Whats happening at Torchcraft....

This 20 foot Oak Tree spans across this ranch gate and stands 9 foot tall.  It is a fairly complex design with so much detail in the many branchs and leaves.  The tree is cut from 3/16" plate and welded to the gate which I also made.  The owner had a crew install the gate on location.

This unique overhead ranch sign belongs to the new ower of a ranch near George West, TX. The customer furnised his logo of a rocking armadillo which was cut from 3/16" plate steel.  Braces on the back side with strap steel for added strength.   

Stoddard Construction of San Antonio has been rebuilding some of the Freer ISD buildings.  They wanted to give the school district this logo as a token of their appreciation for the contract.  The circle is 10 gauge steel and 60" in diameter.  The Buckaroo is cut from 3/16 plate.  Colors are school colors.

The Oaks At Heavenly is a beautiful wedding venue in Helotes, TX.  They needed to block a view on their property and requested a metal panel with a reverse Oak tree cut out.  The 3 panels that make up the tree measure 7 foot tall by 10 foot wide.  They also added a blank panel that forms a 90 degee turn that measures 7 foot tall by 8 foot wide.  The panels are finished in a rust colored paint and mounted to 4x4 inch square tubing post.  The art features 2 doves "leaving the nest" and symbolizes new "Love Connections".  The tree panels will also feature back lighting for a wonderful glow in the evenings. This project turned out beautiful and I'm glad that I got to be a part of it. 

A close friend wanted to give her husband a gift for their 50th wedding annivesary. This plaque hangs above their fireplace mantle and displays the four family brands that they have used in the past and present.  The plaque is cut from 10 guage (1/8") to keep weight down and painted with a Rustoleum "Hammered" finish.

Vet. clinic in Jacksonville, Florida originally had me make his logo for the outside of the clinic building but recently requested a similar piece be made for the inside.  Each piece is welded to the round circle and ground to a shinny finish.  Clear coated for protection. 

The art that is shown has been sand blasted and painted with a two part paint.  The pieces have 3/8" threaded bolts welded to the back side and anchored into the masonry wall.  The Texas painted in Texas flag colors is 36" wide.  Cut out of 3/16" plate steel.  Beautiful South Texas entrance and I am proud to be part of it. 

This is about the best story to go with any picture that I have ever posted on this blog.  The customer called me and wanted a sign for his ranch in Colorado.  It seems that he and his partner were trying to come to a buy out price on the ranch that they co-owned.  It was suggested that they have a shoot off using their beloved lever action rifles.  The partner that now owns the ranch achieved his lower buy out price with a "Sure Shot". Now that is the Cowboy way to settle an argument

When I was young, a good friend and his dad would always have a shoot off in the back yard to see who had to wash dishes when mom and sister were not home.  They always shot until they had a tie.....so the dirty dishes where still there when mom and sis returned.  That is the Texas Way!

I had an order from Florida for a marlin to be placed above the outdoor grill.  Upon receiving the unpainted fish, the customer found a local artist who ground the metal down to a shinny finish and then airbrushed the detail of the fish. Once the colors were added, seval coats of clear coat where applied.  The finished product is amazing.

Customer ordered a two door fireplace screen to mount in the opening he has for his fireplace.  Doors are made from 1' square tubing with 1"x3/16" flat bar rolled in scrolls.  A heavy screen wire is welded on the back side of the doors.  The frame was made first and the customer tried the frame in the opening to mark the holes for mounting and verify the size was correct.  The top picture is unpainted in my shop and the second is furnished by the customer after he installed it.

Little girl loves wolves and this wall rack with hooks was ordered for her.  The piece is unpainted.  Has chrome hooks for hanging whatever.  Cut from 3/16" plate.

Gift for young boy who is playing baseball.  This will give him a place to hang his baseball items. Cut from 3/16" and hooks are made from chrome plated steel.  This item has not been painted. 

