[TheForge] Forging blackberries?

Mon Jul 7 20:46:05 2003

Nah, not if you start with large enough stock,
I have an acorn die thats about the same size and it even leaves a sprue 
out the top end that has to be ground off.

Id probably shoot for 3/4" rnd and fuller it down to about 3/8" for about 
an inch round up the end and wham!!!!  we do this with mouse dies all the 
time, you get the nose ears and eyes all in one die.  If youd like I can 
post photos of the dies and the resulting forged pieces to the photo access 
site.

mike

At 10:00 AM 7/8/2003 +0930, you wrote:
>Yeah but what about the flattening that happens to the top side when you hit
>it, you will end up loosing the texture you just put on the bottom when you
>rotate it.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Mike Linn" <[email protected]>
>To: <[email protected]>
>Sent: 08 July, 2003 9:51 AM
>Subject: Re: [TheForge] Forging blackberries?
>
>
> >
> > If this were me, Id take a 2x2x1 chunk of steel heat it up to an even
> > yellow and sink a hole in it with a largish oval or egg shaped punch. Then
> > using a smaller round punch, punch in the dimples. lastly forge a piece of
> > 1/4" round into the block running from one end of the hole to the outer
> > edge, dress it up, radius the sharp edges, weld on a handle and viola'....
> > an open face die that will make a few hundred blackberries before you need
> > to make a new die.
> >
> > This is very similar to the open face dies that Allan Kress and Clay
> > Spencer are making and selling. And Im sure for a fee either one will make
> > a die for you....
> >
> >
> > mike
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > At 01:07 PM 7/7/2003 +0930, you wrote:
> >
> > > > 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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> >
> >             Mike Linn
> >       Artist Blacksmith
> >           McCalla, AL
> >         AFC Webmaster
> > http://afc.abana-chapter.net
> >
> > "The universal aptitude for ineptitude
> > make any human accomplishment
> > an incredible miracle"
> >                  Col. John P. Stapp
> >
> >
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> >
> >
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>_______________________________________________
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>theforge mail list group photo site is
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            Mike Linn
      Artist Blacksmith
          McCalla, AL
        AFC Webmaster
http://afc.abana-chapter.net

"The universal aptitude for ineptitude
make any human accomplishment
an incredible miracle"
                 Col. John P. Stapp