The Mettle Works     

Repoussé and Chasing tools - by Gene Olson

Tools and Supplies 

copper repoussé

Repoussé and It's Tools


Repoussage and chasing combine in the art of transforming sheet metal into art.  

Repoussé is French and it means pushed from behind and when working on a flat sheet, that is often the first step. We form it to add dimension, push it around and change the shape of the metal sheet. The tools used are meant to move the metal, not to cut it. A design is developed with large radius tools and defined and refined with smaller radius tools, or specially made ones with specific shapes. When the metal has been pushed into close to the final shape, sometimes by alternating working back to front, front to back other times working just from the front we begin chasing in the final details.  Chasing was the English word for the process but it has come to have more to do with the texture of the surface than the shape of the metal.  We use the term chase and some of the same tools when we chase a weld on a sculpture to match the texture of the cast parts on both sides of the weld.  Chasing tools are often sharper and leave crisp sharp edges, or they can have patterns on them, like leather stamps for pressing in designs or textures such as the small cup shaped tool that was used to form the individual little balls in the berries in the design above.  When we have finished forming the shape of our piece, we chase in the details.

As such, I divide the tools into a few general catagories, metal moving tools (pushers - liners,) finishing tools (texture/matting and planishing,) and metal carving (chisels-chasers-gravers) , there is of course some overlap, but that's life.


The tools on this page are finely crafted of oil hardened tool steel. They are great for working copper, silver, bronze, brass or gold, but will also work with steel and tin plate. Indeed, I made my first set when I started the Altoids tin project, years ago.   The tool shafts are 4 - 5 inches (10-12.5cm) long.  ;The working faces of the tools are hardened and tempered while the struck end is left annealled so that it doesn't shatter from the blows of the hammer.  Eventually the struck end may start to mushroom out.  When this happens the end should be ground or filed back to round.  As my instructor told me, years ago, repoussé tools wear out from the back forward until they finally get too short to hold.   If left untended, the mushroomed edges can break off and fly with great force when struck. These bits can be very dangerous to tender things like eyes. Always wear safety glasses when using struck tools and use hearing protection as well.  


New Beginners set of tools

a - 8mm teardrop planisher
b - 3mm x 15mm liner #3L5
c - 3mm x 12mm liner #3L4
d - 3mm x 6 mm liner #3L2
e - 2mm x 8mm liner #2L4
f - 1.5mm x 7.5mm liner #1.5L5
g - 1mm x 5mm liner #1L5
h - 8mm pearl
i - 6mm pearl
j - 4mm pearl
k - 6mm equi-triangular pusher
l - 2 x 3 mm triangular pusher

These twelve tools were picked by Barb Lawrence (Coppretta) for her beginners repoussé classes.
Formed from tool steel, they are oven tempered and polished.

 Barbara's Favorite tools for the beginning artist.
A Dozen great tools, Barb's choices make a good set, especially for the beginner. They are intended for developing larger designs which may make the process more visible and understandable to a novice smith.

$145.99 - - - -

with a 25mm chasing hammer -$155.99 - - - -



Image coming soon
An image showing the 12 tools listed below

a - 5mm teardrop planisher
b - 3mm x 9mm liner #3L3
c - 3mm x 3.5mm oval #3L1.5
d - 2mm x 10 mm liner #2L5
e - 2mm x 4mm liner #2L2
f - 2mm x 3mm oval #2L1.5
g - 1.5mm x 4mm liner #1L4
h - 0.5mm x 2.5 liner #0.5L5
i - 1.5mm pearl
j - 5mm mushroom (round pusher)
k - 1/8 ID 0.5mm curved liner
l - 5mm sled

These twelve tools are aimed at slightly smaller projects than Barb's set.
Formed from tool steel, they are oven tempered and polished.

 A set for slightly smaller projects.
A Dozen more great tools, These are intended for working some smaller designs. There are a few relatively large tools as well, since larger areas of a design need to be addressed as a whole before being broken into smaller elements.

$143.99 - - - -

with a 25mm chasing hammer -$153.99 - - - -



New Photo of full set of tools

a - 5mm x 10mm liner #5L2
b - 4mm x 8mm liner #4L8
c - 4mm x 6mm liner #4L1.5
d - 2mm x 6 mm liner #2L3
e - 1mm x 3mm liner #1L3
f - 0.5mm x 1.25mm liner #0.5L2.5
g - 5mm pearl
h - 2mm pearl
i - 1mm pearl
j - 8mm round planisher
k - 3mm tapered liner
l - sheepsfoot

These twelve tools are the starter set we used when I started the Altoids project and we began learning the art of repoussage.
Formed from tool steel, they are oven tempered and polished.

 My original - Starter set for your tool collection.
Roughly based on set of 8 tools I got from Kirsten Skiles so long ago, we made this set of tools as part of the Altoids tin workshop I held, low these many years ago. After the class several others asked for a set like the ones we had made and here we are. I included some very small tools, similar to those Kirsten used for marking designs, texturing and fine detail finishing The tools in this set are all different sizes and shapes than the ones above in Barb's set. Each of the 3 sets contain different tools.
This Dozen Basic tools, includes A large liner for forming the intial shape of your work, a slightly smaller one for refining your shapes and getting into smaller corners, as well as an oval liner of the same thickness for getting into smaller spaces and working around inside curves. Once your overall shape is developed these three smaller liners can be used to develop your lines further, along with these three pearls to add texture and interest. Finally, you may need to planish portions of your piece to smooth it, make smooth transitions from narrow to wider lines or clean up an edge where you want it really crisp. That's where this round planisher , tapered liner , and sheepsfoot can come in handy  

$139.99 - - - -

with a 25mm chasing hammer -$149.99 - - - -



Individual tools

I have tried to provide a wide assortment of tool types and sizes. because sometimes we need one just a bit, larger, smaller, longer, wider . . .
Repoussé is not an exact science, and often it is possible to use a less efficient tool with more elbow grease, but having the right tool is always a joy.

