Working In [emoji633] Spain

[DSEL74]

We had to go overseas for family reasons and since it was my partners family. None of who I really know or speak the language I had to find other ways to amuse myself. I went to work for a successful blacksmith for 5 days. He gave me a project to make a pedestrian gate he had designed to match a large double gate already done. He has many years worth of work at this 1700’s castle both new and restoration work.

This was my assignment, drawn full scale.
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Finished gate test hung at the forge.
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I got to visit the clients an interesting aristocratic family & they gave me tour.
The double gates installed.
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It was a great experience and a lot of fun, my boss, mentor, host was a great guy.

[BobL]

Fantastic experience Dale. Well Done!

About 10 years ago I visited an Italian professor at the University of Venice. One of the subjects he taught was Restoration Chemistry in their Environmental Science degree. Several of his students were blacksmiths and they were doing that subject specifically to study corrosion and metallurgy of old metal structures and artefacts. I spent a morning with these guys in a chem lab class - I could easily understand them and spoke enough to ask lots of questions. I was hoping to go and see one of the students forge setup but unfortunately if did not happen. He too was working (on weekends) restoring the iron work in a medieval castle.

[wheelinround]

Dale what an experience that must have been. That is a beaut result for a week worth of hard yakka. Shame no video of you at the forge tho.

[DSEL74]

Nope no video only a few photos.
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[wheelinround]

Thanks Dale nice work bet it made the while trip worthwhile

[DSEL74]

Ray, It was great I’d happily have stayed longer. Pity it is so far away and so expensive to get there that I can’t just drop in every so often.

I’m hoping to arrange for him to come out to Australia just need to find a big set of gates or other project for us to work on to cover the costs.

[wheelinround]

You need to drop in to QMAC when next up this way.

[DSEL74]

I have seen some things on Facebook when they were setting up but don’t know much about them. Don’t go anywhere much really, so not very likely I’ll be visiting. Only time I travel is when the Missus drags me someplace.

[wheelinround]

I now that feeling [emoji849][emoji23]
Some exc3llent two wheel rides up here, decent pie shops. The group has grown in leaps and bounds, Evan bigger shed now lots of forge days & night's