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Instructables user cr8ive1 writes:
This is how I make steel doming punches to shape soft metals (gold, silver, copper, brass) for jewellery making. Doming (or dapping punches as they are often referred to by jewellery makers) punches are expensive for what they are- basically highly polished pieces of curved steel. I have a few commercially made punches and a brass dapping block but I needed larger ones for a project. I couldn't justify the expense knowing they would only see occasional use, so I made my own. For this project I've used an old carriage bolt (domed bolt). As I don't have a lathe to remove large amounts of material a piece of preshaped steel was important to reduce the need for labourious hand work (this project is about saving money not losing time).
Hey jewelry makers, how do you improvise your own tools? Post in the comments.
Your question got me thinking: Maybe I've gotten into a rut if I haven't NEEDED a new tool? What I have noticed as I've gotten older is a need to create third and fourth hands and more magnification as my eyes go. :>)
I've done more repoussé and chasing in my earliest metal and jewelry days, but I can see this going big enough using a trailer hitch ball. Eh?
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