If you don't see the type of tool you need, Please Ask. One of my favorite tools shapes, "The Sled" came from a customer request.



Tools for moving metal, The pushers and shovers


Liners (fullers),
Ovals, & Pearls

Liners of various widths

Liners, sometimes called fullers, are the workhorses of this discipline. They are the main tools that we use to stretch, bend, squash, form, . . the metal. It is nice to have a selection of them. They can be used to stretch the metal more in one direction than the other, They can be used along the narrow axis for that width, bumped slowly along the wide axis for wide lines, or used at a diagonal for intermediate widths and anything between. The ovals and pearls (round ball end tools) are great for texturing and stretching in all directions.
 

Shape - longer tools take more force to use, but they make smoother lines. They are easier to blend one blow into the next with. Shorter tools can turn sharper corners, they apply more force in one spot and can be more agressive. I make these from a long and skinny 5 times the thickness, on down to ovals, rounds. The ratio of thickness to length is most important. 5's are for long lines and dressing up edges 2's to 3's do the bulk of the work, and ovals and pearls (rounds) are often used for tight corners, rough shaping and final texturing.

It is useful to have a variety, and the right size and shape can make the job go more smoothly.

size diagram

Standard Profiles →

Click on the down arrow next to the description for other widths available in each thickness and their prices. The L - number at the beginning of the listing is the length of the working face as a factor of the thickness of the tool see Standard Profiles above.
10 mm face thickness  
" ∼ 3/8" ∼ 0.39 ± 5%
Size and price
8 mm face thickness  
5/16" ∼ 0.315 ± 5%
Liner size and price
6 mm face thickness  
15/64" ± 5%
Liner size and price
5 mm face thickness  
25/128" ± 5%
Liner size and price
4 mm face thickness  
5/32" ± 5%
Liner size and price
3 mm face thickness  
15/128" ± 5%
2 mm face thickness  
5/64" ± 5%
Liner size and price
1.5 mm face thickness  
15/256" ± 5%
Liner size and price
1 mm face thickness  
5/128" ± 5%
Tool widths in drop down list
0.5 mm face thickness  
5/256" ± 5%

Additional Shapes

Tear Drop Fullers
Mettle Works Home Page
size is measured at dia of rounded end
Diameter
Tapered liner Tear Drop Fullers
Mettle Works Home Page
size is measured at width of rounded end
Avail. Sizes and prices

Curved liners


These are the new 1/4"inside diameter tools. The working edge of the liner is avail in 0.5 mm, 1mm, 1.5mm, 2mm.
(nominal sizes, polishing tends to make them slightly larger)

1/4" (6mm) inside dia.   -  -  $16.95

Line weight (thickness)

1/8" (3mm) inside dia  -  -  $17.95

line width (weight)

"The Sled" a Planishing Fuller
Mettle Works Home Page

The sled is a versitile tool. With it's flatsides and tapered ends, it can easily ride up on top of high spots and push them down while leaving a fairly crisp edge on the side. It is very useful along the edges of panels where you need a long smooth edge. size is measured by width

Sizes:

The Pushers - Tools for sinking areas.

" Pushers" - Flat face tools with chamfered edges
Mettle Works Home Page

size is measured by width
Equilateral Triangular Pusher - Sizes and Prices:
size is measured by width
Iso-Triangular Pusher 1.5 ratio - Sizes and Prices:

Round tool graphic

Mushroom Round Pusher - Sizes and Prices:
size is measured by width
Square Pusher - Sizes and Prices:

Tools for smoothing, matting, texturing metal

Planishers

Planishers are nearly flat. They have a very slight crown with a stronger radius towards the edge so that overlapping blows can be blended without leaving sharp edge marks.
images of various shapes of planisher

Round Planisher
Diameter
Half Round Planisher
Diameter
Teardrop Planisher
Diameter
Square Planisher
Width
Rectangular Planisher 1.5:1
Thickness
Rectangular Planisher 2.5:1
Thickness & width
Football / Leaf Planisher
length & width
Equi-Triangular - Planisher
length of one side
Triangular - 3 : 1 Planisher
base & height

Matting tools

Currently out of stock.


Chasers

Sheepsfoot

(after a leatherworking tool of similar shape) (edge definer, 2nd pass butcher, face is tapered back from edge)

Available in 4 sizes individually or as a set.

  • 2.8mm(1/8")
  • 4.2mm(3/16")
  • 6mm(1/4")
  • 8mm(5/16")
Use drop down menu to select individual tools
Tool

Sets of Tools
The 6mm(1/4") tool is included in the original basic set of tools, if you already have it click on the dropdown menu and chose infill set.
full or partial set


Edge definers, lifting tools, cinceles levantadores
Cinceles Levantadores - Edge definers
Available as a set or as individual tools Click on the down down arrow for individual pricing options.
Choose Set or individual tool

Tools for Repoussé and most tools for Chasing look kind of like chisels but they are not. They are designed for moving metal, not for cutting or piercing it. These tools are hand formed. The sizes listed are approximate. If you need an exact size, please ask.

These tools are normally in stock and ship within a couple of days.

Questions?? Comments!! - Email me or leave a comment on my blog.
Thanks for your feedback.
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Everything on this site is copyright © Gene Olson. No content may be reproduced in any way without signed written permission.
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