Candlesticks

I. Shabbos candles for my grandparents forged out of 1″ x 1″ iron stock.

• Top flattened with a power hammer and 4lb straight peen hammer
• Curled around the anvil horn
• Twist in the traditional method: heat, clamp one end in the vise, twist with a wrench.
• Base cut out of scrap plywood and decorated with cholla skeleton
• Base gently sanded, stained, and sealed. Candlesticks were sealed with actual beeswax since I didn’t have access to metal sealant.
• Base and candlestick press-fit together

II. Dragon head candlestick forged out of 1″ x 0.5″ iron stock

• Bend over about 3″ of bar and forge weld — this will become the nose
• Split the top for horns and taper each horn
• Chisel the face, mouth, and ears / lower horns, keeping the piece hot
• Cut off at the neck and use hammer, anvil, and pliers to shape the neck and horns

III. Wavy Candle Holder forged from 0.5″ round stock

• Taper one end and make a loose spiral
• Loose spirals are super finicky; best worked by judiciously dipping already curved sections in water so only the desired section can be bent.
• Make the other curves on the anvil horn
• The top is thicker stock, flattened and welded