Greetings from Kentucky

[Ken Gastineau]

Hello:

I came across this forum in my search for information to build a hammer for my jewelry business. I have been a studio production jeweler for nearly 30 years and have experience with lost wax casting, centrifugal rubber mold casting of pewter, CAD/CAM, Zbrush, and fabricating jewelry from sheet metal and wire. I have also learned basic metal spinning and produce a line of pewter cups.

I have a small machine shop as part of my setup which includes a Logan lathe, Atlas metal shaper, Taig CNC Mill, and a Tormach Mill.

Lately I have been learning more about fold forming jewelry from sheet brass and copper, a process that has been popularized by Jeweler/Sculptor Charles Lewton Brain.

I look forward to becoming a part of this community and participating in this forum to learn more about metal shaping and to share what knowledge I have of working with metal.

[Joe Hartson]

Ken, welcome and thanks for the introduction. There are several members here that work with copper and product some beautiful art work. Working with jewelry uses the same techniques just on a smaller scale. Hope you find the site informative and helpful. Thanks for joining us. Looking forward to seeing some of you creations.

[Ken Gastineau]

Joe:

Thanks for the welcome. I sorta figured that jewelry making is metal shaping in miniature. Glad to know I am on the right track.

Ken

Originally Posted by Joe Hartson

Working with jewelry uses the same techniques just on a smaller scale.

[mark g]

Welcome, Ken.

I am also interested in the fold forming and metal shaping in smaller scales. There are lots of interesting possibilities. Hope you post some pictures of your work.

-Mark

[Ken Gastineau]

Marks:

I am just experimenting with some very basic fold forming so far. I am doing some research on what type of small power hammer would be appropriate and safe to use for jewelry size forging. I agree that fold forming offers unique opportunities.

Thank you for the welcome.

Ken

Originally Posted by mark g

Welcome, Ken.

I am also interested in the fold forming and metal shaping in smaller scales. There are lots of interesting possibilities. Hope you post some pictures of your work.

-Mark

[mark g]

There's a guy near me who likes to use a small drop hammer for shaping originals in silver before he goes to wax. I wonder if a "one shot" riveting hammer with flat dies in a c-frame would do a similar job in less space. I haven't used one bit I think they give just one hard blow per tigger pull. Just a thought-