Fold Forming FUN :)

Fold forming video. Showing the forging of a 10' Element in Aluminum.

Making a very large spiral element for a sculpture. The piece started out 10' long x 6" wide(1/8" thick)..........was then folded to 3" wide. Then I forge the "open" edge of fold for the whole length to add surface texture, and start the curving. To make this spiral, I forge the piece into a circle, then PULL it out of plane, to create the final shape.

Let me add a lil info regarding the annealing stage. To start the annealing I FIRST, turn on the oxy/acet. torch ..........but ONLY the acet. to enable me to coat the surface of the aluminum with soot. Then I add the oxygen, to the mix, and begin to heat the whole piece. Soot burns OFF at the same temp. that aluminum "anneals". SO........you have a visual "guide" to let you know WHEN you get to that temperature. I ALSO use a wooden paint stick to make sure that I'm not TO HOT. When you rub the paint stick on the cold aluminum.....it "DRAGS".......feels like an eraser, and leaves NO MARK. As I keep heating, and the aluminum comes up in temperature......rubbing the stick on the surface begins to FEEL "slippery", and starts to leave a "light brown colored" mark. At that temp. most/all of the soot should have burned off and the aluminum is annealed and can be quenched in water.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• fold
• forming
• aluminum
• forging
• metal
• smith
• ornametalsmith

[davemudge1]

Great video Bill. You must drink a LOT of coffee. ;- )

[wtowns01]

Dang Bill you are fast! Big fold forming for sure