foldforming

i've had charles lewton-brain's book of fold forming for quite a while, but haven't had a chance until now to give one of the folds a try. i used rio grande's bench tube video as an accompaniment, and just a few tools besides a small piece of thin gauge copper sheet--a steel block, plastic mallet, the cross peen end of my goldsmithing hammer, part of a wood skewer, and a knife blade to open the form after hammering is finished. what a pretty little rueger fold i was able to make in a short amount of time!

what a great book!

my first rueger fold 

some of the tools i used to form this sensuous shape

electroforming

the beast!

pod coated with electroconductive paint

pod after electroforming with copper

the very first one! note the extreme bumpiness (which i like)--i turned the voltage down after seeing this because unless you control this, they will flake off

about six months ago i purchased a used rectifier for $75, hoping to explore electroforming. it had been in storage for quite a few years when i bought it so i wasn't sure if it actually worked. it has taken me longer than i thought it would to accumulate the other necessary materials and to find the time to do some test runs with it, but it works, i'm so happy to say! i used some small pod forms and a leaf from my drawers of nature accumulations and was pretty amazed at the results.  it's clear that i've got some adjusting to do next time around based on my reading:  thicker lead wire, lower voltage (if that's even possible--this piece of machinery was made to plate, not electroform, based on the voltage and amperage displays), maybe a tad more brightener, larger container for the bath, maybe get an aerator (there may be one in our attic...), smaller anodes. and then more refining after i make those changes...

work by my son and apprentice

mixed metals box, copper and brass, xavier trahan 2011

domed and hinged ring, brass, copper, sterling silver, xavier trahan 2011

my teenage son xavier just returned from two weeks of studio work in metalsmithing and glassworking at the new england school of craft.  the glass work is on its way in the mail--i'm so excited to see it!--but i have the two pieces that he made in the metals class here.  both of these pieces are more sophisticated than anything i've made!