Possibly My Most Ambitious Project

[Gary Mulkey 1,255]

Today I got started on a mosaic pattern that may be my most ambitious.  I'm going to attempt to build & inlay a live oak tree into a mosaic billet.

 

I got the billet that I will use for the leaves made as well as another that will be the Spanish moss.  Much of the rest will need to be done in a canister with different powders.  I didn't get photos of each step so if you have questions, feel free to pose them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Conner Michaux 238]

I’ve already got the popcorn ready, this one is gonna be good! 

[JohnK 27]

Curious me but how would it work forged out? A beginners assumption that it would squish the tree shape. If it was cut into wafers and laid/welded onto another thin billet it would resemble a forest. Im probably quite wrong but either way its very beautiful.

[Will Wilcox 261]

Whoa... that's crazy looking so far. Cant wait to see it progress. 

[Gary Mulkey 1,255]

31 minutes ago, JohnK said:

Curious me but how would it work forged out? A beginners assumption that it would squish the tree shape. If it was cut into wafers and laid/welded onto another thin billet it would resemble a forest. Im probably quite wrong but either way its very beautiful.

I'm going to have to be careful to not distort the tree as I forge it.

[Joshua States 1,481]

OK. You got this. 

 

[Alan Longmire 2,373]

Ambitious indeed, but you can do it. 

[JohnK 27]

@Gary Mulkey indeed. Still beautiful! I'm  partial to the forest idea 

[Clifford Brewer 346]

Your work never ceases to amaze me..............

[Charles dP 421]

Oh wow 

 

On 11/9/2019 at 1:50 AM, Gary Mulkey said:

if you have questions, feel free to pose them.

 

I wouldn’t even know where to begin.

[Doug Lester 248]

If anyone can do it you can.  Anxious to see how it comes out.

 

Doug

[Gary Mulkey 1,255]

I  got my live oak profiled today.  I'll try to get the Spanish moss added tomorrow.  The profile here is of 15N20 .065 bar.  The leaves on the end of each branch are damascus as willl be the moss.

 

This entire unit including the cardboard on which it is glued will go into a canister.  I will then fill the inside of the tree with a 2% nickel powder to match the 15N20 and everything outside of the tree with 1084 powder

 

.

 

[James Higson 82]

Epic. That is all

[Alex Middleton 386]

I can't wait to see how this one turns out.  Out of curiosity, do you plan on forging this one to shape, or grinding it complete to minimize distortion?

[Gary Mulkey 1,255]

16 minutes ago, Alex Middleton said:

 I can't wait to see how this one turns out.  Out of curiosity, do you plan on forging this one to shape, or grinding it complete to minimize distortion?

 

I will forge the clip, ricasso (choil). and tang but I'm sure that I will do more stock removal than normal on this one so as not to disturb the pattern any more than necessary.

Edited November 11, 2019 by Gary Mulkey

[Chris Christenberry 298]

I'm just sittin' here, quietly, because I know not what in God's name you are doing.  This ought to be frikkin' interesting, to say the least.

[Gary Mulkey 1,255]

49 minutes ago, Chris Christenberry said:

I'm just sittin' here, quietly, because I know not what in God's name you are doing.  This ought to be frikkin' interesting, to say the least.

 

 

Hopefully I'll be able to show you the process.

[Joshua States 1,481]

2 hours ago, James Higson said:

Epic. That is all

Yeah. Second that.

[Zeb Camper 756]

Third! 

[Alan Longmire 2,373]

9 hours ago, Zeb Camper said:

Third! 

Motion passes!  

[Clifford Brewer 346]

,,,,,,!!

[Gary Mulkey 1,255]

I got the Spanish moss (W pattern damascus) added and the canister made. The next step will be to add the two powders. The outside will get a 1084 powder and the inside of the live oak will get a 1084 plus 2% nickel. My biggest concern is upsetting the pattern while welding the canister. I'll probably give it an extra long soak @ welding temp and then lightly work the canister by hand before going to the press.

 

 

 

Edited November 11, 2019 by Gary Mulkey

[Conner Michaux 238]

Now that is going to make something cool...

[Alan Longmire 2,373]

Even if you just leave it as a plaque it will be pretty awesome. 

[Chris Christenberry 298]

Talk about a newbie!!!!!  I'm TOTALLY in the dark on this one.  Just sittin' here in my warm house (15 degree wind chills here) wishin' I understood what you're doing Gary!  I'll go back in my shell and just wait and see.