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| Clark's medium is not often completely understood by the public. It is different entirely from cast iron, in which molten metal is poured into moulds, and from modern fabrication, in which standard sections of steel are cut, possibly bent, and welded or bolted together. Simply put, the iron is heated in a furnace or forge and hammered into shape. Operations such as elongating, spreading, tapering, bending, punching, thickening, splitting and welding are all carried out on red-hot metal in a highly skilled, carefully timed and often very forceful fashion. In fact, the most indespensible tool to the smith besides the traditional forge, hammer, anvil and tongs is the power hammer, which enables Terrence to form very large sections of metal quickly and accurately. | |||||
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| The incandescent iron works like very stiff clay and the smith seems like some mythical alchemist illuminated in the glare of the roaring furnace and accompanied by the thumping blows of the big hammer. | |||||
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Punching with the hydraulic press | |||
| A
large gate leaf being assembled on the shop floor |
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The same gate in place | ||||
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Mortise and
tenon
in iron before assembly. This ancient and incredibly strong joinery technique applies beautifully to modern design and is one of the distinguishing qualities of good ironwork |
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