Project Blog - Historic Sporrans / Brass Cantle Project

**ShaunMaxwell** · 13th February 12, 12:58 PM

Scott, I continue to be amazed at what an handy fellow you are... is there anything you can't do (given the proper tools)?

I'm hoping you'll have time to document this latest effort in brass as I'm sure it's going to prove very interesting, and the results stellar as always.

SM

**Harold Cannon** · 13th February 12, 01:13 PM

Scott I am definately gonna want to buy one of your brass cantles.

**creagdhubh** · 13th February 12, 01:30 PM

Sign me up!!!! I'll let you know when I'm ready to commission you for a brass cantled sporran - gotta have it!!!!

Cheers,

**Downunder Kilt** · 13th February 12, 02:18 PM

Scott, no words needed just

and a

to you Sir

**Ryan Ross** · 13th February 12, 09:18 PM

Scott... I've said it before, and I'm certain I'll say it again in the future:

You're a glorious, evil genius.

...now where are the engraved tentacles going, exactly? :cthulhusmiley:

**artificer** · 14th February 12, 01:36 PM

Thanks lads!
This has been an adventure, to say the very least.

When I said in post #1 of this thread-

Originally Posted by artificer

This is a long term blog, and will probably not see the near-daily updates of some of my WIP threads in the recent past.

I truly had no idea it was going to be THIS long term a project

Originally Posted by ShaunMaxwell

Scott, I continue to be amazed at what an handy fellow you are... is there anything you can't do (given the proper tools)?

I'm hoping you'll have time to document this latest effort in brass as I'm sure it's going to prove very interesting, and the results stellar as always.

SM

Most of it is already done (cutting, drilling, etc) and brazing doesn't lend itself to "quick, take a picture of what I'm doing!", but I'll see if I can post a few step-by-steps.

Originally Posted by Ryan Ross

Scott... I've said it before, and I'm certain I'll say it again in the future:

You're a glorious, evil genius.

...now where are the engraved tentacles going, exactly? :cthulhusmiley:

No tentacles on this one. Perhaps sometime in the not-too-distant future... :cthulhusmiley:

ith:

**MacBean** · 14th February 12, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

Back to brass-
My original idea of cast brass won't be happening anytime soon. In one way this is quite good, as built-up construction allows for customization, both in design and size.

A number of us had doubts about casting in brass when considering brass cantles. It struck us that casting was going to produce a heavy cantle. Brass is difficult to cast but rather easy to construct, while silver is easy either way. I am VERY interested in your constructed efforts though and hope you post lots of pictures!

The original brass cantle thread can be found here and has some nice pictures: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...sporran-54286/

By the way, one of the forum members has a factory with advanced computer-controlled milling machines. I could link you up with him if you get tired of cutting and drilling (or maybe he'll see this post).

**Calico** · 14th February 12, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

No tentacles on this one. Perhaps sometime in the not-too-distant future... :cthulhusmiley:

Artificer, won't the one with tentacles have to be made from aged copper (nicely corroded) instead of brass? Made from the remnants of something brought up from a shipwreck from the cold depths?

**artificer** · 14th February 12, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by MacBean

A number of us had doubts about casting in brass when considering brass cantles. It struck us that casting was going to produce a heavy cantle. Brass is difficult to cast but rather easy to construct, while silver is easy either way. I am VERY interested in your constructed efforts though and hope you post lots of pictures!

...
By the way, one of the forum members has a factory with advanced computer-controlled milling machines. I could link you up with him if you get tired of cutting and drilling (or maybe he'll see this post).

I really should have gone with a more traditional cast design, which is more slab-like, instead of the more modern looking cantles.

In the end it was issues with my smith and his schedule more than anything.

If I'm not moving forward with a project it tends to die on the vine, which is something I didn't want to happen here.

Originally Posted by Calico

Artificer, won't the one with tentacles have to be made from aged copper (nicely corroded) instead of brass? Made from the remnants of something brought up from a shipwreck from the cold depths?

No copper for me, my skin does TERRIBLE things to base metals in general, but I'll corrode copper faster than anything. In less that an hour my hands, the front of my kilt, and probably anything within 3 meters of me would be covered in blackish-green copper patina.

I'm no friend to brass either, but I usually wax the surfaces to prevent too much skin-to-metal contact.

ith:

**artificer** · 16th February 12, 01:00 PM

Big steps today, Brazing is complete.

I needed a larger torch than I had, but after that issue was resolved everything went tickity-boo. All the fitting is good, so I'm onto final adjustments and filing, then the big polish! My pulls and lower hinge knobs should be here tomorrow, so with a spot of luck I'll be completed by Monday!

ith:

I'm also going to be adding about 10' of bench space dedicated solely to metalwork.