© Bob Bergman
published in ANVIL Magazine, January 1997
While attending the ABANA Conference in New York last summer, I watched Bob Bergman repeat a demonstration that he gave at the California Blacksmith Association 1995 Oktoberfest. Bob gave credit to Joel Volz who taught him how to make these characters. Joel had given us a similar demonstration at the 1984 Oktoberfest.
Bob said you can use any size stock. He started with 3/8" x 1-1/2" x 9" stock. He marked the piece thus:
 |
 1. Mark with hot cut that has rounded ends. |
 2. Cut from one side. |
 3. Cut bottom of split with wedge tool as you would with an adz. |
 4. Use the hardie hole to square up the arms. |
 5. Twist legs forward leaving butt on bottom side of split. |
 6. Check the body proportions. |
 7. Fuller the waist. |
 8. Spread the legs. |
 9. Work each leg with large fuller at half way. Work ankle half way on bottom half of legs. |
 10. Forge out the legs. |
 11. Work foot on edge of anvil - leave material for back ball of foot. Finish with toes at angle. |
 12. Round arms. |
 13. Work each arm with a large fuller at the elbows. Forge out the arms. |
 14. Flatten hand. |
 15. Flattened hand. |
 16. Split corners off for chin. |
 17. Fuller neck down. Fold head over to forward side. |
 18. Shape the head. |
 19. Use oxyacetylene to weld the head together. |
 20. Head nears completion. |
 21. Block face down with set tool. Bend feet up. Flatten finger area to make larger. Cut fingers cold. |
 Voila! |
Bob Bergman has been operating the Postville Blacksmith Shop since 1969 in Wisconsin. This is a 140-year-old crossroads shop making custom architectural ironwork, subcontract forging, toolmaking and machinery repair.
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