[TheForge] Forging blackberries?

[Shannell Sugrue]

Yeah sorry they are blackberries, casting sounds better the more I think of
it, Id probably cast them in Al but then have to think of a trick to attach
them, mabey drill a hole and srew them onto the stems or similar(mabey
epoxy) , there are no solders that can stick Al to steel are there??

----- Original Message -----
From: "A. Vida" <osan@netlabs.net>
To: <theforge@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: 06 July, 2003 3:45 AM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Forging blackberries?


>
>
> Shannell Sugrue wrote:
> >
> > A customer want some blackberries like these
> > http://www.homepages.ihug.com.au/~sjs/berries.jpg
> > in a railing, the picture is taken from page 88 of the  book "the
> > contemorary blacksmith" by Dona Meilach, Im sure many of you will know
it, i
> > the nota says it was made with a clam shell die. Im looking for tips on
> > making these, I can do balls with a clapper die but I can only think of
how
> > to make these blackcurrents in 2 halves and mabey join them together ie:
by
> > sinking a half blackcurrent depression into a block of steel and then
> > hitting a hot blank into that with a flat top die on the P.hammer. even
then
> > I think the part of the berry closest to the top of the depression would
> > have little detail because it isnt being hit into the die, more being
> > squeezed sideways into it, and thats only if the blank is the right
size. I
> > cant see any way you could rotate a ball in a "clamshell" die to get an
even
> > effect. Anyone done these before???
>
> First,  you first say blackberries, and then refer to blackcurrants.
> They are two very different looking berries.  WHich is it?  Black
> berries look like raspberries, currants are similar to cherries only
> much smaller.
>
> If blackberries, how about a three piece die?  The two bottom halves
> swage the basic shape from the end of the berry to about 2/3 or 3/4
> of the way to the stem end of the berry.  You then lock those dies
> together, set them on their edge so that the unfinished end faces
> up.  The third die then swings into position and a couple of well
> placed blows finishes the stem-end of the berry including the
> depression where the stem attaches.  You can even leave the beginnings
> of the stem for later reworking.  At that point the berry itself is
> done and you can add leaves and stems.  This is just one way to do it.
> If you try it, be aware that the dies have to be accurately build so
> everything aligns well, requiring the fewest number of blows, which is
> in turn desireable because the heat will be transferred away from the
> work rapidly.  You would have to place it in the lower dies, smack it
> two or three times, flip up, place the third die, two or three whacks,
> and that's all folks.
>
> I can see doing currants the same way.  The hardest part for each
> is getting a good dimple at the stem-end, something the third die
> should do nicely.
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