Formation of a Copper Lotus Finial Part 3
In my experience soft, thin sheet-like AK steel, aluminum, copper, etc., can be worked hot, cold, or both. Raising these copper petal-shapes by both stretching the centers and shrinking the edges is most easily done mechanically. For this story though, I will illustrate the hand working methods I used for years before developing my time-saving tools.
Lotus petals worked with mallet
The simple ``s" shape was first worked into the blank and then, according to the layout marks, the center portion was worked into the bag with the big mallet, and planished.
Planishing edges
The edges were then pulled down by ruffling with the hand tool...
Ruffling with the hand tool
and working the metal into itself with the trapping mallet ...
Trapping with the mallet
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
