This article is about fold forming tool list needed for a successful fold forming. These are essential for jewelry making and every jeweler needs to have.
Please have on hand:
These are some of the tools that you will find useful in fold-forming: Ear muffs or plugs and safety glasses.
Metal:
- Thin copper sheet, 24 gauge (0.5mm) is best, sold often as ‘roofing copper’. It is sometimes sold as ’16 ounce’ copper or .021 copper. Cut into a selection of squares and rectangles for learning.
- Aluminum will also work for practicing, again 24 gauge.
- Brass wire, 22 gauge, (0.8mm), ten feet or so, round. 18g iron binding wire is also useful.
Tools:
- Selection of hammers, mallets and stakes.
- Raising/forging hammers are most important.
- A basic T-Stake is very useful.
- Selection of pliers.
- Hand shears, aviation snips.
- Anvil
- Annealing equipment, soldering equipment and supplies.
- Access to water for quenching and cleaning. (A kiln can also be used for annealing).
- Sheet rolling mill and wire rolling mill for rolled folds.
- Large mounted vise, 6 inches wide or larger. A blacksmith’s leg or post vise is also useful.
- Hydraulic press if available. If so then have on hand some 1/4″ plexiglass scrap for cutting shapes from.
- Flex shaft, key, silicon carbide separating discs and mandrel for them.
- Fabulustre® and buff on polishing motor for polishing hammers.
- A belt sander is very useful for altering forging hammers to improve them.
