I am James Makely, Metalsmith, in Littleton Colorado.
I have a great love for repurposing old vintage materials, particularly very old Iron and Steel. Nothing creates the beautiful patina and weathered surfaces on iron the way that time can.
One day I decided the time had arrived to retire my very old framing square. I had acquired newer ones, and the old one was not only very worn, but the numbers could no longer be read under the rusted surface. Looking at the framing square, I suddenly knew what new life I could give it. I would create for myself a cuff I would wear on my wrist.
The greatest joy in my work comes from shaping metals while they are hot. The fluidity that iron has in shaping is amazing, but only while it is heated to a glowing temperature.
Cutting a section from one leg of the square, I sanded off the sharp corners. Heating this section in my forge to a glowing orange color allowed for me to roll the edge of the metal smoothly over with a hammer and an anvil. Once both ends were rolled and the shape given balance, I allowed it to cool. Now the fine brown rust patina was gone, and in its place, a crusty black surface. A few days in vinegar removed all the black oxides, down to bare white steel, revealing all the hidden numbers and marks originally stamped upon it over 100 years ago.
That experience encouraged me to create more pieces, such as this cuff, from other vintage framing squares I have found.