Dragon fly MK2

[pondman]

I recently made a dragonfly for a pond cover and while I was waiting to get it painted I took it to a few customers to show them an example of my work. I had had know idea 4/5 of the would want to buy one! so I thought I'd change the up a bit. One got picked up yesterday and I delivered another today. The others will be going shortly. Just thought I'd share a few photos of the process and finished pieces.

 

[pondman]

I find myself staring at it for ages

 

[stuvy]

there really nice, do you plan to try your hand at birds sometime like shirazman off here?

 

[pondman]

there really nice, do you plan to try your hand at birds sometime like shirazman off here?

Yes thats definitely one of my goals, they're amazing!!

 

[stuvy]

Yes thats definitely one of my goals, they're amazing!!

I know, im waiting to get a plasma cutter before i even think about it

 

[pondman]

I know, im waiting to get a plasma cutter before i even think about it

Yea I need one too! I'm torn on what to get next, a coke forge or plasma cutter?? Tough choice :-/

 

[Seano]

Your work looks so real pondman, excellent BTW what make is that ring roller you are using....? and if you say pondman I'll

Sean

 

[strube1369]

Yowzer! Very cool.

 

[pondman]

Your work looks so real pondman, excellent BTW what make is that ring roller you are using....? and if you say pondman I'll

Sean

Thanks Seano!

That ring roller was supposed to me a metal craft power bender I bought it a few years ago when I was very nieve and thought it was just a cheap eBay special, it's pretty useless but does work ok as a basic ring roller. It made me save to buy the original next to it, which is an amazing bit ok kit!

 

[stuvy]

Yea I need one too! I'm torn on what to get next, a coke forge or plasma cutter?? Tough choice :-/

hmmm for me itd be a plasma first but i could seriously find work for a forge, id struggle on the space for it though...

 

[dickie bell]

beautiful work

 

[outofthefire]

Yea I need one too! I'm torn on what to get next, a coke forge or plasma cutter?? Tough choice :-/

Shame you dont live closer to me you could have my forge its just sat in the garden rusting away. There dead easy and cheap to make though even easier if you have plasma cutter

 

[chunkolini]

Apologies here.
This is the severalth time I have looked at this and thought damn fine. Then I spotted I have not made a comment.
Still damn fine.
Plasma versus forge?
Plasma cutter. you can bend stuff quite well with the gear you have.
Can you cut out a butterfly's wing or a leaf with a forge?
Dont forget you will need a compressor.
I felt a right fool when I bought my plasma cutter and found it needed a compressor as well.

 

[pondman]

Shame you dont live closer to me you could have my forge its just sat in the garden rusting away. There dead easy and cheap to make though even easier if you have plasma cutter

Thanks for that! I was in leeds twice a couple of months ago I was looking to make one, I have some plans but its not a straight forward box hearth so I've been looking for one of decent quality on flea bay. I'm not in a rush at the moment I have a gas forge which does enough for now.

 

[pondman]

Apologies here.
This is the severalth time I have looked at this and thought damn fine. Then I spotted I have not made a comment.
Still damn fine.
Plasma versus forge?
Plasma cutter. you can bend stuff quite well with the gear you have.
Can you cut out a butterfly's wing or a leaf with a forge?
Dont forget you will need a compressor.
I felt a right fool when I bought my plasma cutter and found it needed a compressor as well.

Thanks Chunko

It looks like the plasma is the best option then I've been commissioned to make a pheasant sculpture so I'm trying to figure out my how I'm going to do it. Looking forward to it )

Thanks, your points are valid!!

 

[shirazman]

these are real good...love the way the wings look, just like they are moving..excellent work. Ive always thought of doing one of these and doing the wings with that circular brushed stainless you get in chip shop vans. Maybe one day if i ever get time.......

 

[pondman]

these are real good...love the way the wings look, just like they are moving..excellent work. Ive always thought of doing one of these and doing the wings with that circular brushed stainless you get in chip shop vans. Maybe one day if i ever get time.......

Thanks Shirazman!

Time is always the problem, sometimes I wish I had more time on my hand to do different things, then I quickly wish away that wish because if I'm busy I'm able to pay my bills. I just have to be patient and do what I can when I can

 

[pondman]

Apologies here.
This is the severalth time I have looked at this and thought damn fine. Then I spotted I have not made a comment.
Still damn fine.
Plasma versus forge?
Plasma cutter. you can bend stuff quite well with the gear you have.
Can you cut out a butterfly's wing or a leaf with a forge?
Dont forget you will need a compressor.
I felt a right fool when I bought my plasma cutter and found it needed a compressor as well.

I can imagine getting your new bit of kit home plugging it in all excited, then finding out you have to spend more£££ before you can actually use it!! DOH!! Luckily the company that was in my workshop before me left me their 200L 3phase beast for £50 so no problems there

trying to figure out which machine to go for is going to be another issue!

 

[Seano]

I can imagine getting your new bit of kit home plugging it in all excited, then finding out you have to spend more£££ before you can actually use it!! DOH!! Luckily the company that was in my workshop before me left me their 200L 3phase beast for £50 so no problems there

trying to figure out which machine to go for is going to be another issue!

To my simple little mind the question appears to have an easy answer...How much day to day forgework do/would you do against how much metal cutting do/would you do day to day.....HTH

Sean

 

[pondman]

To my simple little mind the question appears to have an easy answer...How much day to day forgework do/would you do against how much metal cutting do/would you do day to day.....HTH

Sean

At the moment I don't cut any sheet steel, I do think a plasma will be handy for the future but don't have any immediate plans to use it. I use a forge quite regularly lately, I really like the texture the steel gets from heat n beat. Thats why its a difficult one.