How did I not know about this??!

My friend Gail Stouffer introduced me to something the other day that just blew me away. We were working on fine-tuning the project prototypes for our upcoming retreat workshops, and it involved laying out some templates for sawing. She promptly pulled this out of her stash.

It's called the Xyron Sticker Maker (affiliate link) and apparently scrapbookers have known about it forever. Low tech - no batteries, handles or cranks - but it turns out to be an absolutely brilliant addition to the metals bench. And here's why: usually, affixing paper templates to the metal we're going to saw requires the use of spray adhesive or rubber cement. Both are smelly and messy. This, on the other hand, creates a perfect repositionable sticker that accomplishes the same thing.

Simply print your image on plain paper, cut it out, and drop it face up into the hopper at the top of the unit.

Then pull the end of the paper roll sticking out of the bottom of the unit.

Rub the surface of the paper firmly, then peel off the clear plastic sheet on top.

What you're left with is that classic waxy sticker paper with your own personalized sticker on it, ready to be used.

And it really works! Stick it on your metal and saw away - it won't move unless you peel it off.

It's absurdly inexpensive, too - $8 on Amazon for the unit and about $6 for the replacement cartridges (affiliate links). No smell, no mess, just a custom sticker perfectly sized for each project.

I love finding tools that make life easier! What's your "latest and greatest" tool find?

Until next time -

"Say hello to my l'il fren'!!"

Ever since I started banging on metal five years ago, I've been lusting after a set of Fretz hammers.

I mean, seriously. Isn't that gorgeous? That sleek handle, perfectly carved to fit into your hand? Sigh.

Well, I did it. I saved up my pennies and bought the complete set of jeweler's hammers from Rio Grande. And those handles are as sleek and smooth and wonderful as I expected.

The set comes with two embossing hammers, each one with two different-sized peens. Technically, embossing is the process of stretching metal from the inside to create a raised pattern or in preparation for forming the metal into a final shape. But these hammers also leave very distinct dimpling patterns, the size of which depends on the peen used.

Also in the set are two raising hammers. Each has two cross peens in different sizes, which are intended to "raise" metal by forming it (usually against a stake) without stretching the metal. The faces of the hammers vary a great deal in width and thickness, from very narrow to quite wide.

Last but not least, the set includes a planishing hammer. It has one flat face and one slightly convex (rounded) face, both of which are used to smooth hammered metal and eliminate hammer marks left from the embossing and raising processes.

As an added bonus, I treated myself to one of the gorgeous Fretz bench anvils. This one has a flat surface, but there are others which have slightly curved or domed surfaces too.

For more information on all the Fretz hammers, check out this great post over at the Rio Grande blog. I guess I need to add Fretz stakes to my wishlist now, hmmmm?

In my next post, I'll do some experimenting with textures and shaping using these beauties... which, since I'm being honest, are still sitting unused on my bench. I'm a little afraid I'm going to ruin them!! (Have you ever gotten that long-awaited tool or material and then hesitated to use it? Please tell me I'm not alone!)

Until next time -

Note: I have not been compensated in any way for this post, and I have no relationship with Fretz or Rio Grande. I just love Fretz hammers!!

Product Review: Mighty Punch

My name is Francesca, and I am a tool-o-holic. If it has to do with punching, piercing, sawing, hammering, forming or forging metal, I promise you I have drooled over it in a magazine or online. (I'm not the only person with a Rio Grande catalogue on my coffee table, am I??)

But in spite of my affinity for all things metal-tool-related, I skipped over this tool more times than I can count. It doesn't look very sexy (at least when compared to a Fretz hammer, my current unrequited love), and I have a perfectly good set of Pepe disc cutters that I love (and use) a lot. "Pooh-pooh," I said. "Who needs a set of hole punching pliers?"

Turns out I did.

I love putting holes in metal. I have some good hole-punch pliers that I use a lot, including a pretty good parallel hole punch plier that is my go-to for wire-sized holes when I'm doing homemade rivets. But anything larger than that has always required using my disc cutters - and as much as I love them, they leave a burr on the side opposite the cut that requires cleanup and multiple blows with a hammer. They're wonderful for when I'm actually cutting discs, but not so great when what I'm after is the hole. Enter the Mighty Punch (or the Power Punch, as some models are called).

Holes and dots made with my Mighty Punch and a plain center punch.

Y'all. I am in love.

Here's the summary: This tool punches perfect holes that require almost no cleanup, in seven sizes ranging from 3/32" to 9/32". It does not distort the metal at all, which is a big deal for me, though it does leave a dimple on the disc that is removed. And although it took me a little time to figure out, it's very easy to operate.

The tool comes in a plastic case to hold all the parts. It includes the plier itself; seven die sets; and a flat metal tool for unscrewing the screws and the die sets. It has two drawbacks. The first is that it is large and heavy, and a little unwieldy. It is definitely not possible to operate this with one hand.

The second is that swapping out the die sets is a little "fiddly" (to borrow a term from my UK friends!), at least initially. I include this as a drawback, because it might be off-putting to some of you, but honestly, once I figured it out and practiced a couple of times, it wasn't bad at all.

Flat metal tool included to unscrew screws and dies.

Once loosened, the screw comes out easily with your fingers.

Pull the top handle back...

... then drop the lever arm (which you previously unscrewed) out and down.

Now the punch is loose in the shaft...

... and can be pulled out with your fingers.

The die screws in and out of the bottom of the pliers with your fingers too.

The punches and dies come in matching sets.

Punching the holes is pretty easy too. It's a good idea to use a center punch to mark the center of the hole you want to cut out - each of the dies has a small point in the center of the cutting face, and the punch mark will give it a "home base" when you're lining up your metal.

I've found it easiest to line up the metal to punch by turning the tool sideways and bracing the bottom handle in my cleavage. (Hey - just being real here). As a lefty, I use my left hand to work the top handle and my right to position and hold the metal that I'm punching. The temptation then is to brace one of the plier handles against a table or bench top and press down, but I promise that will earn you pinched fingers and a bent piece of metal. Much easier is to hold one handle in each hand, hold it at chest level, and press your hands together. (Remember "we must, we must, we must increase our... "? Like that.) The dies cut through even heavy gauge metal very easily and no pinched fingers!

20 gauge copper sheet can be punched with just a little effort.

After making the hole, the opening action of the handles pulls the metal cleanly off the punch.

Clean, perfect, distortion-free hole with a very slightly beveled edge.

Works on thinner sheet too, without distortion.

See? No distortion on thick or thin sheet. Clean holes with a tiny little bevel on the cut edge - cleans up with a few swipes of sandpaper. The tool also has a depth gauge if you're trying to do precise punches, but to be honest I've never used it. It's adjustable, so I just moved it back and out of the way. It's not a feature I've ever used.

So, in short, I am very happy to recommend this tool to anyone who works with metal a lot. It's terrific for cold connection projects, but I use it mostly for adding design elements. I've found it under two names: Beadsmith's Mighty Punch and Euro Power Punch. Prices range from $41 to $52, and in my opinion it's worth every penny. I have the Beadsmith version and I've been really happy with it. It gets a ton of use on my bench and has stood up to it well - the punches have stayed sharp, but if they were ever to fail, replacement punches are available.

This is one of my favorite recent tool additions to my bench - what's yours?

Until next time!

NOTE: I am not affiliated with Beadsmith or any other manufacturer and I have not been compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.