Brain Press: Fold-Forming Tools

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The tools and hammers required for fold forming are fairly basic


Click on the pictures to see full size images

Metal for practicing:
I recommend thin copper sheet, 24 gauge (0.5mm) is best, sold often as 'roofing copper'. In the US it is sold as well as .016 copper and 16 ounce copper. Aluminum sheet of the same guage can be used instead and is cheaper. The techniques may be used with most metals including gold alloys, silver alloys, platinum, aluminum, niobium, titanium, and steel.

Basic Tool
s
Ear muffs or plugs
Safety glasses
Selection of Hammers:
Raising/forging hammers are very important.
Mallets: Leather and paper mallets are most useful
Anvils and Stakes
Pliers, both chain nose, flat and wide jawed.
Prying tools like a knife , altered screwdriver or T-handled prying tool
Large mounted vise, smooth topped if possible. A Blacksmith's Leg or post vise is useful.





More Tools

Flex shaft, silicon carbide separating discs and mandrel
Hand Shears, Aviation snips and mounted lever shear
Sheet rolling mill and wire rolling mill
Annealing equipment, soldering equipment, tweezers etc.
Access to water. A tool list at Ganoksin.



Selection of forging hammers for fold-forms. The narrow angled fronts make it easier to get in close in corners when forging
Here is a view of the forging peens of the hammers. This represents a wide range for different sized work




From left to right, a goldsmith's hammer for jewelry scale work, a paper mallet, a planishing hammer and a 'thumblike' raising hammer

A side view of the same hammers. The paper mallet damages metal the least of any mallet type.


Planishing hammers are useful in fold forming. The slightly crowned (domed) side is the most useful.
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The forging hammers are used to stretch the metal directionally. The 'thumblike' hammer is used for thinning and for creating centered line folds. The planishing hammer is used for smoothing and also for upsetting and confirming fold edges on line folds.


Here is a closer look at the 'thumblike' raising hammer, which is very useful for spreading and thinning when forging.




This is a view of it straight on. Note the oval shape, sort of like a loaf of bread.



Here is a side view of a good forging hammer for fold-forming.

 


A view of two peens for forging.


Two similar peens, from above.



Two more. The one on the left is a bit too rounded but the one the right is very good for fold-forming.


If you would like to buy a set of fold-forming hammers email us and we'll connect you with a vendor.

 

 

A basic T-fold diagram

Fold-forming article links

Step-by Step articles on making Fold-Forms

Chasing Links

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Of the stakes, most useful is a 'standard T-stake"

Fold-Forming Paper

Fold-Forming CDROM

Fold-Forming video

Fold-Forming Pieces for Sale

See the new Foldforming Step-by-Step Powerpoint Introduction

Charles Lewton-Brain's Articles at the Ganoksin Project
Brain Press Books List

Book Reviews

Search the Ganoksin Web Site for Jewelry information

Front Page / Whats New / Workshops / Books We Sell / Ebooks / Reviews / Lewton-Brain Articles at the Ganoksin Project / Fold-Forming / Fold-Forming Tools / Gold Applications / Fold-Forming Works for Sale / Charles Lewton-Brain / Brain Press at Ebay / Contact

Brain Press

Box 1624, St M, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1E3, Canada
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