Had a request for a saquaro cactus from a new Texan from California.  This cactus requires very little water and had a Texas roadrunner enjoying the small shade.  Welcome to Texas!

Windy Hill Ranch is owned by some very nice Lousana people who own and operate a shimping business.  They bought this East Texas ranch and did a great job of building a nice entrance with the help of Torchcraft.  Who says Cajuns don't have good taste?

There is a new barn in the brush country with some art on the side that really looks good.  The customer asked for part of the pieces to be tempered and then they were painted and clear coated with a powder coating finish.  Very nice effect.  Very nice customer to work with. 

This recent sign was sent to Colorado and is hanging on some really nice large wooden poles.  Cut from 3/16" plate and is about 10 feet wide. 

This is not a recent creation.  I made this cross quite some time ago and noticed the picture the other day so I decided to publish it again.  This cross was copied from a photograph of a cross that the Oblates had erected in France in the 1800's.  It now overlooks the lake at a new Catholic church in Ausin, Texas.

Sign made for church yard. 

This is just something that I made recenty and I am not finished with it.  I plan on placing some glass lamp lens along the front to hold candles.  For now, I am publishing the coyote  The arch is .75" square tubing that has been rolled in an arch.  Bottom is same tubing.

This is a new twist.  Customer built a 5 foot box out of 3/16" plate steel.  I cut the name in the face of the box and he has installed lights inside the box so the name is visible at night.  Very nice approach to a ranch entrance. 

New gate needs a new sign.  Pin Oak tree is the silhouette for the Oak Crest sign,  Cut from 1/8" plate and painted brown.

There is a new ranch owner in Los Angeles, Texas who is having a nice time with her new property.  The barn will have the ranch name and other art displayed on the wall.  All cut from 1/8" plate and heat tempered.  The customer is taking the pieces to have them powder coated with a clear coat.  The name and location will be powder coated in black.

Customer is having a gate made and ordered a Kokopelli to be placed in the middle of the gate.  Piece is cut from 1/8" plate and oval is made from 1/8" x 1" flate bar. 

Customer designed a trailer sign  cut from 1/8" plate.  Circle is a 36" diameter.  Left unpained for a rust finish. 

This is a very special sign for a a very special lady in Hondo, Texas. The sign was originally designed by her late husband.  The sign is really unique and painted in the cream color makes it stand out very well. 

This is number three for a customer who loves to fish.  First was a 4 foot tall sail fish, then a blue marlin and now the white marlin.  All are the same size and finised in the heat tempered finish with automotive clear coat. 

I needed an birthday gift for my one year old newest grand daughter.  Since her name is Faith, I thought the letter font was appropriate. 

Nice design by customer that ordered and designed the sign for her husband's birthday gift.

Ranch sign with family brands, established date and other favorites, such as bluebonnet flowers that "Mom" loved.

Colorado sign for Whispering Pines Ranch.  10 feet wide, cut from 3/16" plate steel.

Customer has two large rocks at his entrance and wanted to put these signs on the rocks with lights behind to be seen at night. 

Addrress is 109 Elk street so the customer chose an elk to be displayed with the numbers.

Hanging ranch sign depicting two black bucks fighting and below the three ranch brands used.

Cut from 1/8' plate for mounting on the new metal building.  Customer has these brands sand blasted and powder coated before mounting.

Preiously this customer ordered a gate for his new home in South Texas. That gate is posted on this blog.  Now a fireplace screen was ordered to show the same buck used on the gate.  Hopefully, he will send a picture of the screen with a nice warm fire blazing in the background. 

Customer designed a 20 foot gate with two oak trees hanging over the ranch brand.  The frame is made of 3" square tubing with 3/4" square tubing pickets.  Oak trees are made from 1/8" plate steel.  Gate weight is approximately 575 pounds.

New home needs a new gate.  Gate depicts the things that are important to the owners.  Square tube gate frame with cattle panel covering the face of the gate.  Gate was powder coated.

