Online Jewelry Training Classes for Metalsmiths

Jewelry Tutorials Logo

DIY Wire Draw Bench for Jewelry Making

Making a Jewelers Wire Draw Bench

Keep up to date with the latest metalsmithing news and release of new jewelry making tutorials
Wire draw bench diy instruction

A draw bench makes light work for drawing heavy gauge wire profiles. To make a wire draw bench you will have to know how to weld and you'll need a couple pieces of steel, a boat trailer winch, and a set of drawing tongs. Ok, so this is not actually how to make a drawing bench, but how I made my own draw bench. 

Wire draw bench diy components needed for project

For the cost of a boat winch, 1200mm of square hollow tubing, two off cuts of rectangle you can build your own draw bench. Supply company price US$500+ for a pre-made one, that is, admittedly, a lot more handsome than mine. Allthough mine can easily be packed away or hang on the wall until the next time you need it.

Wire draw bench diy steel clamped together

Clamped

Wire draw bench diy welded

Welded, both sides and then angle ground down.

Wire draw bench diy draw plate stops

So here I show two pieces of angle iron that are welded on, to act as stops for the draw plate.

Wire draw bench diy winch attached

On the other end the boat winch is attached.

Wire draw bench diy underneath view

The underneath view. I also bolted a lip on at the same time so the draw bench is easy to hang on the wall for storage.

Wire draw bench diy adjusting draw tongs

I had to bend the draw tongs a little more radically. I put them in a vise and heated the area where it's bent to bright orange and then bent the steel. This is actually very easy, since at that temperature the steel becomes like putty, and you have to watch that you don't over bend it. I slipped the chain over the handles and through the winch eye.

Wire draw bench diy bend tongs

Just finished bending the draw tongs to adjust them.

Wire draw bench diy drawing wire action

Drawing the wire. Now the first thing that I thought was that when the silver wire gets to the end it's going to go BANG and whip back and loosen some of my teeth. That does not happen. It simple goes BOING and drops. This is however silver wire that I am drawing. I imagine that when you draw 9kt or titanium wire there might be a stronger whiplash, so caution is advised.

Wire draw bench diy  ready for use

A picture of the finished machine. I simply clamp it in my vise when I want to use it .

Wire draw bench diy  for storage hang on wall

And then for storage,  I hang it on the wall out of the way.

Wire draw bench diy heavy gauge round and square wire example

And the finished product produced. Square and round silver wire. I am going to make some heavy men's chain out of this sectioning.

Other interesting and challenging Projects

or select other projects from Jewelry Making Tutorials List

If you have any questions or wish to be notified of any new tutorials that are posted, email me.