Playing with fire: Do not stand under the hole in the roof during a storm

When stormy weather

– Do not stand under the hole in the roof

– Avoid flying swirls of soot and sparks in your eyes

– Ignore horizontal rain

– Dodge being stabbed by dangling metal shards falling off the roof

Useful tips

– Using the correct tongs is imperative

– Keep metal orangey-yellow or the metal will fracture if too cool

– Do not let the metal get too hot so it becomes a sparkler

–  If you do create a sparkler file out the burnt black stuff and weld in more steel

Chiseling leaf marks

– Hold chisel at an angle

– Hammer incisively with one blow

– Do not chisel horizontally or the mark will be too long

Parts of the anvil
– Face
– Body
– Beak
– Hardy hole (square)
– Pritchel hole (round)

Cutting through metal

– Use the hardy square

– Heat steel

– Hammer rod making incisions – rotating

– Use tongs to twist it off when near to the centre

– Do not hammer right through or the end will shoot off and embed into something then set fire to it

Making a loop
– Use round nosed pliers so not to mark the surface

– Twist to make a loop and gently hammer in the end.

– Hammer the leaf on the end of the beak to create a curve.

Finishing the leaf

– Use metal brush to clean up the leaf and make a nice shine – however it is the most dangerous tool of all – 11000rpm

– Avoid sparks and metal hairs which can embed in your skin if loose.

– Spray with WD40 to stop it rusting.

All artwork by Miranda Housden