King Tails Animal Hospital in Jackson Florida.  Customer sent his custom logo to be mounted on the front of the clinic.  Each piece was cut and a stainless bolt welded to the back side.  Each piece was taken to a powder coating place where they were sand blasted and coated with the proper colors.  A template was made for the customer to drill the holes in the wall for proper placement of the pieces.  Very nice customer to work with.

Had a repeat customer from Louisana order a gate for his dad.  Gate was a gift to his dad.   You can guess that the gate is located in the Eastern area where dogs are used to hunt deer. 

Recently while visiting the Uvalde area we were driving around nearby towns and I recognized a sign that I did quite some time ago.  I like the buck as he seems to be rubbing the velvet off of his antlers on the small brush. 

This order was for Father's Day.  Super Cub with tundra tires is the joy of a dad in Alaska.  Cut from 1/8" plate and approximately 24" long.  The N numbers are vinyl and applied onto the side of the white pained bird.  Great customer to work with. 

This address sign is made by rolling a 3/4" square tubing into a 42" circle.  The address sign is cut from 3/16" plate and hung with chains.  The lettering is cut in reverse.  Left unpainted for a rusty presentation.  Legs will be set in the ground for mounting. 

This gate was ordered with the ranch brand and address numbers included.  The numbers are cut from 3/16" plate and reflective silver vinyl is applied to the top of the numbers for easy identification at night.  Gate is located in South Texas near San Diego. 

Sign depicts the farm operation of cattle and farming.  Vintage tractor with maize growing in the field.  Bob White quail border the name of the farm. 

Customer asked for a wind blown tree for the very high winds that they experience in Wyoming.  Name of ranch with address.  The sign is cut from 3/16" and painted black.  Chain links welded for hanging.  

A repeat customer.  First order was a Blue Marlin for coastal home.  This order is a Sail Fish to balance out the wall display.  The fish is cut from 1/8" plate and heat tempered.  Finished with automotive clear coat. 

Here is a clear message that this property is private and entering it without permission is not a good idea. Cut from 3/16" and left unpainted for a rusty sign to develope over time. 

Couple have a new house with wooden poles arching over the drive way.  They wanted their house number displayed along with their last name and motorcycle silhouettes. 

Los Senderos Ranch in Cotulla, Texas ordered some signs for their metal buildings on the ranch.  This particular sign is large.  The antlers are 108" wide.  Cut from 1/8" plate steel.  Customer took the unpainted sign to Corpus Christi to have it sand blasted and powder coated.  Their installation was perfect. 

Super nice customer in Missouri ordered a farm sign and was very easy to work with.  I like the way they display it by their entrance.  I also included a pic of it just after painting. 

Had a very nice customer wanting to create a sign for his grandfather's ranch near Mountain Home.  Very rocky country as it is near Rocks Springs.  The sign is one of my favorite as it has a goat in it.  "Old Chivto" might be his name as he is standing on the rock and watching over things.  The customer did his own installation with a family member and it appears to be a very nice job.

Initials cut for farm entrance to celebrate the newly married couple who will live there.  Cut from 3/16" plate and painted. 

Carrizo Springs, Texas is the county seat of Dimmitt County.  Recently they have constructed a new complex that included a 5 foot diameter metal seal cut from 1/2" plate steel.  Torchcraft was awarded the project.  This is hand cut  from the 1/2" plate steel and sent to a sand blaster / powder coating company for finish. 

I recently had a job that required using 1/2" plate steel.  I have been playing with the scraps of that 1/2" plate.  A good friend of mine who lives on the Kenedy ranch ask me about making  the famous La Parra brand.  I made him a regular cattle/horse brand but also cut the lettering out of the 1/2" plate steel along with the brand itself.    La parra means grape vine in Spanish.  Here the lettering is sitting on a block of oak, which make a good background. 

Customer bought an LED shop light to be suspended over a large ranch house dining table.  He wanted art work to hang over and around the light fixture.  This piece is what was created for that.  

