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