Spirit Ironworks

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We are all settled in in the new shop finally. I am showing the crew what was shown to me by other skilled craftspeople. We are hot bending architectural brass today for hand rails that will go on a private residence on Park Ave NYC. This task requires that brass be heated to about 800-900 degrees F. Then using gentle pressure to shape it. In this case a piece of pine 2x4 is used because it will not mar the brass it will just burn and conform to the stock. Get it too cold, it's stiff and wont move, also it can break. Get it too hot turns to mush and crumbles you only have a 200 degree F window of workability. Most of are used to working steel that requires a good deal of muscle and or high heat to work. Brass requires a much softer measured approach.

Some progress images of the Henry Street Settlement restoration project. We had the floral motif pattern re-cast to replicate the original design. The panels were then mechanically attached to a new, custom made stainless steel frame. We can't wait to see the finished product!!

Channeling my inner Kevin Potter today. We need to replicate 60 of these cast iron rosettes. I am making a die based off an original. Being that I am not set... up as a tool and die shop I have to do it using mostly traditional hand methods. It consisted of first making a hardened fore punch to make the negative impression in the center. Then using a series of files to remove excess material around the edges. This die will them be pressed into a hot block of steel to make the working die that will used to make the parts. See more

64 custom forged early 20th century style rosettes. Die and punches created by our talented Master Blacksmith: Timothy MIller