece and a rich, warm color.

I chose a ginkgo leaf for its natural beauty but also for the associations that many people imbue upon it. The ginkgo tree is one of the oldest known living trees, with fossil records dating back some 250 million years. In many cultures the ginkgo symbolizes longevity and hope.

I recently bought a small sandblaster and after first putting it to use inside a small cardboard box with a plexiglass lid I decided I could invest a little time into making something a lot better. What we have now is really a fantastic little unit.

The gun and media are fully contained within the cabinet. The hopper collects and recirculates the blasting media. The air pressure is provided at a fitting on the outside of the cabinet. Connecting a vacuum is a good way to maintain the visibility, but I have had to toy with good ways to let air into the box — otherwise there is such a powerful negative pressure within the cabinet that the gloves balloon out like a pressurized astronaut suit.

Replaceable neoprene panels are incorporated on the sides of the cabinet to accommodate longer pieces that would need to pass through the cabinet to be surfaced. All of the components can be replaced by turning a few nuts.

This is a first attempt at building my own ornamental wheels. They will be used for a rolling fireplace screen and will move along a surface mounted flat bar steel track.

There is a great deal of manipulation that still needs to be done, but when completed they will be reminiscent of old cast iron pocket door hardware and rolling library casters. Also pictured are two other forged fireplace screen frames for the same residence.

David Kennedy designed this elk for an arts camp located near Sisters, OR. This project started as a 12″ tall corrugated cardboard model from David’s studio last spring. We converted it into a digital model, expanded it to larger-than-life size and plasma-cut each individual panel. The sculpture was delivered to the camp fully assembled and bolted down to a concrete slab a few inches below the turf. Today the elk is standing in a manicured, green lawn and slowly developing a deep red-brown patina of oxidation.

Another wonderful opportunity to work with David Kennedy. This shalom sculpture is silicon bronze plate, hand hammered and  TIG welded with a dark patina and oiled walnut base.

Another 1 1/2 tons of steel plate added the finishing touches to the staircase we just completed. The stone floor on the upper level and wooden ceiling of the lower level will finish right up against the edges of these steel plates. The guardrail also integrates a long bench with firewood storage below.

Painstakingly careful handling and more exceptional work by Sheryl of She-Metal transformed the hot-rolled steel plate – an industrial commodity – into a finish material of the highest quality.

We built this staircase for an Oregon beach house that is still under construction. The steel has a total weight of 4,000 lbs, with 3/8″ thick hot-rolled plate treads and risers and 3/4″ thick inverted stringers. The glass curtain wall enclosure of this home required the stair to be brought onto the site partially assembled, moved into position through sliding doors, hoisted and installed. The remaining fabrication was completed in place.

On this project we collaborated with Master Woodworks of Salem who fabricated and installed all of the wood components. Together we compiled a detailed set of shop drawings to ensure that our components (fabricated in different shops) would mesh together perfectly when combined on site. More photos of MWW’s work in progress can be seen here.

The mill scale patina on the faces of the hot-rolled plate was left unaltered and intact. The surfaces were darkened and clear coated by Sheryl Andrist of She-Metal. The finished appearance of the steel is a dark blue-black with subtle but rich variations.