Toolmaking for Texture
Adding custom-design surface interest to sheet metal
By Helen I. Driggs
Surface texture is a guaranteed way to create design appeal on an ordinary flat sheet of metal. I try to avoid using the manufactured hydraulic plates, pre-textured metal sheets, and rolling mill plates that everyone else uses by making my own texture plates and tools in my shop. All it takes is a bit of tool or mild steel, a little ingenuity, and some patience. Here are a couple ways I do it: