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Save Your Fingers

By on December 30, 2015
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by Judy Ellis, Wirejewelry.com

Wire Jewelry Tip for December 30th 2015

Save your Fingers by Judy Larson

As you begin working more with sheet metal, you find there are few  little tricks to making your projects easier. Today Judy shares a few of her “tricks” with us.

Judy Says:

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When you are texturing metal blanks, do you usually hold the pieces on your bench block with your fingers? If you do, you have probably hit your fingers more than a few times-ouch! There are several solutions to this problem.

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You could use painters tape to hold the metal blank on your bench block. However, you will have to re-position the tape when you need to texture under it. Also, vigorous hammering will loosen the metal from under the tape and the blank could go flying.

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So what else could be used? Head to your garage, kitchen and laundry room to find great tools! Look for items that will allow you to put the greatest surface area of the tool on the blank-the rounded end of craft stick will touch the blank in a VERY small spot whereas a square ended stick touches a greater surface area.

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Each square in the photo is one inch. Cut different angles on each end of a dowel-45 and 60 degrees are shown. Use a scissors to cut off the rounded end of a wide frozen treat wooden stick. Sand the corners round, if desired. For a shorter tool, take a clothespin apart.

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You can find various sizes of flexible “gripper” style finger covers at fabric/craft stores. Finger covers like these are sometimes used by bank tellers when counting bills. Slip one on the end of your chosen tool and it can hold your blank from moving without the fear of scratching your metal.

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Do you have an old rubber spatula with a wooden handle? Use the handle to hold blanks down. If you cut around the outside edge of the rubber sleeve, you will have a non-slip surface to hold the blank down.

Did any of these little tricks help you? I hope so!

Happy Wrapping!

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6 Comments

  1. avatar

    renah bell

    December 30, 2015 at 9:51 am

    So, we now get to see how pretty you are, Judy. You are no longer just a name. I love clever solutions to problems and your solutions are clever. Thanks.
    Renah Bell
    renah@pobox.com

  2. avatar

    Connie

    December 30, 2015 at 10:48 am

    I just want to say that I am so glad I found your site, I love all the helpful tips and patterns. Now I live in Canada but you still have great prices and you offer things I can’t get here and for that I am very thankful. Happy New Year
    Connie

  3. avatar

    Judi Morningstar

    December 30, 2015 at 12:08 pm

    Novel and useful ideas. Thank you.

  4. avatar

    Sue Johnson

    December 30, 2015 at 5:22 pm

    Thanks for the tips. Having access to finger savers is so important. Not only are these tips efficient, they’re economical. Thanks again.

  5. avatar

    Maurine

    January 1, 2016 at 11:15 pm

    Thanks ever-so-much for all the tips and patterns. I am a beginner to wire wrapping and am so excited with it. Your advise, designs you share,and all is so wonderful of you.

  6. avatar

    Karyn Calf

    January 18, 2016 at 2:39 pm

    I’m returning to jewelry-making after a year+ off (a minor stroke) but am doing fine now. I worked with fabrics to keep my creative spirit, measurement calculations, etc. active.

    Now I’m eager to return to my workbench, tools, metals, and refreshing my skills.

    Looking forward,
    Karyn