Flower, stem and Leaf BAM Trade Item

[ripleycopa]

This Saturday's Project in the Tom Kennon Blacksmith Shop was to make the trade item for the next meeting of the Blacksmith's Association of Missouri on Sat. March 11th in St. Louis which is supposed to be a "flower, stem and leaf" project. I found a nice piece of burled wood upon which to mount my project. Sheet metal flower petals with 1/4 inch mild steel rods forge welded leaves and stem.

[Crytin]

That looks awesome man. I hope to see you at the meeting

[Tubalcain2]

nice job.

[Kevin Olson]

I like it. That single layer flower is cool. Now the challenge for the next one is to hide that spot weld on the flower. 

[ripleycopa]

Thanks, Kevin. I had real trouble peening the tenon because I could not get it hot enough in the coal fire without burning up the flower petals; I should have used a torch. But I did not tack weld it; the hole in the flower petal got wallowed out from being too aggressive in my peening of the tenon and it still sits a little loosely on the stem. The clear acrylic spray pooled in the joint and hardened but it is not a secure joint. I just need to get more used to the torch for localized heating of the tenons to avoid things like that. 

[Glenn]

Make a rivet header from stock that will easily reach into the hole to assist in forming the head of the rivet.  

[Daswulf]

Nice looking flower. I like the wood mount.  

The torch comes in handy with peining the flowers on. I use it on my roses. It does take practice and keeping an eye out that you don't get the petals too hot.