Regular readers will know about my never ending efforts to stock my workshop with tools. I like to update the blog on new and nearly new things that come into the workshop so I can discuss the uses of different tools and equipment. I also love showing off/sharing my new tools with everyone!
Well this week a got an amazing new toy that I’m absolutely giddy about.
Isn’t it soooo pretty!
My new shiny rolling mill arrived yesterday morning. I’m sure looking at the photos you’re questioning my excitement but wait until I tell you all the wonderful things it can do and I will have you won over.
A rolling mill is used to reduce the thickness of a sheet of metal and this rolling mill can also reduce the thickness of wire both square and D shaped. So using the handle at the side you feed your piece of silver between the two round rollers. You adjust the width between the two rollers after each roll using the wheel on top. You keep rolling and rolling until you reach your desired thickness. The little grooves at the right of the two rollers are for rolling wire using the same method. And then to the left of the rollers there are mini little rollers that are for D shaped wire (where the cross section of the wire is D shaped).
I thought long and hard about what type of rolling mill I should get. It’s something I’ve wanted and needed for a while now so I was determined to buy the perfect one. This is a Durston Rolling Mill, from the research I’ve done, they seem to be the best out there with the greatest variety of rollers. I was torn between being sensible and buying one of their mini mills that would weigh 16kg and be much smaller that this or splashing out on one of their big rolling mills that would be over double the weight. I reckon this is a tool for life so I went for the bigger one as there wasn’t a huge difference in price. There are larger versions also but that’s when the price starts to jump.
I got this from Cookson who luckily for me were having a sale on all their tools. If you want to check out the website just go to www.cooksongold.com.
Excuse me if I seem distracted over the next few days I’ll be attempting to roll anything that stands still through my new rolling mill!