James Price, Sussex based Blacksmith & Designer

The art nouveau balustrade is finished, looks great and awaits the galvaniser, meanwhile onto the next job. This is a series of scrolls which interlock to form a repeat pattern for a series of step plates. I have spent the last couple of days forging the scroll dogs and drawing out 60+ tapers under the hammer, first couple were great fun but by no. 50 odd I was beginning to wain. This is when furnace and power hammer combo really come into their own.

Yesterday was spent on site fitting a lovely pair of traditional estate style gates. A classic timeless design tennoned and riveted together and hurrah! the client was up for painting them something other than black. I always think it a shame to paint everything black when ironwork can often look much more interesting in other colours. Anyway check out the pictures in the gates section of the gallery .           

I started a new commission today, a lovely Art Nouveau style balustrade, lots of fire welded tulip leaf motifs. I have spent the day sandwiched between a roaring gas furnace and a raging coke forge, Its been a few weeks since I have had a day of solid fire-welding and I am always reminded the magic of it.Left the forge at the end of the day feeling very satisfied and had one of those encounters in the village where I forgot to check what I looked like before I left, only to be greeted by a look of horror, got back in the van and realised I looked like Stig of the dump, it’s all part of it.

Dom has convinced me to blog. Here goes…