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Get to Know Your Hand Tools The Hand Drill

by Helen I. Driggs
Lovers of twisted wire take note: A hand drill will change your life forever. When repurposed for metalwork, this simple tool can transform wire of any size and/or shape and/or strips of thin gauge metal sheet into interesting textured, twirled and twisted designs. All you need add is a hardware-store hook (or not) and have access to a sturdy bench or shop vise. Use twisted wire the same way you use other wire: make jump rings, wire wrap with it, or solder it to other fabricated metal parts and pieces for a decorative effect.
Instructions
What to know about hand drills
Hand drills are the precursors to the portable power drills that every home repair enthusiast knows and loves.

All drills serve the same basic function: they use a three-sectioned "Jacobs" chuck, which opens and closes with a chuck key.

Simply insert a drill bit or other attachment into the chuck, and you're ready to go.

In powered drills, a motor spins the shaft that the chuck is mounted on. The speed is controlled by a trigger.

In our case, the wire spins under hand power instead.
Tips for using a hand drill
Pro Tip: To use the hand drill, insert a hardware store “cup hook” into the Jacobs chuck and clamp it down tightly. Fold a length of wire in half and capture the two loos ends in the bench vise. Slide the U-shaped other end over the cup hook. Turn the handle on the drill. It helps to pull back from the vise to keep tension on the wire as you twist.
Pro Tip: Cranking clockwise or counter-clockwise will result in different twists, and so will different gauges of wire. A nice after effect with twisted wire is to then hammer it flat on a bench block.
Pro Tip: If you can’t find a hand drill, you can employ a hand-held power drill for these techniques, but take care and always wear goggles if you do because working at high speed may cause tightly twisted wire to snap more quickly than it might under human power.
HELEN I. DRIGGS is an experienced metalsmith, lapidary and studio jewelry instructor and has appeared in 6 instructional jewelry technique videos.

Her book, The Jewelry Maker's Field Guide was published in 2013.

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  • Category: Tools
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