Our Weathervane Project has several different shapes as part of the design. C-scrolls, tulips, and diamonds are repeated themes. Let’s look at how the diamond forms are created at the forge.
They are formed from low-carbon steel bar that is ¼” by 2” by about 5” long. The first 3" will be used to form the diamond shape and the rest formed into the tail approximately 5/8" thick and 2.5" long.
The diamond shape is forged out of the bar over the edge of the anvil. This takes several heats and goes faster with assistance from a striker with a sledge hammer. This one is half done:
The finished diamond then is forge-welded to the crossbar. That is done by two smiths working together to hold and weld the pieces together into a finished bar.
The welded bar is quenched in water and cleaned up.
The diamond is then framed by two scrolls to create a form of a Fleur De Lise. This one doesn't have the final collar yet but is still quite striking in silhouette.
