Tools

A variety of tools are needed to make a flat brooch. They are mainly typical jewellery tools: a jewellery saw, a peg, drills, files and emery sticks. They provide an overall shape and an appearance of the brooch.

 

Typical jewellery tools. Photo by Signe Lensment.

 
In addition, punch stamps are used for decorations. Punching is usually carried out with special tools - punches. Punches of 100 mm in length are tool steel sticks with a processed image in the top. The images can be different, for example a simple line, a circle, a dot or the more complicated motif of a leaf or a flower.

 

Punches. Photo by Andry Kikkull.

Generally, the thinner and smaller the image of the punch is, the nicer the stamped image will be. As a rule, punches are not available in shops and all masters have to make the punches themselves. This makes the punches and the brooches unique.

 

The preparation of a common punch is following:

1. Selection of the material (a piece of an old file is also suitable);
2. Annealing;
3. Grinding and filing;
4. Emerying it with emery-paper;
5. Quenching;
6. Polishing;
7. Tempering to a dark yellow colour.

IDevice Icon The preparation of the punch
Show Selection of the material Image
Selection of the material
Show Designing Image
Designing
Show Annealing Image
Annealing
Show Grinding Image
Grinding
Show Emerying Image
Emerying
Show Quenching Image
Quenching
Show Polishing Image
Polishing
Show Set of the punches Image
Set of the punches
Photos from Praktikum Goldschmieden = Practical goldsmith 12.
An anvil with a smooth surface (preferably polished) is used for punching and a suitable chasing hammer or an ordinary light hammer is usually used for striking.

 



Anvil. Photo by Andry Kikkull. Chasing hammer. Photo by Andry Kikkull.
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