Instructions for beating ornaments directly from the plumbing museum in Karlstadt

I participated in a workshop in Slovak training methods of hammering sheet metal and creating ornaments. The whole training was organized by BAUMETALL and the trainer was Manfred Schulze, who has been involved in this activity for 40 years.

The procedure for melting the image into the sheet

The preparation of the workplace, which is the basis for the creation of quality works, was essential. In the plumbing museum in Karlstadt, these conditions were excellent. They provided us with cushioned pads to cushion the shocks when weaving sheet metal, the necessary tools and the facilities to discover the necessary knowledge of this technique. The first things we were given were the small chisels with hammers needed for beating sheet metal.

drawing a pattern or template on the sheet metal
the lines of the pattern to be marked by hallmarking
heating the sheet metal with a heat gun
turn the sheet metal and then overprint the lines of the pattern by punching
beating the shape of the pattern between the overprinted lines
creation of the desired relief
turn the sheet to the view side and finish the shape of the image by hammering

Pracovná podložka s gumou a tlmenie odrazov

Tepný obrázok ornamentu klampiarskeho remesla

Wrought lettering of the magazine BAUMETALL

At the aforementioned training session, Stefen Schulze, without any special training, went to repaint the BAUMETALL sign and show us what his day’s work would look like. The trainer was a plumber from the Manfred Schulze workshop dachrinnenschmuck.de

Detail ornamentu po zahriatí a tepani plechu

Necessary tools for beating

At first glance, challenging images, shapes and reliefs can be created with very simple tools. All you need is a hammer, a few hard chisels and you’re ready to get to work.

hammer for hammering with pistol grip
set of punching chisels
heat gun

Preview of paintings wrought in sheet metal

You can see how to motivate yourself to hammering and creating reliefs in sheet metal in the attached gallery. This technique is challenging and each relief takes a lot of time and effort when it is created. In our country, this technique is little used and it is all the more valuable to know some of the interesting works that can be created by this technique.