Life As a Hobby Jeweller

[Dennis]

My Durston Rolling mill was one of the first major tools I bought when I started making jewellery as a hobby. All I had for a work space was a small desk in a corner of the living room and nowhere to set up the mill.

My solution, though not thought ideal at the time, was to mount it on a stout piece of kitchen work top, with handles to lift it by and six rubber feet to avoid scratching the furniture.

When in use it was transferred to my work station, but its home was on the side board, in place of an ornament or a sculpture.

This meant of course that it had to be used quite gently to remain stable—not a bad thing to learn when wanting an even result with sheet and wire.

Among its uses, have been rolling thick remnants of sheet into usable pieces, rolling subby remnants of wire into useful lengths by using the V-grooves and best of all the making of roll textures.

Surprisingly after several house moves and now a separate room to work in, I still keep the portable version as a space saving feature.

Below: The mill and two roll textured pieces. Dennis