Strine

Unc. A 2 pound ball pein would do you for a long time. Trouble is the off the shelf models are too flat. Take it gently to the grinder and turn the flat into a very shallow dome say about 2mm high and round off the edges as well. This way you won't leave two bob marks all over your work. Inspection will be noon on Saturday at Eltham. Good luck. You could do without a cross pein for a little while at least.

Mmmm...probably a good idea not to use your photo anyway eh Dale? An excellent article except for the bit about forging hope for one town in particular. I s'pose the media is the media ...not much we can do about that. Doing some research would have helped...ahhh well. Dale, you were mentioned in the Star News Group but alas not in Parliament. The Tree was though. The reach of the Project is amazing me at every turn! Have a look at VicHansard - Parliament of Victoria and search for 'Tree Project' in the search box

A day in which you learn nothing is a day lost. Today is one I'll be keeping. Passivation? never heard of it. At first I thought your leaf was a bit too excited and needed calming down for it's trip to Australia. After a quick look around I found it's nothing to do with that:rolleyes: I wouldn't worry too much about it as I imagine we'll be doing something about passivation to all the leaves. I would just wire brush it and buff it if you can and send it off. It wouldn't matter either if you just pulled it out of the slack tub and stuck it in its postage container. We'd hate to see your apartment dissolve into the street:o

Speaking of events. It's on again tomorrow (Saturday). Again, if you're within getting there distance there's another demo of leaf making at the Bushfire Rebuilding Expo: Whittlesea showgrounds, 10am-4pm. Come and say g'day. WET, I reckon you could toss a yonny onto the showgrounds from Doreen, we'd love to meet you in person and show you some of the leaves you'ld be working with :)

Actually Francis, Quang0's in the Ukraine at the moment getting up to who knows what with the European smiths at their Festival! When he gets back on Saturday he's going to get a pleasant surprise then if your leaves have arrived. Please pass on our sincere thanks to your members. For those that are within getting-there distance we'll be setting up at the St Andrews Market which is north of Melbourne and one of the towns severely affected by the fires. Come and say g'day and have a yarn with the locals we'd love to see you, and so would they.

The smiles are certainly inspiring and so are the tears. I'm not ashamed to admit to taking a big swallow myself on occasion. Stainless steel is as soft as warm butter after talking with victims of the fire. It is difficult to put into words the appreciation the world wide blacksmithing community is receiving for your efforts at the forge. It is deep and heartfelt. I feel absolutely privileged to be representing blacksmiths around the world at these leaf forging days.

To quote Con the Fruiterer (an Australian comedian) "Doesn't matter!" If you can make one or one hundred leaves before the SS wins, your leaves will be received with the same gratitude. Don't forget too that your leaf doesn't have to be a mile long. A six inch leaf will look just as good on the tree as a twelve inch leaf. You could also have a go at some gumnuts which don't require anywhere near the same amount of work as a leaf. Basically a gumleaf is a flattened out taper and a gumnut can be just a bit of tube necked to form a stem. Have a gander at http://www.treeproject.abavic.org.au/reference-images.html and http://www.treeproject.abavic.org.au/forging-tips.html The how to's are from Paul Mills using round stuff. Without the luxury of round stock I've had to make my leaves out of 20mm x 4mm I think and it's quite a different method. It makes use of a blacksmiths magician I think they're called. Anyway I'll take some pikkies next time I fire up.

I'll put in my two bobs (20 cents) worth here as well. The reaction from onlookers at fundraisers we've had so far has been incredible. Some are overwhelmed at what a group of grubby men and women around the world are doing for them and they fight back tears when deciding what they want us to put on their leaf. Believe me too. It is true we appreciate the help we're getting in bringing the tree to fruition but you also need to know of the heartfelt appreciation of the public as well. You blokes are welcome at my fire any day.

I just had a quick look at the new leaves in the project gallery. I particularly remember the one by Richard Provan at Hilderbrand. He is a raw novice who seemed interested in forging. So, to give me a spell he had a go. I have been playing with the forge for years but if you asked me to make a really realistic leaf complete with a grub eaten edge I doubt I could do it. Richard just got sidetracked for a second and eh presto, a perfectly burnt edge. Beginners luck eh?

Steady on! Banana-benders note. It doesn't get that cold down here. Least wise not cold enough to install gas fired forges for heating.

Fantastic. And the dollar divermike... you've got an idea then, how we feel when asked to forge a leaf for somebody, especially when they commission it for someone else rather than have their own name put on it. You wonder about the background story and just say it would be an absolute pleasure to do the little job, hoping it alleviates the pain in some way.

Great leaves Gary as are the ones I saw in the flesh on Sunday. By the looks, you have Eucalyptus Ficifolia ("Flowering Gum") in the back yard.

