I am in the process of taking a couple of intensive, short jewelry/metalsmithing workshops over the next several months in various spots around the country. I need to get these done before fall, but unfortunately one of the classes is full and the next one won’t be offered until the fall.
I can’t find any other classes that offer what I need, so I thought I’d check with DMS. I haven’t spent much time in the Metal Shop (I am usually in jewelry) so I don’t know all of the equipment that is available and if this is even a possibility. BUT…I need someone to teach me how to raise a metal bowl (copper). It does not have to be a large bowl. I just need to get the raising/forging/forming skills.
Alternatively, if anyone happens to have any good book/video/etc recommendations on raising metal vessels I am all ears.
Metal bowls are most commonly made by pressing or spinning. Pressing is more for doing large quantities because the dies have a large up front cost. Metal spinning is more affordable, but requires a little skill.
Mitch probably has the stuff you need. If you’re doing it on a jewelry level, you’d just hammer it out in/with a dishing tool. I haven’t seen Anne weigh in on this thread. So I don’t know if jewelry has any of the tools that one needs for dishing. What size bowl are you supposed to make. As I recall, the tools are simple but specializing – a dishing block and a hammer. Jewelry has the torch, so that you could anneal the metal to keep it from getting over work-hardened.
Beth
That would be fantastic! Let me do some research; don’t want you to bring it to the space until I’m ready to give it a go.
@dryad2b We have some hammers, but that’s about it. Not sure how well the ones we have will work but I guess I’ll find out. The size of the bowl doesn’t really matter, I just need to get some work in sinking/raising/forging/forming.
@apipe I need to actually raise the bowl. I will be doing die casting and pressing later in the summer on a small scale, so trying to get experience in as many techniques as possible.
P.S.- I suggest doing this cold with softer metals only. Steel will work if it is heated, but it gets pretty brutal(It basically focuses all of the heat you just put into the steel directly onto the hand you’re using to shape it)
I have raised very small bowls in brass and sterling, my friend Sue has done some in copper. Let me find my notes and see what gauge we started with. I did no have exactly the right tools, but I made it work. I have some ‘anvil blocks’ that are for doing dent repair on a car, They might well be useful, if we can find a safe place to stash them.
How about a shot bag & hammering to a shape. If you have access to a planishing hammer could smooth it out. Btw planishing hammers are pretty damn loud.