We had fun in Barry's studio yesterday with a friend. She is a graphic designer, but she was fascinated by the hands-on experience of a metal-smith's studio. She learned how to press a pattern into metal, how to cut metal, how to make a bead out of gold and how to use a hammer. For my part, I learned how to look at his studio from a different angle. I'm used to seeing these tools laying around, but it's fun to get up close and see the textures. I don't know what life would be like without hearing the clinking of metal and the hiss of a propane torch as a background. The sizzle as a hot piece of metal hits the liquid after he's soldered. These wonders have become a part of my life, and I thought it might be time to revisit. Below are a few pictures to start with.
Soldering bench
Honeycomb - used in soldering to ventilate
Close-up of a dot - a Barry Pip - on a soldering honeycomb