Home / Jewelry Making Tips and Techniques / Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing
Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing
by Judy Larson
Use what you have on hand to create unique textures on sheet metal.
Instructions
Even though sheet metal purchased for jewelry making is dead soft, for the texturing methods described here, annealing the metal will help you obtain a more crisp texture design. Anneal, pickle, rinse and dry the metal being used.
Cut a laser-cut cupcake wrapper slightly larger than the piece being textured. Use a punch to cut a design from card stock.
Judy Larson's Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing - , Metalwork, Texturing, alternative metal texturing
Judy Larson's Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing - , Metalwork, Texturing, alternative metal texturing
Lightly coat one side of the chosen paper design with a craft glue stick. Immediately adhere the design to the sheet metal piece.
Judy Larson's Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing - , Metalwork, Texturing, alternative metal texturing
Judy Larson's Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing - , Metalwork, Texturing, alternative metal texturing
Place the metal on a bench block, paper design facing up. Hammering can dislodge the paper design. Use wide clear packing tape to hold the metal and glued paper in place on the bench block. Packing tape has the added advantage of protecting the piece from minor dings on the hammer face being transferred to the metal.
Judy Larson's Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing - , Metalwork, Texturing, alternative metal texturing
Judy Larson's Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing - , Metalwork, Texturing, alternative metal texturing
Use a hammer with a large, smooth flat face to hammer the design into the metal surface. Use firm flat strokes. The cupcake wrapper was not taped in place and parts came off during hammering. Taping the unit in place is recommended.
Judy Larson's Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing - , Metalwork, Texturing, alternative metal texturing
Judy Larson's Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing - , Metalwork, Texturing, alternative metal texturing
The paper design should easily pull back from the metal when finished. If not, it will come off with water and a bit of rubbing. Rinse and dry the piece.
Judy Larson's Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing - , Metalwork, Texturing, alternative metal texturing
Judy Larson's Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing - , Metalwork, Texturing, alternative metal texturing
Cut a piece of 40 grit sandpaper slightly smaller than the piece of metal being textured. Use double stick tape to hold the metal piece in place in the center of the bench block. Place the sandpaper texture side down on an annealed metal sheet. Tape everything in place. Hammer the sandpaper into the metal for an interesting texture. Be careful. The sand grit will go flying if the tape is not larger than the unit being textured. Note: NEVER texture metal with sandpaper in a rolling mill.
Judy Larson's Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing - , Metalwork, Texturing, alternative metal texturing
A found zig zag wire was hammered into an already shaped brass embellishment and on a brass scrap piece for an interesting effect.
Judy Larson's Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing - , Metalwork, Texturing, alternative metal texturing
Judy Larson's Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing - , Metalwork, Texturing, alternative metal texturing
Because fine details on many coins are difficult to capture, hammer a metal disc onto a deeply textured coin. Use double stick tape to hold the coin in place in the center of a bench block, desired texture side facing up. Center a piece of metal larger than the coin over the coin. Use clear wide packing tape to hold the metal piece in place
Judy Larson's Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing - , Metalwork, Texturing, alternative metal texturing
Judy Larson's Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing - , Metalwork, Texturing, alternative metal texturing
Heavily hammer the piece. Remove the tape. If the coin is not easily removed from the bench block, push a razor blade scraper under the tape and coin to loosen the it.
Judy Larson's Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing - , Metalwork, Texturing, alternative metal texturing
Judy Larson's Think Outside the Box - Alternative Metal Texturing - , Metalwork, Texturing, alternative metal texturing

Materials

24 Gauge 0.020 Dead Soft Copper Sheet Metal - 6x6 Inch
MET-705.24
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $8.43
  • Gold Club Price: $6.32
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24 Gauge Dead Soft Sterling Silver Sheet - 6 Inches
H8-24SM6
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
  • Price: $44.43
  • Gold Club Price: $33.32
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Tools

Brass Hammer - 1 Pound
HAM-456.10
  • HAM-456.10
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $24.97
  • Gold Club Price: $18.73
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  • Category: Metalwork
  • Technique(s): Texturing

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