Category k
Gates/doors - forged
Instructions: Review the entries in this category and make your decision on which entries in this category have your vote for first place (gold), second place (silver) and third place (bronze) awards. Make a note of your choices so that you have them to reference when you are ready to vote. Once you have chosen your three winners in each category (there are a total of 10 categories), you can place your votes online by submitting a Top Job e-Ballot. Only one member per company is allowed to submit a ballot. Questions or problems? Contact us.
<< BACK TO MAIN TOP JOB PAGE
k-0001
Spring and Harvest (set of Garden Gates)
Is this a joint venture: No
Category: Gates/Doors - Forged
Designed by: Fabricator
Total Labor Hours: 250
Finish Type: Professional primer and Rustoleum Topcoat
Materials Used: Hand forged steel with milled bronze hardware
General Description: These two pairs of solid forged mild steel gates were designed to celebrate the cycles of the seasons and growth in the garden. The gate at the garden entrance (closed gates in photos) shows the tree and plants in the Spring as rain drops fall, dripping from the gate and bringing life renewal to the burgeoning plants and acorns on the tree. The gate at the garden exit (open gates in photos) presents the crops when ready for harvest. The corn is full and tasseling, the acorns are ready to fall, and the garden is at its peak. A basket weave pattern is presented at the bottom of each gate and drop pins and escutcheons are machined from bronze.
k-0002
Fancy Forged Walk Gate
Is this a joint venture: No
Category: Gates/Doors - Forged
Designed by: Fabricator
Total Labor Hours: 60
Finish Type: Metalized and painted
Materials Used: 1/2" round steel bar for scrolls
1" x 1" square for frame top and bottom
1 1/4" x 1 1/4" hinge side verticals
General Description: The client called us and wanted a fancy walk gate for his back yard. He wanted a gate with a lot of scroll work. The gate is 8' wide and 8' high at the center. All scrolls are hand forged using 1/2" round steel. The gate has ball bearing hinges; two drop bars and a bolt latch closure. The gate was metalized and painted.
k-0003
Historic Door Replication. Where Old Meets New
Is this a joint venture: Yes
Category: Gates/Doors - Forged
Designed by: Architect
Total Labor Hours: 950
Finish Type: Specialized surface abrasion, patination and tinted lacquer were used to replicate the original patina.
Materials Used: Cold rolled steel
General Description: Centuries old craftsmanship was merged with cutting edge technology to recreate this historic lobby elevator door. The fabricators were commissioned to replicate a historic elevator lobby door for a 1920s Chicago landmark building. The replication was to be configured as one swing door rather than two sliding elevator doors but was to perfectly match the existing doors situated adjacent to it. The original doors were laser scanned, and the digital files were used to waterjet cut 12-gauge steel blanks. Using the smith’s own handmade tooling and employing techniques appropriate to the time of the original work, the blanks were hand filed, raised, chased, incised and repousséd into 14 distinctive panels that would make up the door’s front. A tube steel frame was fabricated with exact dimensions to fit seamlessly into the original opening. The individual lamina was joined to create the layered assembly. Specialized surface abrasion, patination and tinted lacquer were used to replicate the original patina.
k-0004
Pedestrian Gates Forged
Is this a joint venture: No
Category: Gates/Doors - Forged
Designed by: Fabricator
Total Labor Hours: 600
Finish Type: Dark bronze urethane paint with hammered copper
Materials Used: Aluminum and copper
General Description: There are four pedestrian gates similar to this one. The infill consists of 1'' square with hammered edges, and 1/2'' x 1'' flat bar with hammered edges. The acanthus leaves are custom designed and made from 0.080 sheet-metal. The hammered copper is 16 ounces. All of the material was sandblasted, primed with epoxy urethane, and top coated with a dark bronze urethane paint.
k-0005
Rolling Thunder
Is this a joint venture: No
Category: Gates/Doors - Forged
Designed by: Fabricator
Total Labor Hours: 325
Finish Type: Hand rubbed wax
Materials Used: Steel
General Description: This interior gate was designed to go with other work we had done in the house. The clients wanted to keep their small dogs out of the laundry room. There was no room for a swinging gate so we designed this to roll along the wall. We purchased the v-groove wheels and built our own track and brackets. One of the interesting things we had to deal with was the heat vent in the floor below the track. We made the track with a section that could be removed and the floor vent could be assessed. Another situation we had to deal with was mounting the top track to the wall and gate. We added a textured cap and end to the track to go with the texture of the branches. The cap and shoe were forged from 1.75" round stock and we used 1" round for our main branches. All of the branches were tig welded with the transitions.
k-0006
Hobbit Oasis Moongate
Is this a joint venture: No
Category: Gates/Doors - Forged
Designed by: Fabricator
Total Labor Hours: 160
Finish Type: Prime/Paint- Satin Brown
Materials Used: Forged Steel/Castings
General Description: This client wanted to transform their backyard into a Hobbit Oasis. Fabricators were given artistic freedom to make a functional work of art. The moongate is just a small portion of the scope with the whole project spanning over 150 linear feet. With the moongate falling within the perimeter of the pool fence, it didn't have to meet pool codes, allowing the fabricators more artistic freedom. The moongate was designed with a water theme in mind as it welcomes people to the pool area. Frogs, butterflies, and cat tails are just some of the design aspects that pop out at viewers. Each scroll and leaf were hand forged and bent to give a truly custom appearance. Every piece that overlaps was welded to add structural integrity. Cleanup was the most labor-intensive part of this job. Each weld had to be die-grinded the perfect amount to preserve the organic texture/appearance of this naturistic theme.
k-0007
Iron-Glass Front Entry Door
Is this a joint venture: No
Category: Gates/Doors - Forged
Designed by: Fabricator
Total Labor Hours: 600
Finish Type: Painted
Materials Used: mild steel, structural tube, and insulated tempered glass
General Description: Scope: Iron-Glass Front Entry Door with Wrought Iron Grille. Design for the stately 128” W x 132” H front entry door with an oval top and a transom above was classic and yet some early modern ironwork elements. Two-leaf door, each leaf 9.5’ high and 42” wide plus two sidelights, each 1.8’ W x 7.5’ H. Transom consisted of two equal side panels and a larger one in the middle. Material used: mild steel, structural tube, and insulated tempered glass. Fabrication techniques: forging, hammering, and welding. Installation technique: mechanical. Challenge: Making the door substantial enough but not too heavy looking. Finish: painted black, Satin, with some selective ‘golden’ highlights to bring out three-dimensionality of the work.
k-0008
The Big G
Is this a joint venture: No
Category: Gates/Doors - Forged
Designed by: Fabricator
Total Labor Hours: 93
Finish Type: Raw Galvanization
Materials Used: Steel
General Description: This custom-forged gate, inspired by the customer’s last name starting with the letter "G," features a main structure of 1 1/2" round uprights with a heavy texture. The decorative "G" elements are heavily forged and placed on top, adding depth and dimension to the design. The bottom rail is made from 2" x 3/4" flat bar, hot-punched and drifted, while the gate post is a 3" round solid forged steel piece. At approximately 450 pounds, the gate swings on an in-ground hydraulic self-closing unit. The gate is built using mortise and tenon joinery, with minimal TIG welded connections for a clean, strong structure. The finish is raw galvanization, left to patina naturally over time.
