I picked a 2-inch fuller over a cross peen for a leaf project and it was a huge mistake.

I thought the fuller would give a cleaner central vein, but it just made the metal too thin and weak after only three heats, so has anyone found a good way to fix a too-thin leaf without starting over?

3 comments

3 Comments

karencampbell1mo ago

My buddy welded a thin strip of steel along the back of his leaf to save it. It added the thickness back without ruining the shape he'd already made. He just had to grind the weld smooth and it worked out fine.

hollywhite1mo ago

Oh that's a smart fix! I wonder if the extra heat from welding changed how the metal moves or bends later on, though. Like, maybe it could make that spot a bit more brittle if he needs to adjust it again. Still, getting more life out of a part you've already shaped is a total win.

nguyen.angela1mo ago

Oh man, that reminds me of my friend's garden gate hinge. He did something similar, welding a patch on the worn part. It held for years, no joke, never even needed to bend it again.