mash

Here is one I have been working on. Some pics in this thread also. http://www.iforgeiro...uring-question/

If you are doing branches like I did its allot quicker to texture the round bar and cut sections then gas weld them up. I texture the welds in the forge if they fit. If you whind up with a large branch like the one on the pit it won’t fit in a small gas forge like I use. So I grind those welds with a die grinder to blend those welds. Simple bends I do before I cut sections. If you want to taper the round bar down I square it up taper it down and re-round. For thinner branches I just grab rebar that’s laying around, round it good so you don’t see the original texture and then texture it. I do the oak leaves by grabbing a bunch off the ground and tracing them out on flat stock. I then cut them out on a band saw which is a real pain. Then clean them up with the grinder then it’s into the forge. I use basically dull chisels made from old coil springs to do the lines. Then one last heat and bend with tongs and a smooth pair of needle noses I ground for the job. You could probably have leaves laser cut or water jet if you wanted. Its what I would do if it was for a production projects not my back yard. I weld the leave on and die grind them in as well. The Acorns I do with 2 spring swage set up like O1tundra. One with an acorn in it and a spring swage I made to neck down the bar I am working before it goes into the acorn one. Don’t forget to wire wheel your work before painting. Removing forge scale will also add texture to the work.

Never to late in life to enjoy something. If you find the spring swage doesn't work so well for you or you don't like the texture try buying some cheap harbor freight ball pien hammers. Then grind a textured surface in to the face of the hammer or even the ball end if you have some hard to reach areas you want to texture. Then proceed to texture your round stock turning frequently to keep the stock round and reduce the anvil flatting out all your texture. These branches were done with just a textured hammer.