Workshop Build - Standing up the frames
I made heavy brackets from 3 x 2 inch x quarter angle steel to attach the portal frames to. Additionally, I modified the apex cleats that were supplied with the shed to bold the mirror halves of the frames together with. I cut these in half and used them as bolting points to attach to the fabricated brackets ... although I added a couple more holes in each case.
Initially, I only tacked the brackets to the container sides in case I needed to change the spacing. Once in place, I used ropes and props to manhandle the bolted-together portal frames into place. At this stage, I hadn't figured what to do about the foundation end, other than pack the colums up temporarily until I could get some frame of reference to level everything up against.
Since the block is sloping and I've not done any site survey, I'm relying mostly on 'sight' and spirit level readings to get everything close to plumb and level ... which is really as good as it needs to be. I have the house nearby to 'sight' against and also the existing shed for verticals.
The next stage is to prop up the portal colums and secure everything just enough so I can take off the ropes and props ... and then start trueing the whole lot up. I've only put enough bolts and fastenings in to hold everything together ... the structure needs to be fairly 'flexible' at this stage so I can pull it all into square. Once I've got things closer to the final position, I'll also put heavier welds on the brackets and spray/seal them etc.
Comments (0) May 29, 2010
Elongated Bowl Form in Acacia Cedar
HERE is a long elegant two tone bowl form in highly figured Acacia Cedar I finished recently.
The form continues on the theme of the last piece completed ... the beach almond bowl. These long drawn out forms allow me to create a dramatic form which sort of defies gravity by being way too long for it's small footprint.
I created this piece from some slab stock of acacia cedar I had bought several years ago. The wood is extremely figured, so I've tended to use it sparingly. To enhance the elongated form, I knew I could get a nice two color effect with the acacia so it seemed like a good time to use some of this precious wood stock.
This is another highly elongated form. The base is disproportionately small ... enhancing the impact of the long overhangs. I wouldn't say that this is a functional item ... but, it's a great display piece, especially in an elevated location.
Go HERE to view more images and information for this item.
Comments (0) November 07, 2009
Long Bowl in Beach Almond
I recently created this elongated bowl form in beach almond, a coastal tree growing in north eastern Australia. The wood in this case is a reclaimed resource. It's far better to re-create it into an object of beauty or function ... or both ... than see it dumped or burned.
I'm really liking long drawn-out organic shapes these days. A lot of glass and ceramic artists make 'boat' shapes ... well, I guess, this is my version. I'm not much into complexity or depth with these things, so they are characteristically 'flattish'.
I obtained the wood for this piece from a number of slabs I purchased from a colleague in port Douglas. He had gotten access to the tree after it fell down in a storm and paid a miller to cut slabs. I took about 10 in total. The wood is very highly figured and has interesting grain structure.
I've already made a number of small serving dishes from this wood, so decided to make this elongated form ...
This is a very elegant piece. Although the wood is highly figured, the long flowing shape overrides the visual effect of the medium from pretty much all viewing angles. With viewing most effective at or near eye-level, this piece would also be wonderful as a table centerpiece.
Go HERE to view more images and information for this item.
Comments (0) November 04, 2009
Flat serving dish in Australian red cedar by Bob Gilmour
Australian red cedar is highly regarded amongst furniture makers, artisans and collectors. It's desirable qualities include deep rich colours and frequent figuring. Once plentiful in the rainforests and ranges of eastern and northern Australia, red cedars are now scarce due to over-logging and most are protected within national park, world heritage or on private land. Stocks of Australian red cedar wood today derive from stockpile, recycle/salvage or the occasional fortuitous windfall.
I frequently acquire small pieces of red cedar as offcuts and remnants ... in addition to the larger stock that I buy. The wood for this small dish came from my mate Gary in Julatten. It was an offcut from a board which was probably quite old. The wood itself is very dark ... indicating old age.
Go HERE to view more images and information for this item.
Comments (0) October 06, 2009
Homewares on Artforms
I recently added a new "Homewares" category to my ARTFORMS website (www.robertgilmourartforms.com).
Although I never really planned to display functional items on this site, they are functional art forms of a sort ... so, it seems reasonable to include a sampling. The homeware items I create include utensils, chopstick sets, some boards and boxes and a few other odds and ends. I sell the functional wares locally through my market stall in Port Douglas and also on FOREST TREASURES and on ETSY.
The thumbnails page for the Homewares category can be viewed HERE.
Comments (0) October 02, 2009
Chopsticks and Hand Dishes by Bob Gilmour
I have often made chopsticks with little rests ... like the traditional Asian ones. These days, however, I tend to make what I consider as 'modern' chopsticks. These, I generally sharply double-taper. Also, they are mostly asymmetrical ... in that, they are usually thinner in one dimension, so they lay better in the big hands of us westerners.
The idea for the hand dishes came one day when I was making some salad servers for Forest Treasures. While sanding, it occurred to me that the blade part of the salad servers fitted quite nicely in the hand and I thought "hmmm ... that would make a nice little dish". Then, the idea of marrying a pair of chopsticks to it evolved.
I think it's a really stylish little set. OK, our Asian friends who use chopsticks in real life might think it's a bit of a folly, but we're allowed to fudge a bit over here in knife-and-fork land.
Go HERE to view more images and information for this item.
Comments (0) October 01, 2009
Three Serving Dishes in North Queensland Forest Redgum
This is a set of three dishes which I have just completed as a possible inclusion in a wholesale order.
The wood for these dishes served it's first life as an exposed ceiling beam in a mate's house in Port Douglas. About a year after he had the house built, Keith found a few cosmetic defects in the beams which he wasn't happy about and ... after a series of legal threats ... had the builder replace the whole roof structure. A huge task resulted ... and I was a lucky winner because I carted away some of the more figured beams ... about 8 in all.
In it's figured form, forest redgum (northern bluegum) gets a broad fiddleback pattern which can be seen in these three dishes. The wood is heavy, strong and quite stable.
I have made quite a few of these dishes from this stock of wood over the last 5 or 6 years and am now down to my last beam. This wood was destined to be burn't had I not gone in and retrieved it.
Go HERE to view more images and information for this item.
Comments (0) September 22, 2009
Two Serving Dishes in Silky Oak by Bob Gilmour
I completed these two serving dishes in silky oak last week as part of a wholesale order spread.
My mate Ben bought a train station ... as you sometimes do ... and relocated it to Mount Molloy where we both live. It was built almost 100 years ago and entirely from timber local to the area.
Whilst the building comprised sections built in several distinct stages, the older section contained mostly kauri, Australian red cedar, Queensland maple and silky oak.
After the old windows and frames got ripped out and replaced, I took the window sills and discovered that they were silky oak and with enough thickness to be usable. Most of the timber that I had salvaged was wall cladding and paneling ... which is only about 22m thick
This is the second set of serving dishes that I've made from window sill silky oak stock. I have enough left for another 8 or 10 of this size.
These pieces measure ...
280mm x 120mm x 30mm
270mm x 120mm x 35mm
Go HERE to view more images and information for this item.
Comments (0) September 21, 2009