This steel former features a medium flat top and radiused edges, ideal for forming and shaping small metal forms. It can be used on your bench as an anvil, as well as in a hydraulic press with urethane. When used on the bench, the flat top of the former allows for riveting and stamping, while the radiused edge makes it easy to refine the edges of formed metal.Made with an industrial steel alloy that is strong enough to hold up to general use, but soft enough that it won’t damage most hammer faces if there’s an errant strike. The surface of the former is smooth, but minor machining marks are present; if desired, use progressively fine grits of abrasive paper to achieve your ideal surface finish.
Tabletop use: Use a ball-peen hammer and urethane puck to sink an annealed disc into a shallow dome. Place the disc on top of the shallowest former, and use a plastic/rawhide mallet to form the disc. Anneal, and use progressively larger formers until you achieve the desired dome. This video uses a full-dome set, but the techniques are the same: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.potter.12935/videos/10216069637607318/
Hydraulic press: Must be used with our magnetic tool steel pusher and a 2" or 3" 95 durometer urethane puck. You MUST center the former on the pusher, and center the pusher on the upper platen of your press (check front to back and side to side). Place annealed metal on the urethane, and press the former into it; you won't be able to form the entire disc in one pressing. Repeat to press multiple times, rotating the metal as needed, to create a smooth dome. Repeat with progressively larger formers until you achieve the desired dome.This video uses a full-dome set, but the techniques are the same: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.potter.12935/videos/10216069690328636/
