Some Techniques For Texturing Metal
Using a Chasing Hammer:
- Texture 1: Dimpling
It's simple to achieve a dimpled effect (think golf ball or orange peel) with the round peen of a chasing hammer. Place the metal on a bench block and strike it with random blows to leave a non directional pattern. Use overlapping blows to completely cover the surface. Using two or three sizes of ball peen makes a more random, uneven pattern.
When you're dimpling small, localised areas, you may want to use a rounded punch for more precision.
Using a Goldsmith's Hammer:
A goldsmith's hammer, with its one slightly domed face and one wedge-shaped peen, is the default favourite texturing tool. Think of it as the 5-in-1 value hammer when it comes to distressing a surface. You can make five distinct textures using just this tool and a steel block.
When making any of the following textures keep the hammer in one position while you work across the surface of the metal. Move the metal under the hammer - not the hammer over the metal - to direct the tool marks.
- Texture 2: Shallow Forged Effect
Strike the metal with the slightly domed face of the hammer. Each blow leaves a concave impression. Use randomly spaced blows to impart a non directional texture. Overlap the blows until you've textured the whole surface.
- Texture 3: Directional Lines
Use the wedge peen in overlapping parallel blows. Strike the metal with the entire width of the peen. Keep your blows flat; don't change the angle or pitch of the hammer as you move across the metal. This directional texture can simulate falling rain, shooting stars, tree bark, animal fur and other effects.
- Texture 4: Non Directional Lines
As you did with the directional lined effect, use the wedge peen. As you work change the metal's orientation so that your hammer blows fall across one another from more than one angle. Rotating the material 90 degrees between courses of blows makes a crosshatched pattern reminisant of rough burlap. Repositioning the metal randomly in three or more angles leaves a texture that suggests a pile of straw or ice crystals on a window pane.
- Texture 5: Short Angles
Hold the hammer so that just the corner of the wedge peen strikes the metal of your Handmade Jewellery piece. This makes short, deep, angled tool marks and produces a patterned effect. You can apply this effect with or without directionality.