March 1, 200917 yr Any tips on forging leafs? I made a few spear points and mini knives today trying to make leafs.
March 1, 200917 yr Chris, Here is a link that shows you how to make a leaf. use a chisel for making your veins.iForge
March 1, 200917 yr Follow these instructions and the join the list of those making gum leaves to send to Aus!www.treeproject.abavic.org.au/downloads/How_to_Forge_a_Gum_Leaf.pdf and this one for making gumnuts...www.treeproject.abavic.org.au/downloads/How_to_Forge_a_Gumnut.pdf Cheers, Paul Edited March 1, 200917 yr by Quang0 added URL
March 1, 200917 yr I make a round point, neck it over the far edge and flatten the leaf with a full faced hammer from one side only; it's easy to see when to stop. The hammer marks can be made to give a vein effect.
March 1, 200917 yr Here are 2 different leaves done in the same manner as the above leaves. The amount of material that you isolate will influence the outcoome of your leaves. The first leaf is made of 3/8" square mild steel. After forging a spade, you just fuller the design. Then use a ball peen and the dish in the wood to give it life. The tools used are pictured. The second leaf is made from 1" round copper. After forging the spade, chisel like shown in a vice with copper jaws Then finish moving the material in whatever direction by tilting your roounding hammer. Next chisel or fuller the veins. Finally shape to desired shape. This one is shaped into a spoon rest, dish, ash tray, or whatever else you can think of.
March 2, 200917 yr That's nice, Brian. I haven't made all that many leaves. But that looks like instructions even I can follow. Thanks.:confused:
March 2, 200917 yr I like the leaf in pics 5-9, I've never thought of going beyond the basic model- the cut edges are very effective. I've often noticed that chiselled veins can detract from the 'spontaneity' of the piece, you have over come that nicely.
March 3, 200917 yr Slideshows These leaves were a couple of test pieces. The lower one was damaged when I used too large a chisel to fold it. The other passed muster so I made about 40 more with tails so they could be welded to the balance of the work. The larger piece was an attempt to copy a Yellin "sketch" from Jack Andrews book.
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