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Page Two: Filing, Sanding, Buffing, & Finishing Many of the tools utilized in this tutorial can be purchased in the Warehouse Store. |
Filing |
| Use a flat file to smooth the outside edges of the metal. If you are filing concave curves, use the rounded side of a half-round file to smooth the curve. Secure the metal into one of the small slots in the “V” section of the bench pin; these fine slots are created when as you saw and eventually you will have a lot of them. Using pressure on the file, file in a straight, forward direction. Resist the temptation to saw back and forth with the file. The teeth will only cut in the forward direction; you may shorten the life of your file by going against the grain. |
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Use a half-round needle file to smooth the inside curve. |
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Sanding |
| Locate the deepest scratch in your sheet metal and sand across the scratch with the appropriate wet-dry sand paper or a sanding sponge. You might start with #220 grit (coarse) and progressively work down to #400, then #600 (fine). (After some experience you will be able to determine what sand paper you need to start with). After sanding against the scratch, sand in the same direction as the scratch with the same grit. The last pass with a particular grit should be against the scratch. When you start with a new grit, sand in the same direction as the scratch. You are finished when the prior sanding marks have been removed and you can no longer see any scratches. |
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Buffing |
Buff with White Diamond Compound with a small stitched cotton
buff on your flex shaft. |
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Remember your safety glasses and wear a particulate mask for this operation. Keep your buff moving so you don’t wear a groove into the metal. |
Finishing |
| Finishing options: White rouge for a high polish Floretine bur for a lush satin finish Scotch pad Steel wool Patinas such as liver of sulfur Brass brush Texturing wheels Texturing hammers such as a framing hammer from your home improvement store Peen side of your ball peen hammer Cross peen portion of your riveting hammer Design stamps Stakes Abrasives (sand paper) Rolling mill Acid etching |
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These metal working skills will bring you enjoyment and add style to your wire work. Don’t forget, it takes time and practice to become proficient with these new tools and methods. Don’t hesitate to enroll in a class or ask for help from an experienced metalsmith if it is needed. And speaking of classes, I am especially grateful to Deb Jemmott who taught me these fabrication skills. Creating texture is my favorite design element and there are many options in this area. Please look for a tutorial in the future on texturing methods. |
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Working
With Sheet Metal Tutorial
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call toll free: 1-888-350-6481. This is a secure shopping site. We take all major credit cards. ©Copyright 1998-2012. Connie Fox. All rights reserved. Website design and photography by Connie Fox, San Diego, CA. 1761 Hotel Circle South, Ste 208; San Diego, CA 92108-3318 |
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