Swing of hearts

This beautiful garden swing is not the first thing I have worked on at the studio, but unfortunately I didn’t have the idea to start this blog until earlier this week. The swing is made from two pieces of red gum jarrah connected and strengthened by smoothly sculpted pieces of mild steel. As you can see in the detail shots each arm rest features a partial heart as support.

The up-links are fastened with two eye loops on each side of the swing which connect to the actual swing crossbeams. The bolts connecting the frame at the bottom and top are detailed slightly and the holes in the bottom/back pieces have been countersunk for a smooth finish.

Most parts of the swing had been finished by the time I came back in last Friday, so all there was left for me to do was to finish sanding the bottom and back pieces to prepare them for the oil finish. I started off with a rotary sander going from 80 grain up to 320. Two full passes were run on each piece for each level of grain to give it an even finish. The edges of both pieces where then finished off with two passes of 240 and 320 for each piece and side. Sanding by hand allowed for more close finish taking of any remaining ridges that might could not be iron out with the rotary sander (it’s just a little too big for the curves of these pieces).

Saw dust was removed after each pass to keep things nice and clean and both pieces/sides where blasted off closely with an airgun and fine varnishing cloth (clean) to prepare for the first oil coating.

The oil used for these pieces was purified German Linseed oil. I’m not sure of the brand, but I’ll check on that this Friday. The oil was applied with a piece of varnishing cloth and done in small sections at a time. Any excess oil was removed with a second piece of clean cloth, to prevent the oil to build up in areas which would then not dry properly and leave a sticky mess. The first coat was applied before the forged iron arm rests, anchors and up-links were attached. As you can see in the first shot the amazing marble of the wood really came out through the oil and it became a lot darker and deepish red in some areas in particular.

The iron pieces had a clear lacquer finish applied to them to protect them from deterioration by rust etc.

Antonio and Adam worked on this piece, I’m not 100% sure who did which parts but I’ll check up on that this Friday.

- Ben

* EDIT: turns out the swing was jarrah and not red gum, goes to show how much I know about wood I guess.

~ by Ben on March 5, 2008.