Flattening Metal Pieces

by Judy Larson

Sometimes metal pieces need to be flattened as perfectly as possible during jewelry making and hammering the annealed piece on a bench block with a plastic/rubber or rawhide mallet does not do the trick. Sandwiching the piece between two bench blocks may be the answer.

Instructions

Method 1-preferred (washer cut from 22 gauge sheet shown)

Place the metal piece in the center of bottom bench block. Place another bench block on top of the metal piece, catty (or kitty) corner. This makes it easier to see if the blocks become out of level with each other during the flattening process. Whack the center of the top bench block once with a plastic/rubber or weighted rawhide mallet. Check the metal piece. Turn the metal piece over and repeat the process if necessary.

Method 2 (square wire ring shown)

Place the metal piece in the center of bottom bench block. Place another bench block on top of the metal piece, catty (or kitty) corner. Doing this makes it easier to pick the top block up with the fingers of two hands. Pick the block up evenly a half inch or so and forcefully and quickly push the top block down onto the piece. This should flatten the piece. Flip the metal piece over and repeat the process if needed.

Materials

No materials listed

Tools

Premium Steel Bench Block 2 1/2 X 2 1/2

G17-9

G17-9
Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each
Price: $15.97
Gold Club Price: $11.98

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Weighted Rawhide Mallet

HAM-408.00

HAM-408.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $79.95
Gold Club Price: $59.96

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Category: Metalwork
Technique(s): General Education

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Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!

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