by Margie Meehan.
(United States)
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
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! 🙂
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.
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
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.
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.