creating good texture from ball pein hammering

[Truffle & Podge]

This has probably been already asked and if so please forgive me. I want to hammer down some 2mm soft sterling silver wire and I want to achieve a really nice hammered patina, will using a really tiny ball pein help to add texture or will the small one I already have be just as suitable? Sadly I don't have any excess or scrap to practice on. Any help would be gratefully received, thanks in advance x

[Dennis]

The answer is to try out your hammer on copper wire. Your local electrical shop will sell earthing cable and for little money you can buy a metre containing many strands of 1.45 mm wire, near enough to give you an idea,or just try it on copper sheet from Cooksons. Dennis.

[Goldsmith]

As Dennis says practice on copper, another tip is to polish the face of the dome on your ball pein hammer before hammering. You can also achieve the same effect using polished face dome shaped punches or standard ball punches.

James

[Truffle & Podge]

Thanks guys, i polished up my ball pein and its turned out great