Here is a unique sign for a customer that might like bikes.  He was kind enough to remember to send a picture after he hung it in front of his entrance. 

Ice house between San Antonio and Floresville recently opened up and wanted some western art on their new building. This art spans about 24 feet in width. Cut from 3/16" plate and painted with a brown enamel. 

This sign represents a lot of about the owners.  The ranch, located in Texas,  has had the same brand in their family for three generatioins.  Cattle are raised on the ranch and aviation has been a part of the the family history for a long time.

Customer furnished the idea of having five birds sitting on a limb with numbers on each bird.  This piece is fresh cut without paint and width is 40" wide.  Thickness of metal is 3/16". 

Oil field service company in Dilley ask me to create a drilling rig scene for a wall in their office.  The rig is 10 feet tall with a substructure of 15 feet wide.  Complete with Christmas tree, flow line and tank battery. Everything is cut from 1/8" plate steel and painted black. 

If you drift down to San Diego Texas, where the Big Bucks roam, look for the Mew Ranch. I have made a new friend and customer who has a nice ranch and offers hunting of all kinds.  You can visit the Mew Ranch website at www.southtexashuntingservice.com

A fun couple dropped in the store the other day while out riding their bikes on the labor day weekend.  Turned out they bought a couple of pieces and the question came up as to how they would manage to get it home since they were on their bikes.  They managed to get one item in a saddle bag  and the larger item was attached to the back of the seat rack with shrink wrap and packing tape.  I enjoyed these two and hope they come back someday.  

Eight foot overhead sign to hand at entrance.  Cut from 3/16" plate steel.  Primed and painted. 

A super nice couple from Oregon came into the store recently and ordered a dreamcatcher to be made with the silhouetts of a lab and sheppard who had gone on.  This was to be a gift for their son who lives in South Texas.  We ended up adding a third dog that is still with their son.  The dog silhouettes were copied from photos that they had.  It took some tweaking to get the heads right but we finally managed to get the right look and stance.  I very much enjoyed meeting and working with the folks.  Hope they will return someday.  

Customer in Big Springs Texas, who has ordered several times before, needed signage on a rock wall at his home. 

Customer's design (his wife's ) but it sure looks good.  You can see the great city of Big Springs in the background. 

Always good to hear from Big Springs. 

Over the years I have accumulated several good friends that started out as customers.  This is an end table that a good friend/customer from Rock Port put together with mesquite wood for the top.  Beautiful work.  Whitetail deer and quail are featured on this one. 

Previously posted is the insert to the other half of the gate being built for the hunting ranch.  This is the same size of just under 8 feet wide and cut from 1/8" plate steel.  The entire piece is cut from one sheet of steel.  It will be taken to Chama, welded into the gate and painted. 

A large gate is being built for the hunting ranch in Chama New Mexico.  This scene will be an insert on half of the gate.  Across the top of the gate will be an eagle, trout, mountain lion and turkeys.  The bottom of the gate has two large windows.  The sign shown here is a little less than 8 feet wide and cut out of 1/8" plate steel.  The trees and mountain scene is a general copy of art that the ranch owner already owns and is hanging in the lodge.  The other side of the gate is the same scene reversed and has an elk bull with two cows. 

New Wine Church near Poteet, Texas.  Beautiful new building with a nice cross on the front and an arched entrance with their name across the top. 

Ranch is located in Clayton, New Mexico.   All of the critters included in this sign are native to that country.  The only animals that are not included is a mountain lion and antelope.  There are plenty of antelope and some really impressive ones.    I really enjoyed putting this sign together as the customer who ordered it listed the items that he wanted included and I got to design it as I saw it.  The sign was a gift from a genuine friend.  Size is about 6 feet wide and cut from 3/16".  The cactus bush to the right of the coyote is called "Cholla".  Right now the cactus is in bloom with beautiful purple blooms.  The tree is a pinion tree.  The country is heavy with jack rabbits, so they are proudly displayed on each side of the ranch brand.  I have been to the ranch recently and it is a beautiful.

