DiSilvestro Steel Works

Current Projects

• Alice's Bench

  Alice's Bench was built from large panels of 18 gauge steel shaped and manipulated using almost the full range of metal working options. The underlying frame is made up of schedule 40 pipe and 1/4 inch by 2 inch flat stock. The back rest supporting elements are three lengths of...

• Green Vessel

  A companion piece for Alice's Bench; a large vessel built on a reclaimed cast iron stove base suitable for use as a planter or light fixture. The petals are clear coated 16 gauge steel formed on an English wheel.

• Machine Shop Bouquet with Large Wrench

  My largest and heaviest bouquet to date features a very large curved wrench and stainless steel flower petals arranged on a section of cast iron cut from a paper press.

• Large Gate

  Built to fit a corner stairway and complete a fence project, this gate is 44 inches wide, 64 inches tall. The large petals and center buds for both sides were formed on an English wheel. The frame was built from 1 inch by 2 inch square tubing, the hinge...

• Wrench Bouquet

  This piece is comprised of a cast iron control dial cut from an old Milwaukee milling machine and a large curved wrench. The dial face has been removed and replaced with a clear disc exposing the polished interior works, the wrench has been mated to the main shaft and...

• Steel Planters

  These are two versions of a planter made from 14 gauge sheet metal supported by repurposed cast iron stove legs. The petals were formed with a small shop built power hammer and hand tools. The original piece used four petals with much of the interior surface mill scale left intact,...

• Full Flower Gate

  This is the first piece I have made using a small shop built power hammer. The three petals and central bud are made from 14 gauge sheet steel shaped with the hammer and some heat shrinking. The gate was built to suit a 3 foot opening and is displayed...

• Poppy Gate

  This gate was inspired by the papery appearance of poppies and how they bend when in bloom. The flower petal sections were made by pressing roughly cut circular pieces of reclaimed copper flashing in a small press using an improvised die. As the press forced the material into the...

• Split Boulder Bench, Second Version

  This second bench has a copy of the original pipe seat fitted to a similar but somewhat larger boulder which split in a more interesting way, yielding positive and negative opposing faces. The base pieces are from half of a very large potato shaped stone split the long way...

• Steel Menorah

  This piece was made from ends of square tubing that had been shaped in my hand rolling mill and fitted to one another. The base was fabricated from a reconditioned section of 1 !/8 inch steel plate.

• Culvert Stove Hood

  This commission was for a wood stove hood utilizing a piece of galvanized steel drainage culvert. The forward grill section was hand formed from 2 inch by 1/4 inch flat steel, the rear section is galvanized sheet steel with an embossed gear detail.

• Tiny Machine Shop Bouquet

  This piece features a well worn nut fitted with a small brass flower and disc.

• Brass Flowers

  The brass flowers were developed as a detail that could be cold pressed into a steel gate. The three petal design is actually one piece hammered to shape, the central bud was turned on a lathe then pressed through the petal piece and the steel. The steel is 3/4...

• Machine Shop Bouquet, Ford

  This bouquet is built around a scrapped Ford clutch pressure plate which was sand blasted and painted.

• Machine Shop Bouquet, Worcester

  This piece features a refurbished machine gear and an open end wrench from The Stevens Walden Co. of Worcester.

• Machine Shop Bouquet

  This is a restored and reconfigured Walworth pipe threading tool .

• Machine Shop Bouquet

  This piece is part of a series using salvaged tools or industrial equipment, some modified or visually restored for another purpose entirely. In this case it is a discarded Toledo pipe threading tool that was totally seized with rust.

• Curved Gates, Garden of Hope Entrance

  Two gates that fit the curved brickwork of this entrance were built to maintain open passageways. The first photo also shows stainless steel locking hardware that retracts completely when not in use.

• Boxed Rose

  The first piece in this series was made strictly as a present but immediately became part of an ongoing series of gate model ideas. Some are inset in 1/2x 2″ x 4″ shop built boxes, others are in sawn sections of 4″ square stock. The flowers are formed from 18...

• Baptisia Tamer

  Every year I helped to retain this Baptisia with sticks and string. I decided there must something I can make that would perform this function and also compliment the beautiful form of this plant and add an interesting permanent structural element to the garden.The wide band is 3″x1/4″ flat...

• 20th Century Limited Gate

  I was asked to design a gate based on the well known poster of the Art Deco train, the 20th Century Limited, by the illustrator and painter Leslie Ragan. This is the result. ...

• Entrance Arch for Cancer Garden of Hope, Boston City Hall Plaza

  The arch was built as part of a project for the entrance to the Cancer Garden of Hope. The intention was to use the existing structures, concrete bollards which originally housed lighting, as the basis for an element that would significantly define the entrance of the garden and be a...

• Staircase Railings

  A matching pair of railings built for an existing concrete staircase with stone side walls leading to a front porch. The infill design features large repeating and overlapping flowers, all of them slightly different. The handrails are schedule 40 pipe (1″ 5/8″ diameter), the vertical supports are 1″1/4″ square tubing,...

