Here's my first go at a leaf. I like it. It wasn't a one heat deal but I learned some so next one I think will be.

Pretty sweet. What size stock did you start with?

Thanks. It's 1/2" round

Looks good, and I don't know any one that can do a one heat leaf but if you can teach me please.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8SojuwHmOA

This guy seems to do it.
Thanks for the kind words

There are those that can do it in one heat, but I am not one of them and I have made about a dozen of them.
Looks good!

did you use some sort of swage tool and a ball pin to make the inward curve of the leaf or what did you do? it looks great.

I just used the horn to give the leaf shape. The video I posted above is where I got the idea from.

For starters! GREAT first try! I've never seen a first try that looked that good.

I'd make a few suggestions for subsequent trys.

For now, don't worry so much about the number of heats. Focus on getting a sharp, smooth and short taper on the tip. From the looks of your leaf, your taper was a little to thick on the end. Get it down really small!

Second, the guy in the video uses the cross pien hammer to texture the leaf instead of a chisel. This is a faster method that forms a more individualistic leaf. I use both the chisel and the pien, chisel first then the cross pien.

Third: I like to put a bit more profile in my leaves. I really pull the sides out and get a really wide leaf. This is personal preference! Many VERY GOOD blacksmiths prefer more slendor leaves.

Once again, great job! Especially for using 1/2-inch. I can forge a leaf and put the chisel and pien marks in, using one heat most of the time. I take a second heat to finish the stem and put the curves in the leaf. I use 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch most of the time.

Thanks Fiery Furnace. I knew as soon as I started flattening it out that I put the neck too far back giving it a long taper so I shaped it like that, but next time it will be shorter. Thanks for the info. I'll try it

There are many diffferent shapes and sizes of leaves and many people making them, so many methods. And size matters, small bar will lose it's heat more quickly than large. I've made many leaves from 6mm round and some from 1/2 or 5/8 square. In all cases I don't necessarily try for one heat but do want to minimize the number.