How to Pierce Metal for Jewelry Making
To fabricate metal into jewelry you must learn to saw and pierce sheet metal. Sometimes you can begin sawing at the edge of metal. Other times the design requires the jewelry maker to create a cut in the center of sheet metal and begin sawing in the middle of the metal. To begin sawing in the center of the metal, you will need to drill a hole.
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Instructions
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Select a drill bit that is large enough for the saw blade to slip through. Insert the drill bit into your drill.
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Before beginning to drill, you will need to mark the sheet metal. You can use a scribe, punch, or automatic center punch to create this registration mark.
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Drill bits come in different numbered sizes. Lower numbers are larger bits:
50--------------------------------------------------------80
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Here the automatic center punch is being used to register marks where a series of holes are to be drilled. The advantage of an automatic center punch is that no hammer is required to create the registration mark (as is necessary using a standard punch).
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Once the metal has been marked, a mechanical drill can be used to accurately create a hole. Marking the metal prior to drilling ensures that there is no slippage - a safety, as well as an aesthetic, concern
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Dip the drill bit into paraffin wax, Gems Lube or Burr Life to lubricate and protect the bit before drilling. Insert the drill bit you selected and coated into the chuck and secure it. The metal should be placed on top of a wooden block that covers the table.
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When you are drilling a hole to begin an interior design, it is very important to place the drill mark inside of the line you have drawn on your sheet metal to mark where the design will be sawed. If you drill on the line itself, then you will have an unsightly mark in your design which will require extra attention when sanding and filing.
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Tips & Warnings
An alternative to using a center punch is a scribe and general purpose hammer. Hammer the scribe to mark an "indent" into the metal before drilling a hole with a drill.
Straight drilling is most easily done with a drill press. It can, however, also be done with a hand drill, flex shaft or other drill.
If using a motorized drill, be sure to drill at a slow pace. Fast drilling will cause the bit to heat up and dull and/or break.
Not all drills are motorized. Inexpensive hand drills can be used to pierce metal.
Wear eye goggles when drilling.
Resources
- GeltDesigns
- How to Use a Jewelry Saw
- How to Transfer a Design
- How to Protect Your Patina
- How Use Renaissance Wax
- How to Use a Disc Cutter
- How to Measure Wire
- How. to Measure the Gauge of Sterling Silver or 14kt Gold Sheet.
- How to Refine Your Scrap Silver and Gold
- How to Create a Brushed Finish on Sterling Silver
- How to Twist Wire
- How to Use a Drill Press for Jewelry Making
- How to Dome Metal
- How to Create a "Scratch Finish" in Your Art Jewelry
- How to Solder Using a Small Butane Torch
- How to Remove a Drill Bit that Broke Off in Your Art Jewelry During Fabrication
- How to Make Pickle
- How to Straighten Wire
- How to Etch Brass and Copper for Jewelry Making
- How to Clean Jewelry Castings
- How to Make a Sterling Silver Stamped Cuff Bracelet
- How to Make Sterling Silver Charm Earrings with an Industrial Tube Wringer
- How to Make Your Own Sterling Silver Ring
- How to Make a Sterling Silver, Gold or Platinum Ring from Carving Wax
- How to Make a Sterling Silver & Amethyst Riveted Flower Pin
- How to Make a "Best Mom" Stamped Pendant
- Books on Metalsmithing
- Books on Jewelry Making
- Books on Wire Wrapping
- Photo Credit © GeltDesigns 2009 All rights reserved.
