Abrasives in Jewelry Making: Shaping Metals For Artistic Expression
Metals may be used to create an endless variety of effects; the possibilities are endless when it comes to patina, texturing, and shape! Amazing results don't have to cost a lot of money because it's easy to create all textures and finishes on a budget!
We've put together a few ideas in this post to help you get started and learn how to navigate all the different colors, thicknesses, materials, and pre-textured metals like mokume gane and crinkle metal. Working with so many metals, tools, and results can be intimidating at first.
WHICH METAL IS BEST FOR TEXTURING JEWELLERY?
We advise using a metal like copper when you first start off. Copper is less expensive, so you can practice and obtain experience on a comparatively minimal budget. Proceeding to more precious metals like bronze and silver is possible once you have developed confidence and expertise working with copper.
It is advisable to begin with thinner sheet metal initially since it is more pliable and manageable. Thicker and trickier materials can be worked on after you have mastered the thinner sheet method. This will enable you to advance to something more difficult with confidence after you have improved your abilities.
Each metal is different from the others in its characteristics and reactions. This implies that you can employ the same procedure and get entirely different finishes based on the material you use. A copper sheet subjected to the same heat treatment will yield entirely different outcomes than a brass sheet subjected to the same treatment.
You're bound to discover a finish you adore and want to use repeatedly after experimenting with various textures, tools, thicknesses, and materials!
WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH METAL NOW?
Metal will solidify as you work, bending, shaping, texturizing, and cutting it. This is perfectly normal, so don't panic if your material starts to get too hard to work with. All you have to do is use the annealing procedure.
The process of annealing softens the metal and makes it easier to work with. You must use a gas torch to heat the metal's surface until it glows a gentle red in order to anneal it. Next, you have to use cold water to quench the surface. At that point, you'll discover that the metal is pliable and manageable once more. You'll find out when to anneal your metal very soon!
HOW SHOULD METAL BE SHAPED AND CUT TO MAKE JEWELRY?
There are several methods of shaping and cutting metal. As your interests and abilities develop, you can add to your toolkit by starting with simply the essentials.
1. WIRE AND SHEET METAL CUTTERS
You might begin by using a set of sheet and wire cutters for metal. Because you'll need to start thinner to practice, these are ideal for beginners as they cut through materials up to 0.6mm thick.
2. SAW BLADES AND SAW FRAMES
When working with thicker metals, you'll want to use piercing saws (along with saw blades), which are quite thin and easy to manipulate, allowing you to create some really detailed designs.
3. MULTI-TOOL DREMEL
If cutting metal by hand doesn't seem like much fun, there's always the automatic option! With its cutting blades installed, a Dremel Multi Tool can easily saw through any metal.
4. DISC CUTTER TOOL
You'll need the disc cutter tool to cut metal into precisely the right size cutting discs for your designs. All you have to do is place your metal sheet beneath one of the punches and hammer. At the size you want, it will precisely punch out a circular disc.
WHICH TOOLS CAN WE USE FOR JEWELRY TEXTURING?
Simple shapes can have a dramatic finish by applying a texture to your metal; the type of texture you employ will depend on the tools you use. View a few of the best tools below.
REPOUSSE HAMMER
There are two sides to a repousse hammer, which is sometimes called a chase hammer. The domed side of the hammer can be used to create the often desired dramatic hammered metal look.
BALL PEIN HAMMER
For a more conventional hammered look, the ball pein hammer is an excellent instrument. It can also be used to bend and shape metal into domes using doming punches and the doming block. We suggest utilizing a steel bench block as the ideal platform to place your metals when hammering if you want a strong working area that won't get dented or damaged.
CROSS PEIN HAMMER
Your work will have lines if you use a cross pein hammer's chisel edge. If the lines are hammered a lot, the metal's surface will take on the appearance of bark. The jeweler's hammer can be used in the same manner and has a considerably lighter design. The hammer will produce a more subdued effect because it weighs less.
PUNCHES AND DOMING BLOCKS
Think about using doming punches to add dips and rises to your designs. These will have varying impacts depending on which surface they are applied to. For instance, pounding your metal against a bench block with a doming punch will provide an even depth hammered look; but, hammering against a piece of leather that has been rolled up will produce a deeper and more uneven texture. Trying new things will lead to original concepts and distinctive looks. You can use the punches along with the doming block to make neat spherical forms in your design.
GRAVERS
You'll need some gravers to engrave your own designs into metal. You can use these to softly hammer marks, engravings, lines, and textures into your metal when they're joined to the wooden graver handle. In the event that you decide to give your metal a patina, these marks will appear considerably more noticeable.
APPLYING HEAT TO YOUR METAL
Heat treatment is an excellent and straightforward method. It's as easy as heating the metal surface with your gas torch; the result will vary based on the type of metal you're dealing with and the amount of heat you apply.
Every metal reacts to heat differently and turns a distinctive color. For instance, we've discovered that heating our gilded metal will result in a stunning golden amber color, and heating copper can provide unique fall sunset colors, including oranges, reds, and even purples. You can adjust the color's depth and shade by changing the heat. If you hold the flame in one spot to generate highly distinct color changes, move your torch closer or farther away from the surface and feather the flame.
When the desired color is visible, quickly apply a thick layer of damp cloth to the metal to cool the heating process and halt the color change.
Start by texturizing the metal to inspire your heat coloring creativity. As opposed to the uniform color you'll notice on a flat surface, pounding the metal before heating will create a new mottled color pattern that lines up with your hammer marks.
Before heating, etched patterns are applied to the metal's surface with the glass fiber scratch brush. The light will be caught by the scratches at different angles, creating a hue that almost seems holographic!
Finally, but just as importantly, the finest part about heat-shaping metal may be that it can be polished off if you're not satisfied with the outcome, allowing you to keep trying until you get it right!