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Welcome to my blog. I hope to share information and ideas that you will find informative, valuable and entertaining. If you would like information on something specific ( or you just have a question) be sure to e-mail me at (wallstoo@comcast.net), you can also visit my website at www.wallstoowindows.com Otherwise, sit back and enjoy!!!!

Monday, October 12, 2009




It has always been my opinion, that truly great design is the end product of a great team. The most successful projects are always the collaboration of contractor-designer-client and gifted craftsmen and artisans. Here we see the creation of a one of a kind stair railing. the clients vision was to have the "earthy, organic look of trees and vines" to compliment the overall ambiance of the home. You can see from the pictures the painstaking process that is involved.
Here, Tom is heating and forging the ends of the vine grain round stock to form branch ends.
You can see the branch pieces on the table and Tom fitting one branch in place. You can also see the bender on the right that is used to create the organic look. Each piece is fit into place to resemble a vine. You can see the straight pieces on the table, waiting to be formed as needed. See the gray ends where we have sandblasted each piece after heating and forging to clean the scale and discoloration.
Once a single branch is formed to meet the desired look, it is tack welded in place. We do a few branches and then step back and look the arrangement over to ensure that it looks natural. Occasionally we cut off one branch and rework it to provide a more natural look. Look on the lower right, on the table. There is a 4" round circle with a center stud (handle) that is used to ensure that there are no spaces greater than 4" diameter. This is done to meet the building codes.
After al the pieces are in place and we like the design, Tom welds everything together and Linda takes the finished panel and grinds/sands/files off the rough spots and welding splatter. Then we sandblast the entire railing once again to remove the welding discoloration and any other areas that need to be cleaned.
It's a slow process, but we are enjoying.
As a designer, it is always a privledge to work with such gifted artists.
Patti Marvitz/Walls too Windows

Tom and Linda Hemphill
Hemphill Iron Works
12702 NE 50th Ave.
Vancouver, Washington 98686
360-574-1963
360-609-5477
www.hemphillironworks.com
tomh2491@comcast.net
r-client and exceptional craftsmen and artisans.

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