subject: Old Metal Work Techniques [print this page] Old Metal Work Techniques Old Metal Work Techniques
Most people think that decorative metal working is outdated but nowadays it's gaining a newfound popularity. More and more people are developing an interest in hobby Metal Work. With the use of simple metal craft hand tools, folks can enjoy creating fine metal work pieces.
Metal working takes skill and technique. But with patience, the right tools and knowledge, one can create metal works that could perhaps last for centuries like the ones crafted by skilled metal artisans a hundred years ago.
There are numerous historic public buildings and sites in the USA , United Kingdom , Canada and many other countries. Thousands of people walk straight past these public buildings and gardens with beautifully crafted metal work and ornamental iron arches without giving so much as a glance. They hardly recognize the many months of painstaking labor involved in creating these elaborate metal works.
But today's metal workers would definitely recognize and appreciate these works of art. They would stop and stare to admire the craftsmanship and skill, and the amount of work that was put into these remarkable handmade iron and metal works.
Many old bent iron design work are often used as inspiration for new design ideas. Modern metal workers would use these ideas to incorporate with contemporary designs to fit today's lifestyle. They would reproduce them in garden structures, outdoor garden furniture, household utensils, and other such custom made iron and metal work crafts that customers would be more than willing to pay for.
Today's metal workers study these ancient techniques of metal working. Most of the knowledge is preserved in books and other such manuals. These books explain in full the process, styles and techniques used to design genuine reproduction bent ironwork. They show novices in Metal Work and even advanced metal workers certain design concepts and how to transfer drawings into full size objects.
Metal workers from a hundred years ago didn't have the convenience of having arc welders and other modern tools to help them piece their creations together. Instead they used special methods and techniques to bind their metal work together. Such was their skill that most of these metal works are still in good repair today even after a hundred years.
Metal working is also the combined art of creating and coloring patinas on different kinds of metals to achieve unique effects, and chemical etching of designs onto copper and brass.
Metal workers will be able to reproduce in detail sheet metal cross strips and borders for outdoor garden tables and chairs. These are all explained in books and manuals. So if you are interested in trying some metal working, whether as a hobby or as a profession, educate yourself in these old techniques and try if you can recreate the decorative metal works that metal craft masters did over a hundred years ago.
