[TheForge] Metal working problem...again

[Peter Fels & Phoebe Palmer]

> Hello all; 
> This is a problem that i keep running into, brought it up before, thought i'd try again.
> I have a batch of small pieces,mostly bronze, belt buckles and openers mostly, that are in the "road kill" stage
where they are all cut and shaped and i've worked over one side 
thoroughly with my treadle hammer and assorted tooling..so they are 
pretty detailed.
> Next, i need to give them some 3D shape, depth and form.
I heat up small areas, place them face down on wood ( green pine end 
grain) and strike them on the back side.
> That works fine, except for 1 thing...the crisply embossed front sides get squashed, mashed, mushed and smeared. It's frustrating.
> I'd appreciate any (um, constructive) suggestions.  pete f