Introduction to Chiseling and Carving Metal

The following supplies will be used for course demonstrations and objectives. A suggested item and/or vendor has been provided below for reference. Click the vendor name to be redirected to a page where you can view the item. The quantities needed for each item are listed first. If ordering, please be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. We recommend not opening an item's packaging until the day of the workshop. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is not required - observers are welcome.

Consumables and Raw Materials:

• 4 x 2x2" 16ga Copper sheet, (Amazon)

• 1 x 1x1" Thick Copper sheet, cut from this bar (Amazon)

• Old used-up needle files, square, triangular, round (the longer ones are better-20cm), at least one of each. These will be ground to chisel shapes. Or (HarborFreight).

• Dead soft, cold rolled, square drill rod in the following lengths/widths (round is okay if no square is found. Key stock is not acceptable) - also known as W1 water hardening tool steel (OnlineMetals) or (DieSupplies - only ships to US addresses):
   

Basic Hand Tools

• 1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 (RioGrande) 
• 1 x burlife / bee's wax (RioGrande) 
• 1 x bench pin (RioGrande) 
• 1 x half round hand file - #2 cut (RioGrande) 

Basic Home Studio

• 1 x set of needle files - #2 cut (RioGrande)
• 1 x half round forming pliers (RioGrande)
• 1 x ring clamp (RioGrande) 
• 1 x rawhide / plastic mallet (RioGrande) 
• 1 x steel block / steel surface (RioGrande) 
• 1 x parallel pliers (RioGrande)

Basic Forming Tools 

• 1 x brass hammer (RioGrande) 
   

Basic Soldering/Torch Set-up

• 1 x fireproof area - steel sheet, tiles, etc. (Amazon or Home Depot) 
• 1 x Solderite™ pad / pan with pumice (RioGrande or RioGrande) 
• 1 x torch - Smith mini, Silversmith, or butane (RioGrande or RioGrande) 
• 1 x #0 or #1 torch tip - if getting Silversmith (RioGrande) 
• 1 x striker or lighter - Silversmith system has one (RioGrande) 
• 1 x soldering tweezers (RioGrande) 
• 1 x small brush - for flux 
• 1 x Shade 5 tinted safety goggles (RioGrande)

Other: 

• 1 x Hand Operated Wire Rolling Mill (Vevor)

• 1 x Small belt sander (HarborFrieght)

• 1 x 6’ or 8” grinder (HarborFreight)

• https://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-bench-grinder-with-led-lights-57286.html

• 1 x ear muffs (HarborFreight)

• 1 x safety glasses (HarborFreight)

• 1 x cheap cotton Gardening gloves, from dollar store is fine

• 1 x Bar of hand soap - cheap dollar store soap is fine

• 1 x Hair dryer or a paint stripper heat gun to heat pitch with for mounting metal to chisel on (HarborFreight)

• 1 x Anvi (HarborFreight)

• 1 x large mounted vise - can have an anvil surface built in (HarborFreight)

• Sharpening stones, medium, fine etc (‘Arkansas Fine’ is prefered but any fine sharpening stones are good) (Amazon) 

• Very large files, medium to coarse cut. Smaller bastard files (9” or so) (HarborFreight)

• 1 x engravers ball or pitch bowl to hold the metal while chiseling. (Vevor) or (Ganoskin) 

• Annealing torch equipment with the largest tips one has around, soldering equipment, firebrick. Very useful is a MAPP gas torch. (Amazon)

• 1 x Pair of vise grips (HarborFreight)
• 1 x premade chisel set (Amazon)