Save Your Fingers while Texturing

by Judy Larson
As you begin working more with sheet metal, you find there are a few little tricks to making your projects easier. Today Judy shares a few of her "tricks" with us. Kim St. Jean uses one of these tricks too!
Instructions
When you are texturing metal blanks, do you usually hold the pieces on your bench block with your fingers? If you do, you have probably hit your fingers more than a few times-ouch! There are several solutions to this problem.
Judy Larson's Save Your Fingers while Texturing - , safety, Texturing, Tools, , Texturing copper blanks
You could use painters tape to hold the metal blank on your bench block. However, you will have to re-position the tape when you need to texture under it. Also, vigorous hammering will loosen the metal from under the tape and the blank could go flying.
Judy Larson's Save Your Fingers while Texturing - , safety, Texturing, Tools, , Using painters tape on copper blank
So what else could be used? Head to your garage, kitchen and laundry room to find great tools! Look for items that will allow you to put the greatest surface area of the tool on the blank-the rounded end of craft stick will touch the blank in a VERY small spot whereas a square ended stick touches a greater surface area.


Each square in the photo is one inch. Cut different angles on each end of a dowel-45 and 60 degrees are shown. Use a scissors to cut off the rounded end of a wide frozen treat wooden stick. Sand the corners round, if desired. For a shorter tool, take a clothespin apart.

Judy Larson's Save Your Fingers while Texturing - , safety, Texturing, Tools, , Wooden sticks
Kim St. Jean says:
Ever hit your fingers while texturing metal, then use a half of a clothespin to hold the metal while hammer texturing. This allows for precise texturing without hitting your fingers.
Judy Larson's Save Your Fingers while Texturing - , safety, Texturing, Tools, , Clothespin
Judy Larson's Save Your Fingers while Texturing - , safety, Texturing, Tools, , Using clothespin to hold metal blank
Back to more of Judy's suggestions!

You can find various sizes of flexible "gripper" style finger covers at fabric/craft stores. Finger covers like these are sometimes used by bank tellers when counting bills. Slip one on the end of your chosen tool and it can hold your blank from moving without the fear of scratching your metal.

Judy Larson's Save Your Fingers while Texturing - , safety, Texturing, Tools, , Finger grip on wooden dowl
Do you have an old rubber spatula with a wooden handle? Use the handle to hold blanks down. If you cut around the outside edge of the rubber sleeve, you will have a non-slip surface to hold the blank down.

Judy Larson's Save Your Fingers while Texturing - , safety, Texturing, Tools, , Rubber spatula
Judy Larson's Save Your Fingers while Texturing - , safety, Texturing, Tools, , Rubber spatula

Materials

Sheet
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Metal Blanks
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Tools

7 Piece Mini TruStrike Hammer Set with Stand
HAM-520.70
  • HAM-520.70
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $140.54
  • Gold Club Price: $105.40
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Professional Texturing Hammer With 12 Faces
HAM-480.00
  • HAM-480.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $47.97
  • Gold Club Price: $35.98
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Texturing Hammer with 9 Faces
HAM-470.00
  • HAM-470.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $47.00
  • Gold Club Price: $35.25
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Bench Block Helper with Steel and Nylon Blocks
DAP-500.30
  • DAP-500.30
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $29.95
  • Gold Club Price: $22.46
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Scotch 0.94 Inch Painters Tape for Taping Wires Together
G13-5
  • G13-5
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $5.97
  • Gold Club Price: $4.48
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  • Category: Safety
  • Technique(s): Texturing, Tools, General Education