Forming Tools & Equipment for Jewelery Making

Forming MetalDifferent blocks will allow different shapes and
Forming metal is an essential part of jewellerysizes to be formed.
making, and as a process the level of skill involvedSandbag / Grit Filled Cushion
is often overlooked. Forming refers to anyThese bags provided support whilst you work and
process that maneuvers metal into the desiredform your piece. They help keep your work firm
shape or design. Unlike many other skills inand in place whilst working.
jewellery making forming is more a combinationPliers
of a range of techniques that change an objectsPliers have a multitude of uses but they are the
shape, rather than one particular process.most basic tool for holding/gripping, forming and
shaping wire. Having a basic selection of needle
Forming Toolsnose, round nose, flat nose, half round and a pair
The range of jewellery tools used for formingof parallel action pliers, will give the jeweller the
metal is as wide and varied as the differentflexibility to complete most jobs.
processes contained within the skill. The keyStakes
forming tools available are:Often used by silversmiths, the metal is placed
Malletsover the stakes (usually clamped independently
The simple mallet allows the craftsman to applyinto a vice) and hammered to achieve the shape
direct force without stretching or damaging therequired. Various shapes can be achieved by using
metal. The head of the mallet is softer than thedifferent stakes.
metal so as not to mark the surface.Files
Mandrels or TribletsFiles are essential for removing excess material,
Mandrels or Triblets are used for forming shapes,and fine tuning and shaping your piece. The
and are most associated with rings or bangles.different sizes available allow the jeweller to work
Mandrels are available in a variety size and shapes,large areas or at a more intricate level. To start
and in both steel & wood.with buy a selection of shapes containing round,
Hammerssquare, triangular, half round and warding. Plus
Hammers can complete a variety of jobs fromconsider the cut ranging from 0 the coarsest, to
stretching the metal, polish/smoothing or adding6 the finest.
texture. Jobbing hammers are ideal for generalDraw Plates
use and metal forming. The planishing hammer isDraw plates are most commonly used to reduce
used for smoothing, shaping and polishing metal.the size or change shape of wire. Each plate has a
Riveting hammers are designed with a small headseries of holes through which the wire is passed
for detailed rivet work. Raising, bossing andthrough, this then changes the size of the wire.
chasing hammers are used in the different stagesThe holes in the plate are of decreasing size
of forming.allowing you to continue draw down the wire to
Doming Blocks & Punchesthe required size.
Doming blocks & punches are the ideal wayRolling Mills
of shaping metal and making domed, shapedThese larger machines often seen in jewellers'
pieces or hollow beads. Pieces of circular metalworkshops are ideal to reduce the thickness of
discs are place over the hollows of a domingsheet, or help decorate sheet. If used with
block, and then using punches and a hammer theSquare and D shape sections rolling mills can be
metal is formed into a shape.used to form or shape wire.
Steel BlocksThis selection of forming tools & equipment
Steel blocks provide the ideal flat surface forallow jewellers, and metalsmiths to create any
working, flattening sheet or wire or to supportnumber of shapes, textures and patterns. As with
work as it is raised or forged, riveted or textured.all jewellery projects the range of forming tools
Swage Blocksjewellers have will start with the basic i.e. pliers,
Rather like doming blocks, Swage blocks helphammer and perhaps a doming set, and then
form metal into tubes, curves and channels.expand as their projects demand.