Tools - a fetish

[BeauV]

There are some tools that just get to me. These guys build some that I was amazed by.



If you wander around on their site you'll discover that they are only a handful of guys who work in Latvia and make some of the most amazing hand-crafted stuff I've seen. They opened up an on-line presence and web site and promptly sold out all of their production. The video production quality of their stuff is just AMAZING! Clearly, they've got the oder of business development all wrong and could probably sell out the entire production of a hundred workers doing what they do.

Enjoy:

http://www.neemantools.com/en/creating-process/making-the-tool

[bob perry]

Beau:
I know what you mean. The anvil is an image that is near and dear to my heart.
Here's Spike having some fun with hot steel.

[JoeP]

One of my room mates in college was a blacksmith. He had a setup in a shed in the back yard of the house we rented. We had a good time drinking beer and forging stuff.

[BeauV]

Bob,

I thought you might enjoy this. I tried a little blacksmithing and was quickly taught, by my aching muscles, why blacksmiths are 145 lb bowmen. It takes a big guy to swing a smith's hammer for an hour.

I was struck by how primitive the technologies are and how amazing the results are.

BV

[bob perry]

Beau:
Spike made some video's with his GoPro camera at the forge. There is no dialogue just the camera on Spike's head while he works away. I wish he would have talked a bit but I have other vids where he talks.

[Cherie320]

BV - Very interesting and a nice web site. Very hard to say no to tools and getting to see the shop and build process is quite engaging. Thanks for sharing. Pat

[bob perry]

I gave Spike's tools to Alair, his friend from the forge. She used Spike's hammers to forge the spike I use as my avatar.

[Soñadora]

I gave Spike's tools to Alair, his friend from the forge. She used Spike's hammers to forge the spike I use as my avatar.

That's awesome Bob!

[cap10ed]

Beau:
I know what you mean. The anvil is an image that is near and dear to my heart.
Here's Spike having some fun with hot steel.

Bob what did Spikes shop specialize in ?

[bob perry]

Cap:
They did mostly high end railings and gates. Some of the gates were architecturaly designed and some of the railings were pretty fancy. They also did some inductria stuff, escape ladders etc.
We have all sorts of things he made hjust for fun and gifts. He made amazing fireplace tools out of steel and bronze. He made lanternbs, indian metal sculptures, a coffee table we use everyday, a beautiful whale's tail door knocker and of course his famous suit of Viking armor that Max now has. This suit has all hand forged plates. It weighs about 35 pounds. He loved what he did. He'd go in on the weekends just to play around.

[bob perry]

Here is a gate he built. He looks pretty pleased with himself.

[cap10ed]

Cap:
They did mostly high end railings and gates. Some of the gates were architecturaly designed and some of the railings were pretty fancy. They also did some inductria stuff, escape ladders etc.
We have all sorts of things he made hjust for fun and gifts. He made amazing fireplace tools out of steel and bronze. He made lanternbs, indian metal sculptures, a coffee table we use everyday, a beautiful whale's tail door knocker and of course his famous suit of Viking armor that Max now has. This suit has all hand forged plates. It weighs about 35 pounds. He loved what he did. He'd go in on the weekends just to play around.

Did Spike take an apprenticeship with this firm ? Or did he go to a college program. It is such old profession you always wonder who the hell is doing this stuff. The video posted here was a good insight into that world of craftsmanship. Beautiful old world objects. NICE gate. What are the symbols in the copper plate ? My wife loves old door knockers. Can you post a picture of the whales tail knocker for her. We had a forged Fox door knocker on our last house. We have a Rooster that hasn't been put on the door yet.Pam says thanks in advance. Ed

[bob perry]

Ed:
I'll post a pic of the whales tail knocker tomorrow. I keep it displayed like a piece of fine art.

Spike learned to weld in high school. He and his buddy Syd designed and built an electric bike to enter a contest at Western Washing Univ. Spike welded up the frame and they finished the bike Friday with the contest on Saturday. I went up to watch. I expected high school kids. There were factory teams there with matching coveralls, racks of tool boxes and trucks painted to match. Spike had me and his high school shop teacher to cheer him on. They had the fastest bike but the contest was for how long the electric bike would run and as I recall they got third place in that category. But they did get an awardf for the most innovative bike, Aftyer Spike went to the MNaritime Academy and worked on ships for a couple of years he decided that he did not like the social life that going to sea left. He loved going to sea but he wanted a more normal social life. A father of a girl Spoike had gone to high school with had told him, "If you ever want a job give me a call." This guy owned Ballard Ornamental Iron, the forge. Spike called him and went right to work there. He was the type that had a gift when it came to working with his hands. He was patient, careful and very creative.