• Two Short Railings

  This pair of short railings was designed and fabricated for a home in the historic district of a New England town. The handrails are made from schedule 40 pipe, 1″ 5/8 ″ in diameter, the vertical elements are 1″ 1/4″ square tubing, the base plate is 3/8″x 1 1/2 flat...

• Hillside Walkway Railings

  These railings were built for a long walkway on a hillside with irregular changes in elevation, two strong curves and a small established garden. Stone posts installed at the beginning and end of the walkway length provide a visual link to the existing, original granite work on the site....

• Steel Ribbon Plant Stands

  These plant stands were made especially for the 2012 COG online auction,for more information about the annual auction and the work of Community Outreach Group go to www.cogdesign.org. The bases are made from 2″x 1/4″ flat stock in a triangular arrangement with a circular 2″ tall pot support....

• Stick Figure Kids

  The stick figure kids were developed specifically for the children's garden built by Magma Design for the 2012 Boston Flower Show. To see more of their work go to www.magmadesigngroup.com. The figures were made from 1″x 1/4″ flat stock formed by hand.

• Flower Show Gate

  This gate was designed and fabricated for the 2012 Boston Flower Show exhibit garden built by New England Land Artisan and Potted Up. For more information about the work of both these artists go to www.nelandartisan.com and www.pottedup.com. ...

• Plant Stand for Large Pot

  My first use of this shape at this size was as a base for a fountain which can be seen with my 2011 Flower show work. With some slight modification at the appropriate height it made a perfect platform for a potted plant.
  

• Doorway Rose Trellis

  Because of the staircase landing height and the need for subterranean anchoring material this piece was nearly 12' tall before installation. It was split in two after fabrication for ease in handling and final setup. The major frame components are made from #6 rebar (3/4″), the infill detail from #4...

• Short Residential Railing

  Built to replace a plain pipe railing, this single piece spans the three steps and short walkway and is anchored in new concrete, below grade, against the side of the existing masonry. The handrail is made from schedule 40 pipe (1″ 5/8″ o.d.), verticals are 1″ 1/4″ square tubing,...

• Custom Rose Trellis

  This piece was designed for a site with some unusual requirements. The rose bush was well established and needed to be contained. The space was already defined visually by a post made of granite blocks and a driveway divider with wood architectural features that matched the house. The fan shape...

• Garden Gates

  These two small gates were built as display items for the 2011 Flower Show and are now installed in a client's garden. Both pieces are 35″ wide x 34″ high at the center, fabricated from hand bent 1″x1/4″ flat stock steel and framed with 1 1/4″ square tubing. Granite posts...

• Small Table

  This table was designed for a small urban balcony and as a companion piece to a copper and steel fountain which can be found with my 2011 Flower Show pieces. The dimensions are 12″x 18″x21″ tall. The materials are 1″x1/4″ hand formed flat stock steel and 16 gauge copper sheet.

• Work produced specifically for 2011 Boston Flower and Garden Show

  Thank you to everyone who visited my booth at the 2011 Boston Flower and Garden show. All of the work shown here, mostly in shop photos, was produced especially for the show. All the pieces are original designs, some are variations on previous work. The blue bench is the...

• Entry Gate

  This two piece gate was conceived and built to fit an eight foot wide entry between two stonework columns. The frame is 1 1/4 ″ square tubing.The infill details, formed by hand, are all made from 1″x1/4' flat stock steel. This piece is one element of a residential landscape...

• The Cancer Garden of Hope on Boston City Hall Plaza

  The steelwork for the Garden of Hope consists of eleven pieces.
  The large corner piece was built from 2″x1/4″ flat stock steel and forms an 80 degree angle to match the flower bed. It is 6'6″ tall at the center and fans out to nearly 8' along both sides....

• Rebar Trellis Bench

  This design combines a permanent trellis with a large wooden bench and side tables in a strong, simple shape. The structure is built from hand bent 3/4″ rebar. It is 9' wide at the ground level, 6' tall at the center, 28″ deep. This piece was built to suit...

• Fair Isle Tray

  The Fair Isle tray was the result of a collaboration with an enthusiastic and creative knitter, my partner Deborah McDevitt. She was knitting a sampler using the complete range of colors produced by our friends at Swift River Farm. The tray concept was a means of presenting and...

• Barbara's Red Dress

  This is a variation of my mother's Singer piece (shown below in this section) in red and somewhat larger. I made it for a family friend who collects vintage clothes and dress forms and admired the original.
  The dress is 1″x1/4″ hand bent flat stock steel. The...

• Split Boulder Bench

  Granite and steel bench built for THE SCULPTURE SHOW AT TOWER
  HILL BOTANIC GARDEN. The seat is made from 1″ schedule 40 pipe.
  Bending in the top section was done with a hand rolling machine.
  The sides are formed from a split stone with a channel to hold the seat....

• Steel Bench

  This steel bench was created for THE SCULPTURE SHOW AT TOWER HILL BOTANIC GARDEN. It is 5' wide, 4' tall at its highest
  point and 18″ deep. The materials are 3/8″ and 7/16″ cold rolled steel rod, hand bent and arc welded. The contour of the seat...

