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1. In order to determine the shape to cut out of sheet brass, the first step is a clay model.
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2. The clay model is submerged in "Dip Seal" which has been heated at 350° to a liquid state.
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3. The model pulled out, the rubbery Dip Seal coating sets up immediately.
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4. Having used a sharp knife to cut the Dip Seal where I want the seam to be, I now remove the rubbery Dip Seal skin.
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5. Now the Dip Seal skin is spread out as flat as possible onto paper and traced with a pencil.
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6. The paper was cut while folded to ensure symmetry.
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7. Tracing around the paper pattern onto 16 gauge brass sheet. The paper pattern can be kept to use again.
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8. The brass piece has been cut out, annealed and pickled, and lines drawn on it as guides for hammering.
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9. The hammer-forming begins.
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10. Stage one completed, it's getting annealed.
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11. Planishing the head on a ball stake.
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12. Planishing and forming the body.
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13. Forming the beak.
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14. Making progress. Stage two complete, ready to be annealed again.
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15. Annealing again.