Southern-Steel Fabrication

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Simple Projects = Simple Pleasures




Now sometimes you just gotta keep it simple. Like this handrail you see here....I spent some time coming up with a unique design that I thought would seal the deal and I thought it would jazz up the otherwise plain looking handrail.....however the customer only wanted a "simple" handrail wallah you have the simple handrail shown. Though it was simple it was still a lot of fun, mainly because I made the lamb's tongue. Sure it would have been easier to buy the already pre-made moulded handrail lamb's tongue, but then I wouldn't have had the joy of figuring out how to forge it myself. I started with the moulded raw stock, made a proportional V notch in it, then brought it together. Next I welded the now touching sides of the V notch and rough sanded the weld to blend with the profile. Last I forged it till it intersected with the post and the other section of the cap rail.

Though this was my first forged lamb's tongue I hope to improve with doing more. So even in simple projects we can all push the envelope and ourselves too.

The other project was just a simple elk coat hanger powder coat job. Simple weekend, simple projects, simple pleasure.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Southern Steel News



I've got some news to share! Southern Steel Fabrication can now add 3 letters to it's name......LLC. This week I finished the paper work to become a Limited Liabilities Company! Hooray. Now I can mark that one off my list.

You see the couple of shots of a plaque shield I made this week. It's made of 18 gauge cold rolled steel, and it was hand formed on a sandbag and trued on my Hay-Budden. It was somewhat constraining as I had to make it fit on the wooden plaque, and honestly this is the 2nd one.....I got a too aggressive with the first one and ended up "mangeling" it. I've had this shape on my mind for some time, I just needed the opportunity to prove it out. Nothing like trying to R&D on an actual job!

Also shown here is Southern Steel's latest computer. I'm actually writing this as I sit at my kitchen table, connected by nothing but radio waves......unbelievable almost for me! This computer was a gift from my loving wife. It will definetly help me get my work done, and the fact that I can do that anywhere.....well that's even better!

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

2007. YEAR TO GET IN GEAR!



Ah.....a new year. We roll along to the bottom of the calender, then pop right back up on top of another year. I love it! Well this year I hope to follow my own advise "Year to get in gear". Don't misconstrue this as my online resolution, but rather my hopeful attempt to squeeze every last bit out of this year as possible, even though it is just beginning. This is Southern Steel's 4TH official year in business, so I want to make it the best year yet, Lord willing!

Pictured above are a few of the projects I knocked out today. A couple of signature roses, and a custom sign. This year I'd really like to hone in on some spectacular projects like most of you, I just want to make sure I challenge myself and use these challenges and the creative flow to push myself in new directions.

Which direction? That's part of the fun in exploring! Till next time may your steel be hot, and your temper be cool!