Making a draw plate for drawing wire for jewelry is easy and economical. Instead of spending at least $30 on a purchased draw plate, you can make one for between $2 to $3. Homemade draw plates work just as well as their store bought counterparts, and if you make your own draw plate, you will have more money left over to spend on jewelry supplies or other jewelry making tools.
Things You'll Need:
- Permanent Marker
- Bench Vise
- 2 Pieces, 10-Inches Long Each, Of 1 Inch By 4 Inch Wood
- Power Drill
- 10 Assorted Drill Bits Ranging From 0.4 Mm To 2.5 Mm
- Ruler
- Safety Goggles
Making a Draw plate
Using your ruler and your permanent marker, measure and mark two rows of dots on the first piece of wood. Your first row should be approximately 1-1/2 inches from the top of the wood and should include five dots, 1 inch apart, from left to right. The second row (approximately 1 inch below the first row) should be identical.
Attach the two pieces of wood, one on top of the other, to the bench vise so that it is held securely in place. The piece of wood with the dots should be face up on top of the second piece of wood. The wood should be horizontal to the ground. The bottom piece of wood is being used as a precautionary measure to ensure that you do not drill into the bench. However, as it will have small marks where the drill touches the surface, it can later be used to make a second draw plate if so desired.
Using your drill with the smallest drill bit in place, drill the first hole on the dot located on the second row, furthest to the right.
Replace the drill bit with your next largest drill bit and repeat Step 3, but this time, drill the hole to the left of the one you just drilled.
Repeat steps three and four, working from right to left, filling the bottom row and then the top row until all holes have been drilled.
Tip
Because wood has some "give," this draw plate will not mar your wire like some metal draw plates tend to do. However, use of a lubricant is still recommended when drawing the wire.
Warnings:
- As with any project using power equipment, use of safety goggles and caution is always recommended.
References
- Professional Goldsmithing, Alan Revere, 1991
Resources
- Professional Goldsmithing, Alan Revere, 1991
Tips
- Because wood has some "give," this draw plate will not mar your wire like some metal draw plates tend to do. However, use of a lubricant is still recommended when drawing the wire.
Warnings
- As with any project using power equipment, use of safety goggles and caution is always recommended.
Writer Bio
Cindia Winspear has been writing professionally since 1986 in the telecommunications industry, writing formal proposals for small business. She contributes to and rewrites parts of their websites as well as blogs on travel websites. Winspear graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1983.
Related Articles
