Making simple leaf and scrolls

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I have some projects I want to start soon and I need to make some simple steel ivy leaf and scrolls (mostly for legs).Can some of you metal artists maybe guide me on a fairly easy and simple method to make some of these?What do I need?  How do I actually make (shape) them? How do I finish and detail them to a small degree?Thanks in advance!
Reply:Sweet!   I assume most of all the shaping is done while the metal is very hot?  What about the vein detailing with a chisel. Also hot?And how do you get that color?The trailer ball tool is a great idea and cheap!The scroll I am speaking of is simply flat bar curled on each end like a fiddle f-hole cut out. An elegant "S" shape.  I need to use them as legs.Last edited by MWalden; 08-28-2013 at 11:29 PM.
Reply:There are all sorts of ways to do scrolls. You can buy the premade from places like King metals. Places sell tools designed to fabricate scrolls cold. My buddy has one from Shop Outfitters. I can't remember if HF sells a knock off or not off the top of my head.I do them hot on the anvil. There are any number of Youtube videos on the subject and most basic blacksmithing books cover scroll making. Try "making scrolls" or "forging scrolls". There are a ton of others, but I've seen these guys work so I'll post them up.Leaves I do from bar stock on the anvil. Steve's way of cutting them from sheet however is easier, especially for wider leaves like ivy. I point the bar on the anvil, then drop back and fuller to isolate a mass at the end and then spread it with the peen on the hammer. The process isn't complicated, but it's not that easy for me to explain with words. Again there is a lot on Youtube on the subject. I just typed in "forging leaves" and got a ton of hits. My wireless is acting up so I didn't get a chance to go thru and pull up ones I wanted to. In this link he's using round bar. For larger leaves I find 1" flat bar works a bit easier, but you have to fuller to isolate the mass at the tip and draw down the stem.You might also pop over to Iforgeiron and do some browsing. There are bound to be tons of examples and suggestions there on how to do leaves and scrolls from the blacksmiths there.http://www.iforgeiron.com/.Last edited by DSW; 08-29-2013 at 02:51 AM..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:7A that is Sweeeeeeeet bro! I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:These are awesome ideas. Hope y'all don't mind me stealing them.
Reply:I try to use YouTube a lot but the videos just won't run or load for me anymore.  I thought it was my connection but videos on Jody's site load just fine without any freezing and buffering.  I have just about given up on using YouTube.
Reply:You should see Steves stuff in person.....pics don't do it justice!This looks like a cool place,and they have classes,http://www.tillersinternational.org/...ksmithing.html
Reply:You can do a lot with cold bending also.The Mrs. made this fire pit and the feet are scrolled cold[IMG][/IMG]Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Thank guys.When I look at the work Mario, Jeff & Kevin do I'm humbled. We have some excellent talent here.MWalden. Here's a great book to look athttp://www.amazon.com/Complete-Moder.../dp/0898158966Alexander Weygers is incredible & explains things in a very down to earth way....
Reply:I got the original Weygers book around 1980 and was inspired. He was an engineer, blacksmith and sculptor.Some have noted some errors in one of the books, maybe it was on heat treating, so be aware."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Mark Aspery's book Skills of a Blacksmith Vol II, Mastering the Fundamentals of Leaf-work. is an excellent source on the subject, but quite pricy at $60.http://www.markaspery.com/School_of_...ng/Book_2.htmlI got the whole set recently for my birthday. I was mostly interested in books I and III, but book II has a lot more in it than just making leaves and flowers. In fact much of the information on making tooling shown was much of what I was looking for and I'd have been disappointed if I hadn't gotten book II along with the others.Of all the blacksmithing books I've picked up or looked at, this set has the most valuable information in it. It is geared a bit more towards the advanced beginner to intermediate level. I've got a few others that cover the very beginning basics better but don't have anywhere near as much detailed information..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I guess this craft is like anything else one would enjoy in that it won't make you a living huh?I was interested in the leaf and scroll work mainly to make ornamental reasons and maybe gate repairs.I just gotta get away from auto repair.  I have come to hate it.
Reply:I know several smiths that manage to make a decent living doing ornamental iron work. That said the market in general isn't that large often.Several mostly make the majority of their money doing "production" work where they simply assemble premade parts into units. They couldn't make the majority of the parts themselves cheap enough to be cost effective. The finely detailed stuff makes up just a small percentage of their work..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWI know several smiths that manage to make a decent living doing ornamental iron work. That said the market in general isn't that large often.Several mostly make the majority of their money doing "production" work where they simply assemble premade parts into units. They couldn't make the majority of the parts themselves cheap enough to be cost effective. The finely detailed stuff makes up just a small percentage of their work.
Reply:I've seen all three methods used. Most fence and gate guys use mig in shop. I know several who use stick or FC in the field and my blacksmithing instructor does almost all his stuff with tig. Each has it's own strong and weak points.Mig is usually the fastest and cleanest way to do production work. Stick and FC work better when you have to work outside in a breeze or when working on existing stuff where paint and rust may be a factor. My instructor uses tig because in most of his stuff he needs small welds that don't show up after he's finished reworking them. A lot of his stuff is mostly "hand forged" so tig allows him to minimize the welds so they blend better after he reworks them. That or the welds are covered with hand made collars and the welds need to be almost flush with the original surfaces so the collars sit flat. He also does a lot in alloys other than steel where tig makes more sense..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:+++++1 on mark aspery books. pricey, and shouldnt be your first, first book i would go with new edge of the anvil. bealers art of blacksmithing is credited as being responsible for the resurgence of blacksmithing during the craft movement in the 70s, but alot of its information is anecdotal and based on guys sitting around shootin he ****. weygers is a good one, lots of info about tool making and its really well illustrated. moving metal by adolf steines is a good one for chasing/repousse. nomma sells a couple of videos about scroll making and design, theyve also got a lot of videos on on things like stair layout and fabrication, curved stair layout and fabrication and a whole host of other things related to the ornamental metal business.www.nomma.org
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Reply:What about the little vines and tendrils that tend to curl?  Can those be made simply with small diameter round stock or heavy wire?  I need to make these as well but, this project, they need to be quick, easy and inexpensive.
Reply:You can make them from rod or wire, but I think the lack of natural taper makes them look cheesy.  High-end stuff tends to be made with fairly long tapers which requires forging work.  I think this window security grill is a good example.  "USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:There are several options for vines. You can use simple round bar, or you can work with a textured bar. For textured work, you can forge your own, or by stuff from places like King Metals.http://www.kingmetals.com/Catalog/It...ogDetailId=506http://www.kingmetals.com/Catalog/It...ogDetailId=511I tend to agree I prefer the look of stuff that has been tapered, but you can make some really nice looking stuff if you use the textured bars and change sizes when you branch off. For smaller wrap around tendrils like on grape vines etc, heavy wire works quite well..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan