Something different from a Railroad Spike :0)

Well I've seen tons of letter openers and knives with twisted handles...
Saw this while reading my ABANA (Artist Blacksmith Association of North America) subscription... and remembered seeing it in the past...
So I figured I'd "fire up" the forge and try it...
Hope you enjoy it... got some other ideas and I'll post them here as I forge them out... :0)

This is a cross... it is cut them split to form the star centered hole... that represents the Star of Bethlehem and the light that shines through it represents Jesus Christ as he said "I am the Light"....

Made a few after a few blunders and hot stamped them with my favorite verse... John 3:16...

The larger crosses were forged from wrought iron from the 1800's

I need to finish up my idea on those little guys and will post them later :0)

Hope you like it :0)

Bear

 

Great Work but How did you cut the splits into it?

 

Beautiful work and so imaginative. Like the "open to let light shine through" center.

 

Looks good... might could sell a few of those if you were so inclined....

 

Looks like bandsaw, heat, then wedges to me, more heat, wedges, then hammer work. Nicely done.

 

WOW, Very nice!

 

If you would like to sell one, I would be happy to purchase one

 

I cheated and used a metal bandsaw... I thought about doing it the old fashioned blacksmith way and using a slit chisel to cut it hot... but figured I would cheat to get the technique down on my first tries at this... I'll do some with the chisel... should be nice as the bandsaw does leave some saw marks...

Thanks for the compliment... I love the old fashioned ways and repurposing steel and other things for a new life :0)

 

Thanks... I can't take the credit for the design... some talented old time blacksmith thought of this years and years ago...

Yup... "let the light shine through"..... need to add Isaiah 54:16 to my sig line... I really like that verse as well :0)

 

Never really thought about that... but thanks for the really nice compliment... PM me if you'd like one and I'll keep that in mind the next time I "fire up the forge" :0)

 

Yup... exactly how its done... Thanks for the compliment :0)

 

Thanks... these were fun to make... botched a few but I love working with hot metal :0)

 

Thanks for the kind words... something different from a spike you don't see very often... but they are out there :0)

 

Wow ... Thanks... All these comments are very kind... I wasn't really looking at selling these and made these for some family and friends... PM me and I'll keep you in mind next time I "fire up the forge" :0)

 

It occurs to me, that if i ever win the lottery, I will set up a full online workshop, where a man can commit FORGEry, with impunity, be as reVOLTing as he chooses to be, and do his CARPing in peace. I WOOD set it up, where a man could show his METAL in the course of his day, and feel that CHARGE of an ELECRTIC moment, or simply get STONEd, or LAID. Where VICES are accepted, and troubles are TABLED.

 

Beautiful work Bear,If you ever decide to sell any, please let me know!

 

Bear... you could probably make a Door knocker out of one of these... might be interesting... leave the pall on the spike for the knocker and cut the wedge at an angle... then roll the extra steel at the top of the cross to hold it on....

 

That would be a great idea... Thanks... I'll have to add that to my long list of things to try... I don't like wasting steel and I kept the palls and cut offs... Thanks again... :0)

 

Aloha... Thanks for the very kind words...

In fact, Thank You all for the kind words, thoughts and comments... just got back from Church and decided that if a member here wants one that I won't charge anything (nada, zero, zilch) for these (as long as my railroad spike supply holds up:0) except to ask for postage to ship to you ... as I have not won the lottery yet

This effort and these crosses will be my way of honoring the opportunity, talent (such as it is :0) and time that God has given me to make these for folks that want them... yeah I know that sounds kind of sappy but I feel good about the decision

Any additional $ on top of that would be totally up to you but absolutely and totally not neccessary... I would love for anyone and everyone who wants on to be able to afford it... in fact... if you can't afford the postage... pm me....

They would be made from rr spikes and come marked only with John 3:16... no makers mark because no one can claim the Cross but the "Big Guy Upstairs" ... yeah another sappy sentiment

PM me if you are interested and will let you know when they are ready... thanks again for all of your very nice and kind words,

Just my way of giving back for all the nice folks here and the good things in this old world we often take for granted :0)

Y'all have a great Sunday!

Bear