Scrap materials can be "reclaimed" to create new works of art.
I create pieces using a wide variety of materials, utilizing all types of styles, textures, colors, and finishes. It all depends on the "what I have" and "what I can find". Old garden tools, broken furniture, tree limbs, pieces of metal and so on are excelent finds and I'm prone to dive in the occasional dumpster if something catches my eye. Some commercial stores will give you scraps of wood and damaged goods or sell them for a drastic mark-down. There is a hardware & lumber store close to my house that gives me scrap wood and great deals on damaged goods.
I was fortunate enough to be around when a large Oak fell during a storm and I gathered a number of pieces that I used to make bowls and a few sculptures.
Old tools are perfect for making swords, knives, lance heads, spear points and arrow heads, they can be found at garage sales and flea markets for almost nothing.
Here are a few other materials perfect for projects :
Old files make great knives or parts of the guard and pommel. Bone is a great material to work with, it's been used throughout human history to make jewelry and many other useful things. The Vikings, Saxons, Celts, Normans, and Danes to name just a few cultures, utilized bone for a variety of items. A few examples are: Belt buckles, buttons, combs, needles, hair pins, and necklace beads. I work in Silver as well, and it can be found in a number of places or can be purchased in sheets and pebbles. Brass and Copper are also good, craft stores sell these in sheets, but can be found in a number of other forms such as coins and old castings.
I'm not fond of Aluminum as it is hard to work, and can gum up the grooves of files and other tools hen it heats up.
I like making things out of recycled materials, however, I do purchase new materials for pieces I intend on selling outright.
Here is a 'short' list of basic tools I use regularly:
A Dremel® multi-tool & a zillion accessories, Grinder, Kobalt® professional grade files to shape blades and fittings, Jeweler's saw and Coping saw for intricate designs, sandpaper, a jigsaw, hand sander, and a drill. Other tools I use include a X-acto knife, wood burner, small propane torch, hammer, vices & clamps, Elmer's wood glue, 2part Epoxy, and Super Glue.
A short word of caution:
If you decide to make your own pieces please use safety equipment to protect your eyes and hands. Be aware of the dust created by working any material, use a respirator or appropriate mask so you don't ingest the particles.
