Copper Cuff Wooden Forming Tool?

by Margie Meehan.
(United States)

Copper Cuff Wooden Forming Tool? - Discussion on Jewelry Making Journal

Rena:
Found your post on Pinterest about forming copper cuffs – what size is the wooden dowel, that you used to form your copper cuffs around?

Also is there a measuring tool, that would indicate to me the gauge of my copper sheets?

Thanks, Margie Meehan

Margie Meehan
Tipperary Fiber n Art Studio

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  • Rena Klingenberg says:
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    Hi Margie, thanks for asking!

    The dowel is a bracelet mandrel. They come in oval or round shape, depending on the type of bracelets you make. You can find them with an online search for “wood bracelet mandrel” – many jewelry suppliers carry them.

    And the best way to know the gauge of metal sheet is to get a tool called a “metal gauge” – most suppliers of jewelry metals carry this type of tool.

    I hope this helps! 🙂

  • Dianne says:
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    I prefer the steel bracelet mandrels for forming, but then I started out fold-forming. My guess is that a wooden one would work for just forming the copper to shape. For measuring the gauge of your metal sheet (and a great tool to have on hand) is the caliper. You can get them at your local hardware store or Home Depot. I have the digital from Rio Grande and I love them….just pick up extra batteries. I don’t know what I would do without mine! I use it for measuring sheet, wire, stones, burrs and the list goes on.

  • Judy Bjorkman says:
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    I just use an old wooden bat, around which to form my bracelets, using a leather mallet. (Keep reversing the bracelet on the bat, since the bat tapers, unless you want a tapered bracelet!) I got the bat at a rummage sale at church. I often start curving the bracelet ends by hammering gently over the horn of an anvil I have. For measuring the gauge of sheet metal and wire, I use a GFC wire gauge. If you buy one, be sure it’s not the one for ferrous (iron) metal.
    –Judy

  • Becky Jamin says:
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    I use mostly ‘found’ jewelry tools. To shape my copper fold formed cuffs, I use a piece of oval shaped steel pipe. I clamp it in my vise and use my rawhide hammer to shape. It’s the perfect shape for a bracelet, too.

  • Anne says:
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    Judy, I love that you were able to use something unrelated to jewelry so creatively! I’m going to start looking at rummage sales for supplies.

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