Mate, with respect I have to argue the toss, regarding your declaration that you don't do artistic stuff. Everything I have watched you make has a definite artistic quality to it. All very functional, and really pleasing to the eye. I can make functional stuff, but the way it looks, only its mother would love it.
traditionally if you only had an anvil, just the tip of the taper over the edge with glancing blow to start the scroll and flip to continue the curl or move to another part of the anvil, like the step, to drive into as to tighten the scroll. However, I find the swage to be great for achieving consistently even scrolls in quantity. Thank you for another enjoyable video!
It's an interesting technique but only is applicable when you have the luxury of being able to strike the cold end of the material down into the swage. If you have a decoration on the other end, like a leaf for example, you probably won't be able to do that. Then, using the edge of the anvil as some other have suggested, makes more sense.
thats a useful little hardy tool you have there Glen, do you make that one to sell? it would be a great addition to anyones anvil tooling I really like the irregular one too but can you do it again?? Thanks for sharing
Yeah, I like the irregular scroll but I'm fairly sure it's a one off job! I do sell that mini swage block but will probably stop once the ones I have are gone. Thanks for all.
the flat end appears when you don't support your material. When starting the scroll, let only a very small portion of the material stick over the edge of the anvil and push your material forward as you hit it three to four times, then turn it around to work on the surface. If you start with a 90° bend, you will always end with a flat end piece.