Firstly, a piece of aluminium metal sheeting was cut to size in order to have a base sheet. By generously tracing the shape and outline of the hand object; allowing an offset of 10 - 20 mm on each side to allow room for error and to play with, curved shape was created.
Outline of object to be cut
Following this process, the edges of the metal sheet were then shrunk and stretched, both using the machine as well as the more traditional mallet against the tree stump shrinker. Of the two methods, the tree stump shrinker, although slower, yielded results that were much more aesthetically pleasing, as the sheet metal shrinker indented lines and creases into the skin of the metal. In order to impart curvature into the form of the sheet metal, it was inverted and hit into the sandbag using a teardrop mallet against a sandbag.
Inside of shape was hammered against the sandbag
Using the same tools and procedure, a circle was marked out and a bump was created at the far end of the shape, giving the shape of a 'wrist' of the hand.
A region was marked and dented inwards, creating a wrist
After moulding the wrist of the shape, creating a dip towards the area where the knuckles would meet the fingers. This was achieved by using the wooden stake anvil and wooden tear drop mallet. By hitting the sheet metal at the point of the stake, and slowly progressing forward, slow and flowing dip was able to be imprinted into the sheet metal.
The form would need to be brought down, to follow the contouring of knuckles to fingers
The process of shaping the wrist and hand was the most delicate and emphasised task, whereby it was intended to 'wrap' and 'mould' the object on both sides using the metal sheet. This was completed whereby the metal sheet was hit into different anvils, producing a curvature to the sides of the sheet. Of the tools the wooden stake anvil proved to be the most effective, due to its hard yet soft surface, allowing the metal to be hit hard but would not leave an imprint or mark upon the skin of the sheet. The form of the wrist curve was generated through the process of trial and error, where the metal sheet was moulded, tested to see if it would fit the object, with a constant repetition of this process.
Object was used a reference for curvature required to wrap wrist
The task of inscribing the detail of 'fingers' and gaps between fingers was an incredibly difficult process, due to the small size of the gaps (especially between the middle and ring finger) and due to the compactness of the sheet size in which a curve would have to be made, it was established that the best option in order to represent the fingers and the gaps would be to create a ridge where the gaps would be located. By turning the metal sheet on its side, angling it on the edge of the wooden stake and subsequently hitting the edge with a riveting hammer, a ridge was able to be imparted on the metal sheet.
Ridges of finger gaps, marked by red and black lines
However, the process of metal shaping of the chosen object did not come without issues. Due to using the metal shrinker, crease lines were imprinted on the edges of the skin. Even with polishing hammers and the English Wheel it was still quite visible on the outer skirt of the metal skin.
Crease and teeth lines from metal shrinker
In addition to using the shrinker, due to constant and overuse of hammers and mallets with the intent to create sharp dips, tears and microlesions were beginning to form in the side of the skin.
Tear forming on side of metal skin
Throughout the process of metal shaping to mimic the form of the chosen object, much was learnt about the materiality and malleability of metals. It was understood that metal, specifically aluminium is very easy to mould due to its short memory, allowing for mistakes and imperfections to be reversed and repaired. The limits of metal and its capabilities was also understood, where it was difficult to mould an object with multiple movements, contours and details such as a human hand. It is possible that I would have benefited from the use of the thinner aluminium of which my draft and trial run comprised of. Although thicker aluminium metal sheeting has benefits due to its higher strength and sturdiness, thinner metal sheeting allows a higher degree of malleability, moveability and therefore workability; which would have definitely benefited from in my choosing of the object.
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