• Rabbit Proof Gate

  This two piece gate was added to an entrance way trellis I installed last season. It is 72″ wide by approximately 40″ high
  with a one handed latch. A rabbit proof barrier was achieved
  with 2x2( 1″ squares) wire cloth affixed with plastic zip ties.
  The gate was built from...

• Heron Latch

  This piece was the product of a collaboration with a client who wanted a woodshed latch in the shape of a heron. The finished
  product was fashioned from recycled 1″x3″ bar stock steel, shaped
  by flame cutting, pneumatic die grinding and hand files. The eyelet
  is bevelled and tapered to...

• Outdoor Railings

  This is a railing set installed on existing granite stairs. It is an
  original design combining traditional vertical lines with a floral
  element. Although the sections appear quite similar no two are the
  same. On the second landing an integral gate allows access to and from a walkway.
  ...

• Greenhouse Shelving

  This shelving is made from a commercially produced product,
  expanded aluminum. The leading edge is hand formed into a semi-circle to provide a smooth, safe surface and lateral strength. The
  support work is 1 inch square tubing, 1/8 inch flat stock, 3/8
  and 1/2 inch aluminum rod. The entire assembly...

• Small Rebar Trellis

  My original trellises, which can be seen in the gallery section of
  this website, were built to support climbing beans and provide a
  lasting, portable and somewhat formal alternative to temporary wooden pole structures. The finished height is approximately 8
  feet. These are large pieces which work well but...

• Art Deco Menorah

  This menorah is 22 inches high, 29 inches wide. It is made from 1 inch by 1/4 inch flat stock steel, hand bent and built on a 1 inch by 2 inch by 20 inch solid steel base.

• Blue Arbor

  This arbor was built to fit an existing bench space in a garden. It is 8 1/2 feet wide, 3 1/2 feet deep and 7 feet high at the center of the arch, fabricated from 3/4 inch and 1/2 inch concrete reinforcement bar. All bending was done cold, by hand.

• Recently Installed Benches

  These are two recently installed benches built in the chevron configuration. The seating sections are opposing pieces of one split stone. Both benches have stonework landings. One is at ground level, in a field, and is comprised of stone and steel elements found
  on the property. The second is elevated,...

• Mary's Birthday Present, The Singer Piece

  This piece is in the style of a 1950's fashion illustration, a birthday present for my mother who has owned and operated Singer sewing machines all her life. A refurbished stamped metal sign forms the waist of the figure which is hand bent 1x1/4″ flat stock steel....

• Outdoor Railings with Gates

  These railings were built for the entrance of a home with gardens on both sides. Two gates were incorporated in the design to continue access to established paths. Both gate latches can be operated from either side with one hand.
  The handrail is made from 1 1/4 ″...

• Large garden entry gate

  This is a large, two piece gate for a garden entrance. The framework is made from 1 1/4″ square steel tubing. The interior details are hand bent from 3/4″ x 1/4″ flat stock steel. A latch fixture that can be used from either side is built into one section at...

• Oval Chandelier

  This chandelier was designed to hang above a long, rectilinear table set in an alcove. It is 33″ long by 23″ wide by 20″ high. The buds are formed from sheet steel, hammered to shape. The stems are 1/8″ steel rod, hand bent and welded.

• Art Deco Railing

  This railing is an original design in the Art Deco style. It was built for the top of an interior stairwell in the corner of a room. The handrail is 2″x1/4″ flat steel, the floor plate is 2″ x3/8″ flat stock. The infill details are from 1 1/2″ x 1/4″...

• Granite Drinking Fountain

  The drinking fountain consists of two pieces. The granite pedestal is split from a large quarried block, tapered from top to bottom and left with an unfinished surface. The drinking bowl is carved from a small block.The exterior is roughly dressed with a bushing tool and the circular basin section...

• Small steel gate for Show Us Your Bra fund raising event sponsored by The Breast Form Fund. Auction and Gala October13,2007 at the Northampton Center for the Arts,17New South St. Northampton, Ma.

  Two piece gate made entirely from 1/8 inch by 1/2 inch flat stock steel, hammered to shape, arc welded. The posts are 1 inch by 1 and 1/4 inch bar stock, the base is a piece of 1/4 inch plate, 7 inches wide. The frame is a necessary display element...

• Work created for the 2007 Stone Show, an event sponsored by New England Garden Ornaments, Inc.of North Brookfield, Ma.

  Matching Plaid Bench
  The bench is made of five pieces of granite. The title refers to a sewing technique. In this case the streaks of color in the grain of the stone match at the center seam. The bench is nine feet across from corner to corner.
  Wavy Fence
  This fence...

• Rebar Rose Trellises
  

  The trellises are made entirely from 3/4 inch and 1/2 inch concrete
  reinforcing bar. They are 5 feet wide, 7 feet high, 26 inches deep. All bending was done cold, by hand.

• Rebar Entranceway Trellis

  This piece was fabricated entirely from rebar. The structural elements are 3/4 inch diameter, the decorative work is 1/2 inch diameter. All the bending was done cold, by hand. The arch is 9 feet wide, 3 feet deep and 7 feet high at the center. It is anchored by...

• Courtyard GardenThe New England Spring Flower Show 2007

  21'x16' ...