Low Tech Die Forming

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 (in red) to be redirected to a page where you can find 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 encouraged but not required.

Raw Materials/Consumables

• 22ga copper or brass sheet (amount depends on how many forms you would like to make)

Basic Hand Tools

• 1 x round nose pliers (RioGrande)  
• 1 x chain nose pliers (RioGrande) 
• 1 x flat nose pliers (RioGrande) 
• 1 x snips / flush cutters (RioGrande) 
• 1 x jewelers saw (RioGrande) 
• 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 half round forming pliers (RioGrande)
• 1 x scribe (RioGrande) 
• 1 x ring clamp (RioGrande) 
• 1 x riveting hammer (RioGrande) 
• 1 x chasing hammer (RioGrande) 
• 1 x steel block / steel surface (RioGrande) 
• 1 x small steel ruler (RioGrande) 
• 1 x sheet of sand paper - 220 to 600 grits (Amazon) 
• 1 x calipers (Amazon) 

Basic Forming Tools 

• 1 x planishing hammer (RioGrande) 
• 1 x ball peen hammer (RioGrande) 
• 1 x dapping set - steel or wood (RioGrande or 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 compressed charcoal block - hard (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 soldering pick (RioGrande) 
• 1 x 3rd arm (RioGrande) 
• 1 x cross lock tweezers (RioGrande) 
• 1 x paste flux (RioGrande) 
• 1 x copper tongs - for pickle (RioGrande) 
• 1 x 6” silver solder - hard (RioGrande) 
• 1 x 6” silver solder - medium (RioGrande) 
• 1 x 6” silver solder - easy (RioGrande) 
• 1 x pickle - sodium bisulfate or citric acid (RioGrande or Amazon) 
• 1 x brass bristle brush (RioGrande) 
• 1 x crock pot or lidded glass container (RioGrande or Amazon) 
• 1 x tempered glass container or sink - for quenching and rinsing 
• 1 x small brush - for flux 
• 1 x liquid hand soap - for cleaning metal 

Other/miscellaneous items 

• hard work surface 
• fan and open window - or ventilation system 
• safety glasses 
• pencil, Sharpie, notebook 
• rags/towels
• bench vise (HarborFreight)
• 1 x pack of spiral saw blades, #2
• 1 x plastic pear shaped mallet
• 1 x nylon head mallet
• 1 x hard wood board for die making
• 1 x set of sanding sponges
• 1 x faux bone
• 1 x solid PVC pile
• 1 x scribe