Steps on Making a Leaf or Ruffle

This fold is an example of forging on the open side, and introduces how to use hardness dams in foldforming. Dams are work hardened spots, lines, or patterns within the sheet. This form illustrates the way we can use hardness dams to direct the movement of metal under force.

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Home Learning Center Jewelry Making Fabrication Fold FormingSteps on Making a Leaf or Ruffle

By Charles Lewton-BrainMore from this author

This article talks about a fold forming technique called lead or ruffle. Read on on the Steps on Making a Leaf or Ruffle as written by Charles Lewton-Brain.

This fold is an example of forging on the open side, and introduces how to use hardness dams in fold forming. Dams are work hardened spots, lines, or patterns within the sheet. This form illustrates the way we can use hardness dams to direct the movement of metal under force.

Charles Lewton-Brain
Tennessee Foldform II
Copper,
24″ by 20″
A large pleated forged-fold.

Helpful Tip

To avoid water splashing about the shop, I often cool annealed metal by placing it between two large blocks of steel. This is almost as fast as quenching and avoids trapping water in the recesses of the folds.

	Start by making a squat line-fold that forms a rectangle when folded and flattened.
	Trim the legs to a blunt curve with shears, then forge on the open side.
	Hammer along the open edges with a series of evenly spaced blows. This will cause the fold to curve.
	Hammer additional lines that radiate from the fold edge toward the open side, shown here in black marker. Carefully hammer on these lines to work harden them.
	Using the same hammer, hit in exactly the same places as before, but this time strike harder, so hard that the metal squirts sideways. Because of the work hardness dams between the marks, the movement can no longer turn into curvature. Instead, the annealed metal between the dams has no choice but to rise up into clear and distinct ruffles.
	Use a blunt tool to start opening the annealed form.
	As always, open as much as possible with your fingers.
	The finished ruffle.

By Charles Lewton-Brain – © Brain Press Publications – 2008

All rights reserved internationally. Copyright © Charles Lewton-Brain. Users have permission to download the information and share it as long as no money is made-no commercial use of this information is allowed without permission in writing from Charles Lewton-Brain.

Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Brynmorgen Press; 1st edition (April 15, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1929565267
ISBN-13: 978-1929565269
Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches

Purchase your own copy of “Foldforming (Hardcover)” today.

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Charles Lewton-Brain

Master goldsmith Charles Lewton-Brain trained, studied and worked in Germany, Canada and the United States to learn the skills he uses. Charles Lewton-Brain is one of the original creators of Ganoksin.