We had very successful day today at a festival east of Melbourne. Salty gave us a call thinking that the commissioning a leaf idea, to help with materials and consumables, might just kick off and he wouldn't be able to handle the load. He was right. And btw thanks must go to Salty for giving up what would otherwise have been a profitable event for him, instead devoting the event to the Tree Project. So the project is now gathering interest among non blacksmiths as well and good on em. To tell you the truth we had no idea how big this thing would get, nevertheless BRING IT ON. If you know a non-blacksmithing expat Aussie in your part of the world perhaps they'd like to sponsor a leaf. Heck if you have a non-Aussie mate who'd like a leaf made on their behalf more the better. Just point out the March 17th news at http://www.treeproject.abavic.org.au/news.html for details

Ha! Paul you talk of a flood. Perhaps we should start on an Arc as well...does stainless float? NBC next eh?

see below its the same thing

Thanks Dale, I just had a listen to Paul with Derek Geal on 774 ABC (...sorry to those to whom this means absolutely nothing) which Salty alerted me to. I didn't realise there was an earlier broadcast. There is a certain irony here. From a simple plea from Salty, made on this forum off his own bat, The Tree Project is beginning to gain in strength just as the fires began with one little spark or flame which turned into an inferno. It was said to sound like a squadron of approaching FA18 Hornets. I'm feeling goose bumpy thinking about it. If we amalgamated the sound of all the hammers pounding on stainless steel gum leaves around the world the Hornets by comparison would sound more like a couple of mozzies annoying you in your sleep. The difference though is that the outcome of this venture will have nothing but a positive effect rather than total devastation and for some, it will be profound.

G'day All, Great to see the leaves coming in. There's a lot of talk around this country regarding how proud we can feel about ourselves for the way we have, and continue to, help our mates, most of whom we don't know from a bar of soap let alone their background or circumstance. I think the worldwide blacksmithing community can feel equally proud of the way you have put in for what is probably no personal gain save that warm fuzzy feeling (Oh, and the experience of working with stainless steel...phew, "I'm pretty tired now"). But we can't stop there. As I look out the window at the nearest gum tree I can see a zillion gum leaves, so we need as many as possible to make a gum tree. Thanks in advance for the ones that haven't been made and sent yet.

Folks, you have to realise that us Aussies are all descended from a bunch of thieving convicts. If you feel your design is going to go walkabout or fall off at the first gust of wind perhaps the design needs reconsidering. Nobody is too sure yet what the design of the tree will be but I think we'll be breaking a leg to accommodate every offering in one way or another. If we think your design may have legs we could unite it with another thereby creating strength in numbers. Here's a thought, look at the photos Quang0 posted. See how a bunch of leaves can emanate from a number of little branchlets coming from a larger stick. That makes for a number of anchor points. In anycase I'm sure there's at least 200 people (201 as I type) that will appreciate your every effort although you'll never hear it from them. And Salty I know this thing has got off the ground through your vision, please don't think I'm having too much to say on the matter. I just want to do what I can to keep the ball rolling in memory of the lost souls and in honour of those that thought of themselves last on Black Saturday and those that have done so since. Final thought In the bush we'll never use a straight stick off a gum tree to stir a cup of tea lest it gains flavours other than a lovely eucalyptus tang. But that's a discussion for another time. Doug

Bollygum's fine by me. Good one Ray! Paul, I can't enlarge the pictures so can't read the dimensions. If our overseas smiths are having the same problem gum leaves range in length from two or three inches to up 14 or 15 inches. The shape is also wide ranging but for all intents and purposes I suggest the elongated ones shown are pretty much typical and instantly recognisable as the ubiquitous "Gumleaf". Gumnuts too vary from a few millimeters in diameter to over and inch. So lads and lassies there's plenty of scope.

jackatrades, unless the do is officially cancelled I'd be going to your festival. It's now a time to be a lert not a larmed. As Glenn says above (quoting Dale by the looks) there are only awareness messages at the moment. Just keep one musical ear to the radio. As for the leaves that's the sort of defiance against the powers that be that we Aussies are renowned for isn't it. What a great idea to use the very thing that has caused this tragedy to fashion a memorial. I rather think though that I'll collect a bit of charcoal and scrap iron from say Kinglake first as a personal act of defiance. It looks like we now need at least 189 leaves and possibly more.

There's at least one member of IFI that has copped his fair share of the fires. He doesn't feature much here but is well known within our group. As well as losing his sister-in-law and her husband, who were also his neighbours, he has lost all his shedding. He managed to save his house though and one vehicle. If the member list was available I could mention his name although he would probably would rather do with out the fuss as he is that type of bloke. Update (Friday); Currently 181 deceased and 1069 houses lost plus countless outbuildings, pets and livestock. $80m raised for relief of those affected.

It's Friday arvo and after a hard week coping with the supposed slowdown I'm driving down the freeway, trying to wind down and put all the bad thoughts aside with some relaxing tunes while at the same time trying to avoid all the maniacs on the road. Next thing I know one of the maniacs is pointing wildly at my vehicle. What's this clown want I think. Suddenly the brain clears and I realise he wants to say g'day and swap a bit of goss about blacksmithing. It was Dale; maniac maybe but still a smithing chum. A few K up the road we pulled over and did just that. Good to see you again Dale. And yes I haven't been here for a while but I'm here at the minute. More's the pity though, I probably haven't got any more to offer than when I last visited. The squeeze box has taken a bit of a hold and if I'm at the computer wondering how I can entertain myself I'll drag out a bit of sheet music rather than log on to IFI. But anyway we discussed all that eh! Avagoodn

And what is the name of the town Dan?

Somewhere in Switzerland or at least Europe the roads are lined with anvils. Please put me out of my misery does anyone know where this might be. Ta

Mcraigl, If the "Fire is King" what is the fuel? What is the person who collects the fuel, and, knows what fuel to collect. What is the person who is able to stack the fuel in such a way as to make it burn in a way befitting a King? What is the person who has the power, skill and experience to extinguish the King before the King reeks havoc among the kingdom? What is the person who is able to harness the King's ferocity for good not evil? No suggestions from this end just pondering out loud! I do suggest however, the "bush telly" is a lot more entertaining that the lounge room telly:D