Categories: Jewelry; Projects and equipment
Word count/read time: 412 words; 2 minutes
Textures are an important part of life. After all, they require our sense of touch in a most
intimate way. While one can surmise how a texture might feel based
on the looks, a hands-on approach is invaluable.
In jewelry there are many textures that enhance beauty
including polished (non-textured, but nonetheless a texture in its own right),
brushed, satin, matte, dimpled, hammered, fold-formed, and more.
By far the most popular texture is a classic hammered finish with
rounded or ovalized depressions.
Simple physics explains why it is so eye-catching. I have heard the science
and accommodated with many hammered pieces.
Manually hammering every mark into my designs is time-consuming.
Eventually I will build a machine. They will still be handmade according to the law and oodles
more efficient and consistent. Prices will come down on those designs, too.
My historic choice of hammering implements has been polished ball pein hammers.
Several sizes impart a variety
of hammer marks both in the diameter and the depth to a degree.
However, scores of people like the insanely small marks that don't come from
a traditional hammer. I will make whatever a customer wants.
Times change. I began using hammers with removable tips. Starting with a bolt, I remove the head
and shape that end. The threads are untouched so it screws into the hammer body.
Larger and heavier bodies can be whipped up fairly easily; I have two for now.
With so many possibilities, replace the tip and hammer away. Just the tip.
All that's required is a
means to shape it. With access to CNC equipment I hope to make a greater variety.
Closed geometric shapes like squares, triangles, diamonds, ovals, and more
are entirely missing from the marketplace. The appearance, I imagine, will
be positively stunning.
Depending on how well a grade 8 bolt stands up to pounding the snot
out of silver I may switch to hardened tool steel. It's not hitting the silver that's
the problem - silver will surrender to just about any metal - it's hitting the anvil.
Luckily, O-1 tool steel is easy to heat-treat in the shop. Simple profiles are
easily shaped with files and grinding wheels.
Now I have precision hammering devices of numerous sizes.
Further, I can adjust how much taper the tip has, its radius, texturing, and so much more
for amazing effects. A set of tips and a hammer body take up far less space than a hammer for
every occasion.
Posted by M: February 15, 2025
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