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.

We flatten it down about 1/2 way on the bias.

This leaf will have a “Raised Vein”, so we don’t thin it down all the way just yet.

The Veining Tool in the last picture there, is a piece of square stock that fits my hardy hole which happens to be 1″.

What kind of steel is the veining tool?

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.

I did quench it in Super Quench. That is a recipe that I have if anyone needs it by the way.

Take a Good Heat. I use either my rounding hammer or a diagonal cross pien with a good radius.

I do this to spread the leaf and make it thin.

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.

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.

At this point I will dress up the stem with my hammer and set down enough metal to make the widow’s eye.

Now with the curl on the end “UP”, we are going to turn it back and make the eye.

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.

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.

vines on the bottom, or top?

Toby, the vines or veins go on the top.

Is the veiner flat Bill?

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.

How thick does the veining tool end up at the center?

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.

The veiner tool is about 1/2″ thick in the center and about 3/8″ on the edges.

🙂 the way I was doing them, they could be a spear head in a pinch

I think I now know why my attempt at a veining tool did not work. I didn’t put a crown in it.

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.

I do all types of leaves myself, this is just one style. You have to make the leaves to suit your client.

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.

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.