Tool Making

Whilst exploring sheet metal and the textures I can create with it for the first time; I wanted to find a way to corregate the metal - as is found with so much of my source inspiration.

So to find a way to do this Ian B (3D Tech Dem at HCA) and I put our heads together to find a solution. It ended up with me, in overalls and welding mask, making everyone laugh a lot. Ergo, I looked rdiculous. Oh- but it was FUN.

Skills I learnt here:

-Creating a plastic jig with a lasercutter

-Cutting steel rods (and actually handling steel)

-Migg Welding

All in order to create this two-part tool:

But thats one I made earlier. Lets backtrack, so you can see how the metal gets corregated.

Anneal the metal first, as this makes it more pliable. However- if you're after less of a deep groove, non-annealed metal will give less so you have more control. Just be careful you don't shock the metal into any kind of breakage. Placing the sheet in the centre of the tool gives most even coverage. Because our fly press is an antique, we have to turn the tool 180 degrees half way through to ensure an even pressure. Bless it.

By checking after every press, you can gain an idea of how corregated the metal is becoming.

The corrugated metal is still the same size as when started! This is because rather than just shrinking dimensionally the material spreads. So the thinkness will be slightly thinner than what we originally started with.

ALL PHOTO CREDIT TO HCA BLOGS. For original post, see here.

#tools #hereford #nicola #lillie #jewellery #corrugated