Village Blacksmith Tutorial: Forge a 45 second leaf with veins

 

 

SEE VIDEO BELOW:

A forged leaf in 45 seconds.?!! George from the Village Blacksmith demoed a quick leaf in under 45 seconds. Though it is slightly different than the leaf he teaches in his basic blacksmithing class, it’s core techniques are displayed raw, with hand hammering and then transitioning  to the power hammer using an open faced dia.

 Students are required to do all work by hand at the anvil during the class with veins hand chiseled in. The shape is then refined by filing and finished with a brushed brass technique or hot applied wax that is burnished. Students have the option to leave it as a forged element or turn it into a pendant, hook, or other functional item. 

The leaf being demonstrated is the Village Blacksmith’s standard leaf used in several of their products including their very popular roses, Harry  Potter wands, and leaf pendants. Just as a chef uses the same ingredients for multiple dishes, the Village Blacksmith uses elements they create in multiple products.

 

 

 

 

 

SYMBOLISM 

In many cultures the leaf symbolizes hope and growth as well as fertility. “A blacksmith can forge an infinite number of leaves in their lifetime, “each one can symbolize their growth in the craft”- says Cramer.

PROCESS

In the video below, George shows the drawing process by hand. Drawing reduces the cross section and thickness of a material making essentially, making  a taper. Two “drawn” tapers are formed, one at the end of the bar and one about 2” from the end of the bar in the middle of the mass. The corners are rounded and softened of the second taper to form the stem of the leaf. Next,  the first taper is then “squared up” so the corner can be indexed into the groove of the dia. 

 

Fun fact:  The term: “Long, drawn out process” was originated by the Blacksmith!

Note: If a wider leaf is desired, a thicker starting stock may be used. Another method is to flatten the leaf before it enters the dia. This method produces much shallower veins that are less emphasized and looks more “manufactured”.

Be sure to keep the tip clear of the dia while striking. This will ensure it stays pointed and adds a more artistic volume. If the tip is struck it will flatten out and have to be filed back to a point. This will detract from its look artistically and aesthetically.

 

 VIDEO

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A MORE THOROUGH LOOK

in the following video George demonstrates the entire process of heating using the induction forge, forging and dia work, cutting and showcases how the leaves are added as a decorative element. —->

HOW TO GET STARTED

Classes are a great way to get started. They are also a down and dirty preview to see if the hobby is for you without the expense of buying equipment and tools. It is a fast track to core technique development necessary to establish basic efficiency to get creating! To learn more about the classes and gift certificates Village Blacksmith offers click here: https://gloucesterblacksmith.com/collections/training-events

For other helpful resources in Blacksmithing checkout our links page. There you can find Schools closer to you, guilds to join and additional sources for perpetuating the noble art and craft of Blacksmithing. 

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