[TheForge] Leaf Stem Transition

[lama]

Thanks for the nice words RW. You were looking at the mirror
http://davemudge.freeservers.com/convexmirror_1.htm
It is made the same way as the BIG laurel wreath on page
http://davemudge.freeservers.com/laurel_wreath.htm which is a lot more
complex having over 100 leaves, but basicly the same process.
They both started as a single leaf forged on the end of a 1/2" round.
Then I forged a LOT more leaves from 1/2", 5/8" & 3/4" stock.
These leaves are forged in the 'typical' way by pointing the end, move
back some and fuller (on the edge of the anvil) the beginning of the stem,
work the leaf out to the shape that you want, fold the leaf in half and
close
it up very tight. Reheat, open the folded leaf, ta-da you have a leaf with a
vein
and the beginnings of a stem.
Next, hot cut the leaf from the parent stock about an inch back from the
fuller.
Draw that glob out to make a nice long stem. Cutting the stem to the right
(aesthetically pleasing) length and then the (aesthetically pleasing)
placement of each
leaf is of the utmost importance.
Back to your question:
Starting on the end where the leaf has already been forged, add the next
largest leaf.
( On the mirror piece, these were the mirror side leaves.) It doesn't matter
how
you weld the stems to the main branch. Use the method that you are most
comfortable with. Gas weld, TIG, MIG or stick, they all work well, just
depends
on what you  do best. I MIG welded the stems to the branch. Then I used a
4-1/2" grinder with zircon sanding disk to smooth as much as I could get to
with that tool and an air die-grinder to get to the spaces that the 4-1/2"
couldn't.
Repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat  grinding &
smoothing
out each stem as you progress.
Yes, it's tedious. Remember, this is called Metal WORK.
The end result directly reflects the effort that you put into it.

dave m.










> Dave Mudge, I was looking at on your web site.  Beautiful work.  The
laurel
> wreath mirror has very nicely finished transitions from leaf stem to
branch.
> What technique did you use to achieve this?  Was a TIG or MIG used?
> Thanks, RW
>