Ranch in South Texas is remodeling their entrance.   I was asked to cut the name and quail.  I am glad to see quail in the picture as quail are getting hard to find in South Texas.  Cut from 3/16" plate, primed and painted.

This is the second insert made for the Chama New Mexico gate.  The first insert features an elk bull and two cows.  This insert features mule deer buck with doe and two more mule deer bucks.  The basic design is copied from a wall hanging that the customer has in his lodge.

The gate that this insert goes on is is a very large gate.  Each side will have an insert and critters across the top.  This insert is about 41" tall by 91" wide.  Cut from 11 gauge (1/8") plate for the weight consideration.  Each insert weighs about 50 lbs.  Gate will be located on a 6,000 acre ranch in Chama New Mexico.

Order came from Virgina.  Couple sent a picture of themselves which became the center piece of the overhead sign.  The sign was sent to two pieces to minimize freight.  It looks really nice the way it is installed.   I hope that dream continues for a long time. 

Customer in Wyoming ordered a sign that needed to be 24" by 24".  This is hard to see in the photo but it is painted brown and made from 3/16" plate steel with holes drilled in all four corners. 

Years fly by.  This ranch entrance was prepared for an old friend's son who was very young when I first met him.  Grew up and now has a place of his own.  This is his design and I was please to make it for him.  Cut from 3/16" plate steel.  Primed and painted.  The three pieces are welded in place with welding tabs to keep the lettering up and off the main pipe.  Really looks good to me.  

Previous posting showed the barn scene during daylight hours.  This picture shows how it "pops" when night lights are mounted.  Very nice display. 

Barn with scene mounted on outside wall.  Cut from 1/8" plate steel, primed and painted black.  This scene was mounted so that lights are mounted to highlight each piece.  Next posting will show that display.  

The best part of this sign job was who I did it for.  The man is Fred Vellutini, a World War II veteran who could pass for a 50 year old.  As I only talked to him on the phone, I was really surprised to learn his age.  He owns property in Northern California and we had a really good conversation during the ordering of the ranch sign.  He had to satisfiy all of the members of his family and this is what he came up with.  The best part of the conversaion was when he told me that he was out having dinner while wearing his WW II hat.  Some man walked by and asked him if that hat belonged to his dad.  Fred said "no sir, my dad was in World War I.....he had his own hat!"   Too cool.  Super nice and I hope he gets to enjoy that ranch for many years to come.

Cardholder was custom made according to the customer's directioin.  State of Texas cut from 1/8" plate steel and tempered finish added.  The name is placed on top of the state and welded in place.  The card holder is mounted on a large horseshoe.  Horseshoe nails are welded on the sides of the card holder to keep the cards in place.  The entire piece is clear coated. 

Received order from a custom for a ranch sign to be given for a wedding gift.  Horseshoes were used for hangers.  Sign cut from 3/1`6" plate.  Primed and painted black.

Realtor wanted to give their client a gift for the new property that they bought.  The couples initals are cut in each star.  The entire piece is cut from 3/16" plate.  Drilled for wall mounting. 

Race car driver who's nickname must be Rhino, wanted a display for his medals.  The piece has the rhino on top with three steel rings to hold rods.  The medals which have ribbons tied to them, are hung from the rods. 

A recent request from a customer who wanted his 5 sons silhouette's cut out for a family sign that he was giving to his wife for her birthday..  The picture supplied by the customer was perfect for silhouettes and turned out very good.  Cut from 3/16" plate.  Primed with automotive etching primer and top coated with industrial black enamel.  Finished product photo was taken in my shop.  

Cut from 3/16" plate and top side is ground to a shinny finish.  The photo shows the lettering in scattered fashion on a table top, in order to take the photo.    The customer will weld pins on the back side for mounting and clear coat the metal to maintain the silver shine. 

