Arc welders use stainless rods that can be tooled to work, never done it for jewelry use but I've had a few done as pottery trim tools. I have also had some tungsten carbide rod tools made for me out of blanks that have lasted 20 years. That brother is gone now but he whipped them up in very short order on a bench grinder.
Thanks, Matthew. I just thought while I was ordering from Rio.....
I'm sure I can find them around somewhere. I'm not a tool purist, and I can always buy a rod of mild steel and make my own. Tool steel is nice but not necessary for my purposes. I guess I could always buy the cheapest chasing tools I can find and regrind.
edit, more for shaping, not needing a brilliant polish.
I'm with Jen, I have over 3000 followers and actually follow less than 100 people. I only follow friends, other artists I like and a couple fun accounts. I need to keep my business IG streamlined for my sanity. I follow way more on my personal account!
CG, I think Otto Frei is having a sale on Foredoms. Might have ended already, but worth checking out.
I'm going to order some stamps through IJS today. We'll see what they are like. They are cheap enough that it doesn't hurt to try!
Jen, Damon once gave a nice explanation. Basically annealing the tool steel to grind and shape, and then tempering to hard but not brittle. It's the tempering part that's hit or miss for me. Not so hard if you're diligent.
Yeah, I don't follow everyone back on IG either, already. I already know not to do that from Twitter. If I don't like what I see on their feeds, forget it.
Jen I have one of these for grinding pottery and sharpening tools and stuff, it will work for grinding down most anything. You need some good eye protection and a good safe place to operate it.
i have only made my own chasing and stamping tools too. i bought one premade one once- a dog's paw for a custom order here. i doubt i will ever use it again, unless i mangle it or something...... that's an idea. i use these big fat nails, the name of which escapes me now, and they work great for chasing tools. in fact, i used my liner tool last night for the bangles i made.
Jen, file or gravers when the tool steel is annealed. I made a couple of serviceable 'flying bird' stamps from a nail with a hockey stick shape on each end, pound on the side. Only needed a round needle file. And a flat file. and no hardening. Used it hundreds or thousands (?) of times, still works fine. I can grab a pic if you want, might be a shape you could use. Easy to make.
Another trick I learned from a guy who makes really wonderful handmade pottery tools is to do the final quench in Dawn dishwashing liquid. It saves a lot of the smell of boiled oil. Apparently it has similar properties.