[cap10ed]

Ed:
I'll post a pic of the whales tail knocker tomorrow. I keep it displayed like a piece of fine art.

Spike learned to weld in high school. He and his buddy Syd designed and built an electric bike to enter a contest at Western Washing Univ. Spike welded up the frame and they finished the bike Friday with the contest on Saturday. I went up to watch. I expected high school kids. There were factory teams there with matching coveralls, racks of tool boxes and trucks painted to match. Spike had me and his high school shop teacher to cheer him on. They had the fastest bike but the contest was for how long the electric bike would run and as I recall they got third place in that category. But they did get an awardf for the most innovative bike, Aftyer Spike went to the MNaritime Academy and worked on ships for a couple of years he decided that he did not like the social life that going to sea left. He loved going to sea but he wanted a more normal social life. A father of a girl Spoike had gone to high school with had told him, "If you ever want a job give me a call." This guy owned Ballard Ornamental Iron, the forge. Spike called him and went right to work there. He was the type that had a gift when it came to working with his hands. He was patient, careful and very creative.

Thanks for sharing that Bob.

[bob perry]

Ed:
My pleasure. I do enjoy talking about him. My wife and I were just discussing how lucky we were to have had Spike in our lives for 30 years. His love of life was infectious.
I think maybe you were working some psychology on me by getting me to talk about Spike. Thanks for that. I think it worked.
Spike was never afraid to show or demonstrate his love. When you had Spike for a friend you had a friend forever.
It hurts now to say "forever".

[bob perry]

Whales tail door knocker by Spike.

[JoeP]

Wow, that is really nice.

[cap10ed]

Whales tail door knocker by Spike.

Sweet ! From the artists gallery a two thumbs up, thanks Bob, Pam Maw

[bob perry]

Notice that I put put kdh's daughter Adele's business card next to it. I got a very nice thank you card from her with some of her own artwork.

[cap10ed]

Whales tail door knocker by Spike.

I'll take two replica's of that design Bob. Is the material Bronze ? I don't need no stinking rooster on a sailors door.

[bob perry]

Ed:
It's iron and I can probably get Alair, the gal who made the Spike I use as an avatar, to make you two if you are serious.
I actually posted a pic of it on her Facebook page today. It would be cool in bronze and iron. But expensive.
If Spike were here he'd bang you out a couple in no time.

[cap10ed]

Ed:
It's iron and I can probably get Alair, the gal who made the Spike I use as an avatar, to make you two if you are serious.
I actually posted a pic of it on her Facebook page today. It would be cool in bronze and iron. But expensive.
If Spike were here he'd bang you out a couple in no time.

I'll take two Bob. I have a friend who is retiring from the Pilotage who would love this piece and I want the other.Drop me a line at propwashed@hotmail.com and we'll set this up. Ed

[kimbottles]

Whales tail door knocker by Spike.

WOW! Just WOW!

[bob perry]

Ed:
Ok.
I'll contact Alair and ask her. I'm sure she would be proud to do it. She would use Spike's hammers.

I'll get on it tonight.

[cap10ed]

Ed:
Ok.
I'll contact Alair and ask her. I'm sure she would be proud to do it. She would use Spike's hammers.

I'll get on it tonight.

Cool.

[cap10ed]

Thanks for the thread start Beau. I just picked up the neatest retirement gift for an old shellback Pilot. The legend lives on. Thanks Spike.

[BeauV]

Now hang on a gal darned minute. Is someone going to make up some whale tail door knocked a la Spike?? There may be a lot of takersif there are others to be taken. They are really quite wonderful.

Ed, you're welcome. You lucky bung.

Beau

[bob perry]

Alair has agreed to build the knockers. She does not know how much they will cost. I have sugget bronze and iron. She wants me to send her more pics of the knocker from more angles. She will work out a price.
This is not a small door knocker. It's about 13" long and the tail is aout 4" wide.

Beau: do you me to add one more to the order?

[kimbottles]

Alair has agreed to build the knockers. She does not know how much they will cost. I have sugget bronze and iron. She wants me to send her more pics of the knocker from more angles. She will work out a price.
This is not a small door knocker. It's about 13" long and the tail is aout 4" wide.

Beau: do you me to add one more to the order?

Please add one for me Bob.

[bob perry]

Kim:
Will do.
I'm going to propose we do the new knockers at 3/4 scale. The original is big and heavy. That's why we never installed it. It would damn near knock most doors down.
I think a slightly smaller version with a nice knocker plate would be better.
Let me know if you think this is a good idea.
Maybe I should take more pics with some items added to the pic for scale. I'll do that.