Hammer freehand job

[Daniel Houwer]

Well, not actually a job, more an exercise.




Any good? The biggest flaw I see is not getting 1mm of the engraved surface because it might get ridd of the casting flaws on the bottom of the P.
Another one is the way the leafes go besides the hole. I think they would have looked much better the other way around, pointing outward.
Took me about 8 hours I think. Getting quicker every time :-) but maybe that is because if it goes wrong its not really important.
All critics are welcome!

Daniel

[Daniel Houwer]

[brandvik]

Prettiest sledge head I've ever seen. What does it weigh?

[Daniel Houwer]

Oh, no sledge, 800grams.

[mtgraver]

Daniel,
Beautiful job, have you given it a trial run? I think the leaf border is flowing well from the main design. I also second guess myself when complete, but realized the what if's don't count.
Thanks for the fine photos, keep up the good work.
Mark
www.MarkThomas-graver.com

[jetta77]

Daniel, like the background removal. I'm addicted to it, I remove as much as possible, I just think it looks better.'
SCROLLS RULE!
Jeff

[WVEngraver]

The design fits perfect Daniel. Have you weighed it since removing background?


one "critique" ....

Something I have never been able to do freehand is get a monogram centered perfectly in the oval. Even with the computer, when a cipher looks centered (or the alignment tool sez it is), it isn't .... and being the most important focal point of the piece, it has to be.

[carl bleile]

Thanks for all the pics. nice free hand, shame all those pits got in the way.
Carl Bleile
southwest,Ohio

[Tom McArdle]

I like the direction of the leaves!

How hard was it to cut?

Which letter is for the first name? Even in 2 letter monograms, one letter can be emphasized more than the other. I think you could fill the space better if one letter was larger than the other. I would choose to make the last name (family name) initial larger than the the first name (Christian name) initial. It is OK to make them the same size, but you really have two letters trying to occupy the same space, and even though monograms can look like that is the case, they really look best when the main part of each letter has its own space in the design. How to get that result with specific letters is the challenge and fun of monogramming!

keep up the good work!

Tom

[Daniel Houwer]

Thank you all!
I don't know what the definition for a sledgehammer is Brandvik but 3kg and above pop up in my mind. Good idea though, I have a few of those!
Mark, thanks a lot. Second guessing doesn't do much good for the piece but it can help the next one. But you are right to much whatif's don't help anyone.
The background removal I do with a flexishaft and my wrist stil hurts! To much pulling on the shaft. Do you have an airturbine Jeff?

Something I have never been able to do freehand is get a monogram centered perfectly in the oval

You are absolutely right Chris, I was a bit sloppy on that part
First thought I would do some leaves on the right side of the S but thought it would look akward. Yea, like this doesn't The pits don't really help either.
They made the cuts full of surprises and little puffs of rust would apear as a warning.
You are right about the filling of the space Tom. Thanks I couldn't put my finger on why it looked not correct. Any chance of getting it right with some added curly bits?

Thanks you all! This is really an online school with the best of tutors.
Daniel

[rodstan]

Looks really good Daniel.If it gets too fancy it will be too good to use and end up in a glass cabinet.
Is there an anvil on the drawing board?
Rod

[mtgraver]

Tom,
I think you bring some good consideration when laying out a monogram. I've always believed that the complexity of the design is part of the artists mystique, by the way of entwining the floral look of a letter. Sometimes I feel the complexity helps the person looking at the work to spend much more time trying to understand what they are looking at in the monogram, decipher if you will. This keeps one looking longer than a very legible layout. To seperate the letters is a matter, of which is perceived foremost as to be the last name (christian), this would be shaded accordingly. If I understand Tom correctly, his approach makes it much easier to decipher.
Is there a balance of space type rule that can be followed? like a percentage of negative space versus the design? I've always made my layouts to give enough negative space (as I perceive) to give focus to the design be it a monogram or stand alone piece in a cartouche. I like to develope a strong focus on the main subject instead of looking at coverage in a case like this example.
Mark
www.MarkThomas-graver.com

[paul66]

Looks really good Daniel
I like the free hand drawn pattern, this can only get better, and must speed up your work
Reminds me of the engraved chasing hammers on the fega site, you could start up a new trend here, Flame scrolls on a chainsaw bar mmmmmmm

Paul

[Daniel Houwer]

Oh, Rod, an Anvil, great idea! I have two little ones that might aply for the job. 30kilo, fit perfectly in my microvise
I will start paying attention to your and Tom's remarks whenn getting a new monogram done. Good thoughts!
If chainsawes will be the way of the future, I doubt it but it give's a big Palet.
I do have a litle axe that might be good for some scratching.

Here is the hammer with some added curly bits. Might have better left it the way it was.

[Chapi]

The first thing I engraved when I got my airgraver was a carpenter's claw hammer. I have since ground off all the original scratches, and engraved one side. I found it almost too hard, but I heated it with a torch and found that it was a little softer after-all except for the tip of the claw, which I would guess was tempered to prevent breakage of the most delicate part of the hammer. I might have to take some pics and post it.
This hammer looks much nicer than anything I did to mine. Thanks for posting :smile[2]:

[Cloudy]

Just really slick, Daniel!:

[Daniel Houwer]

Hi Chapi and Cloudy,Thanks a lot.
I would sure like to see the carpenters hammer you did Chapi.
Just finished my hammer. Just have to put the handle in and ready to go.

[Big-Un]

I like the "curly" bits around the monogram, takes care of the dead space the eye saw right off. Kind of helped the balance.

Bill