The owners of the ranch that this sign was made for actually have names that start with T and A, but the running joke is the basis of the art in the sign.  This sign is 48" wide.  Braced in the back with 1"X3/16" flat iron.  Sign was primed with automotive etching primer and top coated with industrial black enamel.  Chain links were welded on far left and far right corners.  Going to Oregon.

Austin customer ordered address signs cut from 3/16" plate, with lettering and numbers cut in reverse.  They will be set in a recessed area of the brick and lighting behind. 

I recently posted a picture of the Fair Oaks Ranch sign while it was still in my shop.  It is now mounted and has lighting.  This is really a nice and shows up very well with the lights. 

Customer from Giddins bought art for his ranch gate and recently sent pictures of the gate with all of the art mounted.  It really looks good to me.  I like all of the game that is represented on that ranch.  I really do appreciate it when customers send their photos so I can post to my blog.

The praying cowboy is a very common scene but this scene brings the cowgirl to the cross as well.  The two saddle horses and the dog complete the scene.  This piece is cut from 3/16" plate steel and welded to an entrance gate.  

Longhorn steer head with name across the horns is always a popular sign display for a ranch entrance. 

This set up is made to hang whatever but it is enspired by two little real people and cat named LoLo.  The little boy is two years old and LoLo is in his sights.  The little girl is too new to care.  Although they probably have wings, I haven't seen them.  LoLo keeps a close eye as a wise cat will do.  The horseshoe/ hooks are made from pony shoes.  

Ten feet in width by 30" tall is a sign cut for Boerne, Texas country club.  It was mounted on a masonry wall and I am waiting for the picture of the finished product.  It was mentioned that it might be hung unfinished.  The masonry work was done by Lundberg Masonry of Boerne, Texas. 

Headed to North Florida for the gate topper to Fantasy Farms.  Cut from 3/16 and ribbed on the back side to give it strength. 

Had to look it up but Finca is farm or property.  This particular sign goes to a coffee plantation in Puerto Rico.  It displays "the farm of Pagan".  Mountains and prize roosters raised on this farm set the design.  To be mounted on the entrance gate and hand carried on an airline to it's destination.  Again, the thickness of the metal is 3/16" and will be painted black. 

As the dates on the sign indicate, they have achieved their 100 year mark of holding on the family farm.  The customer provided an old photo of the tree from back in the day and it also had a horse and buggy in the photo.  Although the tree is a direct copy the horse and buggy design was substitued to spread the sign out in width.  Apparently the place is referred to as the Family Farm.  People are to be commended for keeping the places in the same family.  I once talked to a lady who said her grand dad placed the old farm in a corporation so that no hier could sell off any of it.  He said that he and his family had worked and suffered way to long for some XXX to sell it and buy a boat!

Another design by the customer.  I like to shoot the pictures before the torch is turned off.  It may not appeal to you the viewer but it just rewards me that I can cut these signs with a regular hand held torch.  Yes, I am rolling around in it like a dog that found a dead coon.  They claim that action is a hold over from early animal hunting instinct to mask their odor in order to hunt better but I tend to think the dog just likes to be a little "macho" and show off his new smell.  Probably makes up a good story to go along with it the odor. 

Metal address numbers are cut out and painted black.  In order to make the address visible at night, I have applied a very high grade 3M vinyl of reflective letters over the numbers but in a reduced size.  Very visible at night and very important for emergency situations.  There were two of these created to place one on either side of the ranch entrance for traffic coming from either direction.

Totally designed by the customer (wife I believe) but it really looks good.  Very creative and unique.  Nice rance entrance sign design.

This order from from a family member who requested the name sign to give to a good friend that guided his mule deer hunt in Utah this year.  Cut from the normal 3/16" plate and holes drilled for mounting to the house.  Generally, it is suggested that some stainless steel washers are used to maintain a gap between the sign and the wall to avoid moisture from gathering between the two surfaces.  Stainless screws are recommended as well.