Leaf Demonstration by Bill Epps

BILL-EPPS : `20:31:42`
BILL-EPPS : `20:32:40`	The first thing we do is take a 3/8"sq. bar, put a short point on the end of the bar, working at the edge of the anvil, hitting straight down, and holding your hammer at an angle.
BILL-EPPS : `20:33:16`	l
BILL-EPPS : `20:35:10`	Let the point Hang off the anvil about 1/2" and set it down on two sides only.
BILL-EPPS : `20:35:38`	We will do this with 1/2 blows. Half on the anvil and 1/2 off.
BILL-EPPS : `20:36:27`
BILL-EPPS : `20:37:17`	We flatten it down about 1/2 way on the bias.
BILL-EPPS : `20:38:00`	This leaf will have a "Raised Vein", so we don't thin it down all the way just yet.
BILL-EPPS : `20:38:58`	The Veining Tool in the last picture there, is a piece of square stock that fits my hardy hole which happens to be 1".
Jock-D : `20:40:19`	What kind of steel is the veining tool?
BILL-EPPS : `20:41:10`	To make the veining tool, I took a piece of 1" sq. split it about 3/4" deep, stuck it in the vice and upset the middle, put it in the hardy hole and flattened out the top with a slight crown in the center, and used a hot cutter to put the creases in it.. I made it out of hot roll steel because the only thing you will hammer in it is Hot Iron.
BILL-EPPS : `20:41:54`	I did quench it in Super Quench. That is a recipe that I have if anyone needs it by the way.
BILL-EPPS : `20:42:36`
BILL-EPPS : `20:44:48`	Take a Good Heat. I use either my rounding hammer or a diagonal cross pien with a good radius.
BILL-EPPS : `20:46:04`	I do this to spread the leaf and make it thin.
BILL-EPPS : `20:47:21`	Some people prefer to cut lines in or down into the metal rather than have them raised, this is done with a dull cold chisel at this point. It just gives a little different effect. I prefer the veins standing out. It adds more dimension.
BILL-EPPS : `20:49:23`	I use a ballpien hammer and a block of wood on the back side to put a cup in the leaf (leaves are never flat)
BILL-EPPS : `20:51:04`	Now that we have this leaf made, we are going to make a keyring fob out of it. We use our Hardy to cut the thing off at the end of the taper about 1 1/2-2" back from the leaf.
BILL-EPPS : `20:51:36`
BILL-EPPS : `20:52:53`
BILL-EPPS : `20:54:06`	At this point I will dress up the stem with my hammer and set down enough metal to make the widow's eye.
BILL-EPPS : `20:56:34`	To make this widow's eye, we are going to draw out a stem about an inch to 1/2" long.
BILL-EPPS : `20:57:19`
BILL-EPPS : `20:59:20`	After we get it drawn out 1" to 1 1/2" long, bend it at a 90 degree angle with a good crisp square corner on the side of the anvil. Now come over to the point of the horn and put a small curl on the end.
BILL-EPPS : `20:59:48`
BILL-EPPS : `21:01:42`	Now with the curl on the end "UP", we are going to turn it back and make the eye.
BILL-EPPS : `21:02:12`
BILL-EPPS : `21:03:27`	Close the eye all the way, insert a key ring holder from Wal-Mart, , but make sure the eye is closed all the way so it won't slip out.
BILL-EPPS : `21:05:34`	It takes me about 10 minutes to make one of these in front of a crowd, and I sell them for $5.00. Wire brush the finish and use bees wax at a black heat, or you can cool it dry it and put Krylon Clear on it.. Also a brass brush at a black heat gives a nice effect too.
BILL-EPPS : `21:06:16`	When you finish it should look something like this:
BILL-EPPS : `21:06:54`	Any Questions?
toby : `21:07:47`	vines on the bottom, or top?
BILL-EPPS : `21:09:40`	Toby, the vines or veins go on the top.
dimag : `21:10:08`	Is the veiner flat Bill?
BILL-EPPS : `21:12:20`	I want it raised so that you can the middle the most and get the spread on the leaf. Ruben, my helper, and I with a power hammer can do 60 of these in an hour.
vince-herod : `21:12:23`	How thick does the veining tool end up at the center?
BILL-EPPS : `21:13:13`	Another Type. Should have said I want it raised, so that you can "Thin" the middle the most and get the spread on the Leaf.
BILL-EPPS : `21:14:00`	The veiner tool is about 1/2" thick in the center and about 3/8" on the edges.
toby : `21:14:29`	:) the way I was doing them, they could be a spear head in a pinch
vince-herod : `21:15:20`	I think I now know why my attempt at a veining tool did not work. I didn't put a crown in it.
Jock-D : `21:15:43`	Every blacksmiths leaves have a slightly different character. I used a chiseled vein and used the chisel like a pencil, every vein on every leaf a little different. Others make leaves with a triangular section and heavy texture.
BILL-EPPS : `21:17:41`	I do all types of leaves myself, this is just one style. You have to make the leaves to suit your client.
Jock-D : `21:18:01`	Later I developed a folded leaf. When opened in a vise it leaves a heavy natural ridge on the back and a groove on the front.
BILL-EPPS : `21:18:48`	I do lots of big leaves, with all types of textures, veins, etc. Lots of cut out leaves and tricky stuff to make them look authentic.