How To Use a Doming Set

Have you been thinking about ways to mix up your jewellery making style? If you’re in the process of re-designing your jewellery collections and putting a new spin on your precious metal designs, you may want to consider investing in a Durston doming block and punch set. With a doming set (also known as dapping tools) you can easily shape metal into a perfectly formed dome – an excellent way of creating a precious metal piece with a little more finesse than your usual metal blank pendant.

Watch our video below to learn more about the Durston doming set and read on for more advice on how to use a doming block and doming punch to create something unique in your latest collection.

What is doming?

Not familiar with metal doming techniques? Doming is simply the technique used when flat sheet metal or a flat metal blank is shaped into a concave formation, usually with the use of a doming block (or die) and punch set.

Doming (also known as dapping) is an excellent way to get creative with your jewellery pieces. It allows you to make perfectly formed domes that can either be used singularly or soldered together to create an entire dome, which can be added to a necklace or charm bracelet for your customers.

What is a doming punch?

Doming or dapping punches are metal forming tools with a ball shaped end. Used in conjunction with a doming block, they can help jewellers create perfectly shaped domes in a number of alloys.

What is a dapping block used for?

The doming block or dapping block features a series of concave indentations across each side. Each indentation is sized differently, and corresponds to a specifically sized dapping punch, ensuring the most accurate finish.

How to use a doming block and punch set

If you’re trying out doming metal for the first time, there are a few additional key pieces of kit you’ll need to pick up, alongside your doming set, before you start.

• Sheet metal or blanks
• Dividers
• A flat file
• A hand torch
• A piercing saw or disc cutter
• Pickling powder
• Brass head mallet
• A steel block

If you’ve just received a new Durston doming set or you want to learn how to use a doming block before you invest in one, here’s how to use a doming block and punch set accurately for a professional finish.

1. Identify the right size indentation. Take your metal blank and place it in the well that most resembles its size. Remember that the entire piece of metal should fit inside the well. None of the metal should overlap – if it does, this means that the indentation is a little too small to be used with that piece of metal. The doming punch that corresponds to the indentation in the doming block should be slightly smaller than the indentation.
2. Use the right hammer. You can use a number of hammers with your Durston doming set to strike the doming punches swiftly and accurately. A chasing hammer will ensure a weighted impact will be made. Equally a dead blow mallet will give you the weight you need to create the domed effect in your metal blanks. Avoid using a hammer that’s too light as this will mean that you must tap with a heavier hand, making your blows less accurate.
3. Choose a metal. Softer metals such as brass, aluminium and silver are the ideal choice for use with a doming block and punch set. You may even want to try out some slightly harder metals too. Although you will have to apply more pressure for the desired effect. It’s worth noting that hard metals may need annealing as you work with them. If this is the case, make sure you anneal the metal blank just before you finish it in the final indentation you’re using. This will mean that the piece will have work-hardened again before you finish up.
4. Strike your hammer at a slight angle. Once you’ve found the right sized well and its corresponding doming punch, you can then line up the punch on top of the metal blank and strike the hammer on top of the punch. Try not to hammer straight down onto the doming punch. If you hold the punch at a slight angle and tap your chosen hammer a few times, you will have much more control over the dome you’re creating. After those first few taps, turn the metal blank and check on its progress before you continue.
5. How far do you want to take the doming process? It’s worth thinking about the effect you want to create before you use the doming block and punch set. Remember that once you’ve used the first indentation on your doming block, you can move to the next smallest indentation to deepen the dome on the piece of metal you’re working with.
6. Experiment with stamped designs. If your intention is to create earrings or a pendant stamped with a personalised design, remember to apply the stamped design to the metal blank before you start doming the metal. Stamping designs after you’ve dapped the metal could ruin the domed effect you’ve created, and you’ll have to repeat the doming process.
7. Finishing up. Once you’re happy with the domed effect you’ve created, you may find that the doming process has left the edges of the metal blank a little uneven. This is easily corrected by placing the domed blank on a steel block. You can then slowly rotate the domed blank to identify any gaps between the edge of the dome and the steel block surface. Once identified, you can very carefully hammer these spots to bring the edge flush with the flat surface, correcting any imperfections.

How to make your domes into spheres

Why not try making your pendant into a sphere! Simply follow all the steps as above and then complete these instructions:

• File the domes. Repeat all the steps above until you have a second dome of the same size and shape. Once done, file both edges until they fit together snugly with no gaps.
• Prepare the domes for soldering. To do this, paint the edge of one of the domes with flux solution to make sure the surface is clean and free from any oxides. Next, cut approximately eight small squares of solder, then place them at equal intervals on the flux before soldering.
• Solder the domes. Once the solder runs down, you’re ready to pickle, rinse and then dry the domes. Then, gently file the solder until it lies flat with the edge. Now drill a small hole of about 1mm in the centre of both domes with a pendant drill. Next, paint flux around the edge once more before joining the two domes together.
• Soldering the sphere. Place the sphere on a soldering block and ensure the sides are all aligned so you’re ready to solder them together. Add a few pieces of hard solder to the join, then gently heat the sphere, slowly increasing the heat until the solder begins to run.
• Finish off the sphere. Once you’ve finished soldering, it’s time to pickle the sphere again. Next, wash it thoroughly under a tap before shaking it to dry. To finish, simply file away any excess solder then clean the join with flexifiles or dry papers – and you’re done!

Now you know how to use a doming block and punches effectively, you can experiment with the technique. Create unique earrings, domed pendants or charms that reflect the light, and demonstrate your new-found expertise to customers, ensuring they keep coming back again and again.

Interested in our complete Durston range? Take a look at our collection of Durston jewellery tools such as the excellent rolling mills, ring stretchers, triblets, metal bending tools, and more.

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